Bishop Maksym Ryabukha led the parish feast in Perth
On Sunday, June 15, Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Exarch of Donetsk, presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the patronal feast at St. John the Baptist Parish in Perth. This service marked the end of his visit to Ukrainian communities in Australia.
The day before, on Friday, Bishop Maksym visited Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). Both bishops belong to the Salesian Congregation, so the meeting took place in a warm and family atmosphere.
On Saturday, the bishop visited the local Ukrainian Saturday school, where he had the opportunity to talk with children, their parents, and families. Those present noted Bishop Maksym’s openness and his ability to speak sincerely and accessibly with children.
On Sunday, the faithful of St. John the Baptist Parish solemnly welcomed Bishop Maksym in front of the church. Among them were also his former parishioners from the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Lviv. During the Divine Liturgy, the bishop was concelebrated by Fr. Ihor Holovko, parish administrator, and Fr. Richard Charlwood.
In his homily, Bishop Maksym emphasised the spiritual unity between the faithful in Australia and Ukraine, calling for joint prayer for peace and victory.
Reflecting on the example of the priest Zechariah, the bishop noted, “When we lose faith and hope, it is better for us to remain silent and simply contemplate. This is what the Lord did with Zechariah: when he lost some of his trust in God, God closed his mouth so that he would only look and contemplate. And in that contemplation, he grew in his faith and was confirmed in the belief that what the Lord says will come to pass.” The bishop added that in difficult moments, we must also learn to be silent in order to see how the Lord is leading us.
In conclusion, Bishop Maksym called on those present not to lose faith in God’s plan for Ukraine.
After the liturgy, there was a warm meeting between the bishop and parishioners, during which he thanked them for their hospitality and support, which he felt throughout his visit.
On Monday, June 16, Bishop Maksym concluded his visit to Australia by visiting the cathedral of the Diocese of Geraldton.
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