His Beatitude, Lubomyr (Huzar) and the Patriarchal Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in their session of August 2005 took under consideration the question of priestly formation. Continuing deliberation on this question, the Synod established a Commission comprised of rectors of seminaries of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, including rectors of religious communities and institutes of higher learning in Rome. According to canon 330, §3 from the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, the Commission authorized the preparation (drawing up) of a program for the formation of priests in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. His Grace Most Reverend Bishop Lawrence (Huculak), head of the Commission of Priestly Formation wrote a letter to all rectors of the Ukrainian Catholic Church inviting them to participate in preparing this program. The result of this protracted and painstaking work, which took as its basis the heritage of the fathers of the church, and the Apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II "Pastores dabo vobis" and founded on experience of professionals who took part in this project. In September of 2008, the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church established a Patriarchal Commission for Priestly Formation in seminaries, and accepted with corrections and additions the document "Directives of the Preparation of Candidates for the Priesthood in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church", with authorization for five years. In the name of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, I offer my prayers and express my gratitude to all who carry out an important role in the work of priestly formation. As head of the Patriarchal Commission for Priestly Formation in seminaries, I proclaim this document for official use as a guide, which shall be used by all seminaries in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in the eparchies and monasteries in Ukraine and beyond its borders. +Ken (Nowakowski) Head of the Patriarchal Commission for Priestly Formation in Seminaries Given at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, on April 26, year of our Lord 2009 on the day of the announcement of the blessed Priest-martyr Omelian Kovch patron of pastors of the UGCC.

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