UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC

METROPOLITAN ARCHEPARCHY OF PHILADELPHIA

810 North Franklin Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19123-2005

Phone (215) 627-0143 Fax (215) 627-0377

For more information contact:

Rev. John M. Fields, 570-875-9061

Director of Communications

215-627-0143 ext. 22, email: ibah@aol.com

Cell phone 570-875-9061

Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka

Bishop Andriy Rabiy

Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy as Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka effective April 16, 2018

Statement by Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka

On Monday, April 16^th, 2018, the Vatican Information Service announced that the Holy Father has accepted the resignation for medical reasons of Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians and Metropolitan for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in USA. Pope Francis has declared the Archeparchy of Philadelphia as “sede vacante”. Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy has been appointed by Pope Francis as the Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia until the appointment of the new Archeparch.

Most Rev. Stefan Soroka was appointed as Metropolitan-Archbishop by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II on November 29^th, 2000 and installed on February 27^th, 2001. Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy was appointed by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia on August 8^th, 2017. Bishop Andriy, a priest of our Archeparchy, was ordained to the episcopacy by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk in St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine on September 3^rd, 2017.

Our heartfelt appreciation is extended to His Holiness, Pope Francis, and to His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and to His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk for their understanding and compassion. We are also grateful to the Holy Father for the confidence he has shown in the abilities of Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy in appointing him as Apostolic Administrator for the interim.

I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the clergy, religious, seminarians and laity of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. These past seventeen years have been filled with many challenges and blessings, some unique in the experience of the Philadelphia Archeparchy. Success in responding to the varying needs of the Archeparchy and its parishes was achieved with the positive and hopeful participation of clergy, religious and laity enabled by the Grace of God. Most gratifying to me was the personal journey of prayer and fraternity experienced with the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archeparchy. The highlight of my ministry in leadership was experienced when amidst parishioners and their ministers in parish liturgical celebrations, visits, pilgrimages, festivals, and in personal sharing. I was inspired by the dedication of the clergy, religious and faithful and their love for their Church.

I am also especially grateful for the fraternity and cooperation shared with my brother bishops of USA, with whom common needs of clergy, religious and faithful were addressed in our regular meetings, and in gatherings of our Church. The Grace of God provided richly in our many shared endeavors.

The Risen Christ greeted his apostles with the words, “Peace be with you!” May the peace offered by the Risen Christ characterize our continued love and service of our Ukrainian Catholic Church. Let us remember one another in prayer as we seek the intercession of the Mother of God in this time of transition being experienced within the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and in our Ukrainian Catholic Church in the USA.

Christ is Risen!

Звертання Митрополита-Архиєпископа Стефана

У понеділок, 16 квітня, Ватиканська Служба новин оголосила, що Святіший Отець прийняв резиґнацію по стану здоров’я Кир Стефана Сороки, Архиєпископа Філадельфії для Українців та Митрополита Української Греко-Католицької Церкви у Сполучених Штатах Америки. Папа Франциск проголосив Філадельфійську Архиєпархію “sede vacante”. Владика Андрій Рабій призначений Папою Франциском Апостольським Адміністратором Філадельфійської Української Греко-Католицької Архиєпархії до призначення нового Архиєрея.

Митрополит Стефан Сорока був призначений Митрополитом-Архиєпископом Його Святістю, Папою Іваном Павлом ІІ, 29 листопада 2000 року та інтронізованим 27 лютого 2001 року. Владика Андрій Рабій був призначений єпископом-помічником Філадельфійської Української Греко-Католицької Архиєпархії Папою Франциском 8 серпня 2017 року. Владика Андрій, священик з нашої Архиєпархії, отримав архиєрейську хіротонію з рук Його Блаженства Святослава 3 вересня 2017 року у Соборі Святого Юра у Львові.

Ми сердечно вдячні Його Святості, Папі Франциску, Його Еміненції Леонарду Кардиналу Сандрі, префектові Конґрегації для Східних Церков, та Його Блаженству Святославу Шевчуку за їхні розуміння та співчуття. Ми також вдячні Святішому Отцеві за показану довіру Владиці Андрію Рабію у його тимчасовому призначенні Апостольським Адміністратором.

Скористаюся з нагоди також сердечно подякувати духовенству, монашеству, семінаристам та вірним Філадельфійської Української Греко-Католицької Архиєпархії. Ці сімнадцять років проведені з Вами були повні викликів та благословінь, деякі з них особливі для Філадельфійської Архиєпархії. Успіх у звершенні та задоволення потреб Архиєпархії та парафій був досягнутий завдяки позитивній та активної участі духовенства, монашества та вірних через діяння Божої ласки. Найбільш приємним для мене була особиста подорож у молитві та братерстві разом з духовенством, монашеством та вірними Архиєпархії. Кульмінаційною точкою мого служіння були зустрічі та пережиття я мав, перебуваючи серед парафіян та священиками, у часі літургійних відправ та парафіяльних святкувань, відвідини, відпусти, фестивалі та особистих розмовах. Посвята та любов до Церкви наших священиків, монашества та вірних вражали та надихали мене.

Також, я дуже вдячний за братерство та співпрацю моїм братам єпископам у Сполучених Штатах, з якими ми постійно обговорювали та вирішували потреби вірних, монашества та духовенства під час зустрічей. Благодать Божа щедро благословила наші спільні зусилля!

Воскреслий Христос вітав своїх апостолів словами, “Мир вам!” Нехай мир даний Воскреслим Христом характеризують і надалі нашу любов та служіння нашій Українській Греко-Католицькій Церкві. Пам’ятаймо один одного у молитві і просімо заступництва Божої Матері у цей час переходу в Філадельфійській Українській Греко-Католицькій Архиєпархії та нашій Українській Греко-Католицькій Церкві у Сполучених Штатах Америки.

Христос Воскрес!

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USCCB News Release

http://www.usccb.org/news/2018/18-064.cfm

Pope Francis Appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy as Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka effective April 16, 2018

April 16, 2018

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia and appoints Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy of the same Archeparchy as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia until the appointment of the new Archeparch.

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington on April 16, 2018, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy, now Apostolic Administrator sede vacante, was born October 1, 1975 in Lviv, Ukraine. He pursued seminary studies at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington, D.C., and was ordained a priest in December of 2001 by Archbishop Stefan Soroka at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia.

Bishop Rabiy holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy (1999) and a licentiate in Canon Law (2008) from Catholic University of America; and a Master of Divinity degree (2002), from the Dominican House of Studies, in Washington D.C.

After ordination, Rabiy held pastoral assignments at St. Michael the Archangel parish, Hillsborough, New Jersey, and at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2002-2005. Other assignments after ordination include: pastor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Reading, 2008-present; coordinator, Sexual Abuse Prevention and Youth Protection Office, 2008-2015; member, Administrative Board, Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, 2008-2017; vicar general, 2009-present; vice-chancellor, 2009-present; member, Archeparchial College of Consultors, 2009-present; member, Archeparchial Presbyteral Council, 2011-2017.

On August 8, 2017, Pope Francis named Father Andriy Rabiy as auxiliary bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

Archbishop Stefan Soroka was born on November 13, 1951 in Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, Canada. He received a bachelor's degree in Social Work (1973) and a Masters in Social Work (1978) from the University of Manitoba. His seminary formation was undertaken at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, Washington, D.C. At the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (1978) and a Doctorate in Social Work in 1985.

He was ordained a priest on June 13, 1982, for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg at Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral, Winnipeg.

Assignments after priestly ordination included: assistant priest, Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Winnipeg, 1984-1986; parish priest, Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption, Portage la Prairie, Canada, 1986-1987; parish priest, St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, Winnipeg, 1987-1995; chaplain, St. Josaphat Council, Knights of Columbus, 1986-1989; chaplain, St Anne Council, Knights of Columbus, 1987-1995; chaplain, National Executive, Ukrainian Catholic Youth of Canada, 1989-1992; vocations director, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1985-2000; state chaplain, Knights of Columbus, Manitoba State Council, 1989-1992; judge, Archeparchial Marriage Tribunal, 1984-1993; vice-chancellor, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1985-1994; chancellor, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1994-1996; econom, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1994-1998.

On March 29, 1996 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg and was ordained to the episcopate on June 13, 1996. He then also served as: chairman, Asset Protection Group Insurance Corporation for Western and Northern Canada Dioceses/Eparchies, 1998-2000; chaplain, Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada, 1998-2000; and editor, Progress Ukrainian Catholic News, 1996-2000.

On November 29, 2000 he was appointed Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and was installed on February 29, 2001.

At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, he served as: member of the Committee for Aid to Home Missions, 2010-present; member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, 2001-present; member of the Committee on Relations between Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches, November 2003-2010; member of Task Force on Content and Flow of General Meeting, June 2003; and member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, 2002-2009.

The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia includes the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and parts of eastern Pennsylvania. It has a total Catholic population of 12,846.

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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Pope Francis, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio, Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy

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