Hierarchical Parastas Held in Melbourne for Bishop Peter Stasiuk
On the evening of Tuesday, September 30, at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne, the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church gathered in prayer for the repose of the soul of Bishop Peter Stasiuk — the second Eparch of Melbourne, who passed away on August 13 this year in Canada.
Before the beginning of the service, the coffin containing the body of the late bishop was met at the cathedral entrance by Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne; Bishop Bryan Bayda, Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada; as well as clergy. The coffin was then solemnly brought into the church in a procession.
For several hours, bishops, priests and deacons stood by the coffin, reading the Holy Gospel continuously.
After this, the hierarchical parastas began, led by the bishops in concelebration with the clergy of the Melbourne Eparchy and Redemptorist fathers from Canada. The prayer gathered many faithful who came to pay their final respects to Bishop Peter. Archbishop Charles Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, and clergy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church also participated in the memorial service.
At the conclusion of the parastas, Bishop Bryan Bayda delivered a heartfelt and personal homily. In it, he spoke about how Bishop Peter had influenced his own spiritual growth by revealing a potential in him that he had not yet realised: “The Holy Spirit wanted and still wants to reveal to each of us our true dignity and potential. Bishop Peter was used by the Holy Spirit and did this for me when I was still an inexperienced 23 year-old seminarian in Toronto. He called me in Toronto in April and asked me to be the Director of a summer Ukrainian language immersion camp in Saskatchewan, known as Camp Chaban.”
Bishop Bryan continued with humour and gratitude, recalling how he overcame his own doubts and insecurities: “After getting permission from Fr. Sianchuk, my formator and superior at the time, I called Fr. Peter back and reminded him of a few things: 1) I don’t speak Ukrainian, 2) I have never been a summer camper, 3) I have never been a Counsellor at a camp nor a cook, nor a teacher, and 4) I certainly have never directed a staff before. But if you want me to direct this, I accept.”
“Two months later, I found myself in a borrowed caravan trailer, pouring over the legal requirements for a government grant on language immersion camps…”
After sharing this personal story, the bishop turned to those gathered: “Why am I sharing this with you? The Holy Spirit, through Bishop Peter, called forth my potential as a member of the Body of Christ. Therefore, I invite all of you to reflect on how this was the case for you in your personal relationship with Bishop Peter. He had a crazy way of challenging people.”
Bishop Bryan then recalled various aspects of Bishop Peter’s ministry—his deep faith, openness to people, pastoral talent, mentorship, and friendship: “there is a litany of memories that come to mind as I reflect on the Mystery of how the Holy Spirit spoke through Bishop Peter to me, deepening my relationship to God. But indeed I am not the only person that was blessed by knowing the man. He inspired us as a pastor in Toronto and before that, in small towns like Ituna and Goodeve, Saskatchewan where he produced two record albums with his parish youth group. He inspired us as a hockey coach to become NHL-ers. He inspired us as a pastor in rural Manitoba, as a friend who liked to fish, as an uncle of very capable nieces and nephews. He inspired many of us.”
“At times painfully and at times with wit and comedy, but always with love, he inspired many religious, his brother Redemptorists and bishops in Canada, in the United States, Ukraine, Australia, Oceania and across the globe.”
In conclusion, Bishop Bryan invited everyone present to recall their personal moments of encounter with Bishop Peter—and to let these memories become a source of inspiration for the future: “Today, I invite you to join me as together we review the spiritual and heartfelt basket of memories that each of us has with the Holy Spirit because of the late Bishop Peter Stasiuk… . Allow the Allow the Holy Spirit to continue to speak through Bishop Peter and to speak through you to someone else… May the Holy Spirit use you to express to one another the immearsureable love of God…”
Reminder
On Wednesday, October 1, at 11:00 AM Melbourne time, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Episcopal Funeral will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Following the service, the body of the late Bishop Peter will be interred in the cathedral crypt.
The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=E8 l02 vdZJro
catholicukes.au
