PATRIARCH ARRIVES IN PERTH

by Fr. Simon Ckuj

Perth 17 September 2014 21.40

"Welcome to our ancient land! May you be enriched by our culture and my our Father Bless you." These beautiful words of greeting from Ms Marie Taylor, elder of the Noongar People of Western Australia were the first words of welcome that His Beatitude,  Patriarch Sviatoslav heard as he commenced his first pastoral visit to the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit - Australia.

His Beatitude was also presented with ceremonial music sticks by Ms Taylor as a memento of his visit.

Accompanying Patriarch Sviatoslav on the long voyage from Lviv via Istanbul and Dubai was Bishop Peter Stasiuk of Australia, who has spent many months planning for this historic visit.

More than thirty parishioners of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Parish led by their Parish Priest, Fr. Wolodymyr Kalinecki, Deacon Richard and Sr. Nicodema SSMI were at Perth International Airport to welcome the distinguished visitor. Fr Wolodymyr was filled with joy in his words of welcome. Parishioners presented his Beatitude with the traditional Ukrainian Greeting of bread and salt, flowers and a young parishioner presented Patriarch Sviatoslav with a stuffed toy kangaroo, complete with joey which thrilled the patriarch!

Welcoming the patriarch on behalf of the Eparchial Pastoral Council Mrs. Maru Jarockyj expressed the joy that so many feel at his beatitudes arrival, "Today we in Australia celebrate, for we welcome our Patriarch!" Tears of joy were seen in a number if those present.

In expressing his thanks, Patriarch Sviatoslav said, "Bishop Peter told me that my predecessors often visited Perth as their last stop before departing Australia. We wanted to visit you first, to show that the Ukrainian Church is united. Everyone is important. Everyone has a unique place. Today more than ever, we must be stand together."

This is the first Patriarchal visit to Perth since Cardinal Mysroslav Ivan Lubachivsky visited in 1996.

Patriarch Sviatoslav now commences a gruelling 12 day schedule visiting five states and nine parishes before departing for Rome.  

Tomorrow His Beatitude will meet with Archbishop Costello as well as other dignitaries. later in the day he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in St John the Baptist, Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maylands followed by a reception.