On November 24-26, 2020, the Provincial Custody of the Holy Cross in the Ukraine celebrated the second part of its Ordinary Custodial Chapter. The event took place at the Friary of Blessed James of Strepar in Bilshivtsi, the Ukraine.
On Monday evening, November 23, before the work of the Chapter began, the friars commemorated the 25th anniversary of the death of the Most Reverend Rafał KIERNICKI, OFM Conv., Auxiliary Bishop of Lviv, the Ukraine. A Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Lviv, where Bishop KIERNICKI ministered for fifty years. The Most Reverend Mieczysław MOKRZYCKI, Metropolitan of Lviv, presided. Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church participated in the liturgy, as well, along with Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK, the Assistant General for the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO); Friar Marian GOŁĄB, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Blessed James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow); Friar Stanisław KAWA, the new Custos of the Ukraine; Friar Stanisław PĘKALA, the Custodial Vicar; and Friar Paweł ODÓJ, the Guardian of the Lviv friary. Many lay faithful also participated in the celebration.
On Tuesday, November 24, Friar Sławomir ZIELIŃSKI, the head of the pastoral office of the Archdiocese of Lviv, gave a spiritual reflection for the Capitulars. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Mass followed, under the guidance of Friar Marian GOŁĄB.
On Wednesday, November 25, the Capitulars worked on and approved the following: the Custodial Four-Year Plan and ten Chapter Motions which dealt with the organization and functioning of the new Ukrainian Jurisdiction. In addition, various proposals on the needs and prospects of the Order and the Church in the Ukraine were discussed. Mass that day was presided over by Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK.
On Thursday, November 26, the last day of the Chapter, the new Guardians of the friaries were elected: for Lviv – Friar Mikołaj ORACZ; Boryspil – Friar Andrzej WANAT; Bilshivtsi – Friar Michał STASZAK; Kremenchuk – Friar Piotr FRANKÓW; and for Mackivci – Friar Janusz NOWAK.
The Chapter ended with a memorial for the deceased friars who served in the Ukraine during the last thirty years. The closing Mass was presided over by Friar Stanisław PĘKALA.
The friars of the Provincial Custody of the Ukraine
