On March 9, 2023, Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk, sent his Patriarchal Blessing and greetings to Bishop-Emeritus Peter Stasiuk, C.Ss.R., reported the Information Department of the UGCC. Bishop-Emeritus Peter is the former Eparch of the Eparchy of Ss. Peter and Paul in Melbourne, with territorial jurisdiction over all of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. The Bishop-Emeritus currently resides in Yorkton, SK.
“Celebrating your anniversary is a big event for all of us. Together with you, we bring our prayers to the throne of the Most High, thanking Him for calling you to the path of sacrificial consecration to the Church and your native people,” said the Patriarch’s Letter of Greeting.
The Primate recalled that exactly 30 years ago, the Bishop-Emeritus received episcopal consecration (khirotoniia) from the hands of Archbishop Maxim Hermaniuk, C.Ss.R., Metropolitan of Winnipeg, and became a source of God’s generous favour for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in Australia.
“You were for the faithful of that Epachy a spiritual father, a zealous preacher of the Gospel of Christ, a defender of cultural heritage. We highly appreciate your considerable efforts, which you have put into the development of the Catechetical service of our Church,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav wrote on behalf of himself and the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.
Information Department of the UGCC