Motiuk looks to renewal in Church

Ukrainians seek to rediscover what it means to be an Eastern Church

- WCR photo by Glen Argan Bishop David Motiuk stands in front of poses of his four predecessors as bishop of the Edmonton Eparchy — Neil Savaryn, Demetruis Greschuk, Myron Daciuk and Lawrence Huculak.

By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Edmonton

Its numbers may be in decline, there may be a struggle to find new priests and religious, but Bishop David Motiuk sees a bright future for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada.

"I believe we are in a time of renewal and spiritual growth," Motiuk said in a March 5 interview with the WCR. "There is a rediscovery of what it means to be an Eastern church."

The Edmonton Eparchy's new bishop cites the encouragement from Pope John Paul II to the Eastern churches, a deeper appreciation of the Second Vatican Council and the call to Eastern churches to evangelize as examples of new life in the Ukrainian Church in Canada.

Encouragement from JP2

Motiuk said Pope John Paul encouraged the Eastern churches to engage in liturgical renewal and to take a larger role in ecumenism.

Likewise, Vatican II told the Eastern churches they have a special call, he said. "There is a rediscovery of what it means to be an Eastern church.

"Our understanding of the mystery and majesty of one God can be a great help for us in our search for Christian unity."

Situated in multicultural Canada and much smaller than the Latin rite Church, the Ukrainian Church is also blessed with an awareness of diversity within unity, he said.

"This diversity can help us in our search for God and for brotherhood and fraternity among the various peoples that make up this great nation of Canada."

Until the 1962-65 Vatican council, Eastern churches were prohibited from evangelizing outside their own nationality. Now, he said, there is greater realization that all Christians and all churches have a responsibility to spread the Gospel.

"There's great opportunity for outreach beyond the Ukrainian Catholic community in Canada," says the bishop.

1M Ukrainians

As well, there is still a great opportunity to reach out to the one million Ukrainians in Canada.

"So many people have not had the opportunity to experience God, to be presented with the good news of the Gospel message."

Motiuk's book, Eastern Christians in the New World, notes that two out of every three Ukrainian pioneers who came to Canada in the early 20th century were Catholic. But from a high of almost 165,000 in 1951, the Ukrainian Catholic population in Canada has fallen to 126,000.

"Some try to comfort me by saying the decline in membership is not unlike other churches in Canada," he noted.

Lay leadership

In the past, the Ukrainian Church put much of its energy into developing vocations to the clerical and religious states of life. Now, the emphasis is on strengthening lay leadership, Motiuk said.

"It will take time for us to build up a stronger lay leadership within the Church. It is a journey that will take us many years to realize."

While the new head of the eparchy knows the direction, he does not come with a ready-made plan.

"But something dear to my heart is an appreciation for the many gifts the priests and the religious and the laity have and to call them forth."

Time to listen

As bishop, he will encourage people "to call on a greater awareness of God's presence acting in our lives."

But that is as far as he will go in describing how he will shepherd the 29,000 Ukrainian Catholics in Alberta.

A native of the Vegreville area who spent much of his priestly ministry in this province, including serving as the eparchy's chancellor, Motiuk says Edmonton and Alberta have changed noticeably since he left in 2002.

"What I want to do is to take the time to listen. I have been away for quite some time."

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