\u201cOur pioneers and ancestors kept the faith even though they seldom celebrated the sacraments in churches because of external circumstances. Let us hear God speak to us through their example and learn from them as they strengthened their domestic churches \u2013 by interior and external faith \u201d.<\/em> (Bishop Bryan Bayda<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n ATTITUDE – Maintain an active attitude of constant discernment, both secular and sacred<\/strong><\/p>\n As COVID-19 information is constantly updated, so must we continue to learn from our science and health communities about the virus, ways to self-check for symptoms and best practices. Likewise, we must continue to update ourselves regarding the spiritual impact of this pandemic and be revitalized about how to spiritually strengthen ourselves and others. We don\u2019t have the comfort of adopting a spiritual routine and then leave it at that, such as reading a directive that may be days old and think it won\u2019t be updated. That is why I continue to meet, by Zoom and telephone, to bring to you the best practices and directives. No one should make decisions in these days without consultation, for the Holy Spirit speaks through all of us.<\/p>\n Since my last pastoral letter to you on March 20, 2020, more directives and suggestions have become available from the Eastern Congregation of Churches in Rome dated March 25, 2020 and in the Letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav with Recommendations as to how to serve the Holy Week and Easter Services During the Covid-19 Pandemic (24 March 2020)[1]<\/a>. Clergy and parish leaders have worked tirelessly to be pastoral and understanding of the physical and spiritual needs of their families of faith. They have issued pastoral Parish directives. Yet we must be prepared to receive new and updated directives. Directives are progressing all the time.<\/p>\n These directives have always been given in the context of the civic authorities and their directives and the progress of safety (meeting of groups limited to 250, then 100, then 50, 10, 5). Therefore, when a church official may suggest a spiritual practice, it is based on a specific context. However, this is not meant to provide someone with a means to justify a personal decision so as to ignore another church official. In other words, following the \u201cletter of the law to avoid the spirit of the law\u201d is not right. For example, one directive says \u201cone may venerate\u2026.\u201d but, more locally, the directives says \u201cit is forbidden”. Like the Code of Canons for Eastern Churches, there is a general law and then there is a particular law. Please don\u2019t use one directive against the other to merely justify your actions<\/u>.<\/p>\n Hours ago, I consulted about these directives, and discussed them at great length, with all of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolia (Bishops) of North America of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. I continue to consult with Roman Catholic bishops; the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; the College of Consultors and other leadership in our Eparchies that administrate or work in hospitals and care homes. So, when I urge you to follow this directive keeping in mind the previous ones, it is with utmost love, consideration and compassion that I give you direction in the Eparchy of Saskatoon. Broader consultation takes more time but it offers a more comprehensive update.<\/p>\n Much, much more importantly, it is following the spirit of these directives that\u00a0we should focus on. As the external marking of our faith is important, we must\u00a0strive to have a disposition of the connectedness between symbols\/actions and Your encounter with Jesus is the entire iceberg. We encounter Him in all ways that He witnessed to the Father\u2019s love, His private prayer life (JN 17:1-26), His passion, obedience and humility, death and glorious resurrection. Please read a wonderful reflection on how it is Christ who blesses ( The Domestic Church: A Place of Prayer and Blessing compiled by Fr. Onuferko). Every person allows Christ in them to bless according to their sacramental status in life. The visible part of your faith points to the invisible participation in the life of Christ. Vice versa, your interior life is expressed in your visible life. As much as Jesus through Jordan water blesses an icon, an object, a willow or food, so does Jesus bless all things through your interior disposition of fasting, obedience, prayer, intercession, charity or reverence.<\/p>\n ACTION – Allow the indwelling Trinity to develop your Interior Life and your Domestic Church.<\/strong><\/p>\n Pruning helps the branch to bear more fruit. Move from maintenance to mission!<\/strong><\/p>\n You are invited to preach in word and deed a Domestic Church Mission over the upcoming days!<\/strong><\/p>\n Therefore, mindful of the mystery of the pandemic and its ultra-infectious properties, in addition to the previous directives:<\/p>\n including the shroud on Holy Friday, and Easter because of COVID 19.<\/strong><\/p>\n MT18:20<\/p>\n Through your love, kindness and compassion you bless (and not just with water). You are empowered to express your baptismal priesthood in Christ<\/strong>! Encounter Him through confession and forgiveness in your daily life from one another on a one-to-one basis. This is a preparation for a sacramental confession with a priest who at a later time, on behalf of the entire Body of Christ, will provide an encounter with Christ on a sacramental level.<\/p>\n To appreciate the presence of Christ in the entire Church, the Body of Christ, focus on the Domestic Church and the role God calls you to play in your church as a missionary disciple<\/strong>, a branch of the larger vine. Like a team is strengthened by each member that physically trains or deepens their personal commitment, so does your spiritual prayer and domestic development enhance the Body of Christ. God is present in the entire Body of Christ where in our parishes we sacramentally receive the Eucharist. This is preceded by a reverence for God\u2019s presence in Scripture; God celebrated in our domestic churches; God\u2019s presence celebrated in our personal lives; and God encountered in the poor. Kindly read the following passage slowly, as if God is reading it to you:<\/p>\n \u201cI am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.\u201d (John 15:1-11 (ESV) 1)<\/p>\n In Christ,<\/p>\n Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR<\/p>\n Eparch of the Eparchy of Saskatoon<\/p>\n\u00a0internal faith. For example, mindful that the tip of an iceberg is still the true\u00a0iceberg, we must focus on both dimensions of the entire iceberg, the portion that\u00a0is visible as well as invisible. Likewise, while our spiritual ritual is visible, a truly\u00a0significant part of our faith is that which is internal or invisible and is 100%\u00a0connected to the visible. Don\u2019t reduce your faith and relationship with Christ\u00a0to merely external visible rites of passage. Your body and your soul are unique\u00a0but inseparable.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n