“May Christ the King reign in our hearts, in our families, in our Church, and in our world,” Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok
On Sunday, 23 November, Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, together with the clergy and faithful of the Melbourne Eparchy, participated in the celebrations marking the Feast of Christ the King in Melbourne.
The Feast of Christ the King, also called the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is one of the youngest feasts in the Catholic Church. It was established by Pope Pius XI on 11 December 1925 in the encyclical Quas Primas as a response to growing secularism and the rejection of Christian values in the world. Traditionally, the solemnity is celebrated on the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year.
This year’s celebration, organised by the Catholic lay organisation The Combined Societies of Mary, began with a communal prayer at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, with Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok concelebrating.
Bishop Mykola was invited to deliver the homily and to lead the Eucharistic procession following the Liturgy.
In his homily, the Cardinal emphasised the importance of placing Christ back at the centre of our lives, especially in light of today’s challenges: “In an age when voices around us often distort or dismiss the Church’s wisdom, we are called—calmly, courageously, and faithfully—to remain rooted in what Christ has entrusted to His Church. Let us renew our commitment to be faithful disciples, shaped not by the shifting winds of culture, but by the truth that comes from God.”
The Bishop highlighted that Christ is the King of Peace and urged the faithful to contribute to the growth of God’s Kingdom in their daily lives: “The kingdom of Christ grows wherever we choose forgiveness over resentment, truth over falsehood, generosity over selfishness. In our families, our parishes, our workplaces, we are called to be witnesses of the peace of Christ. Even small acts of kindness, fidelity, and compassion become seeds of the Kingdom.”
At the conclusion of his message, Bishop Mykola appealed for continued prayer for Ukraine and for all countries suffering from war or armed conflict: “As a Ukrainian Catholic bishop, I cannot stand before you without asking once more for your prayers for peace in Ukraine, where the wounds of war remain deep and the suffering of innocent people continues. Let us pray also for peace in the Holy Land, in the Middle East, in Africa, and in every place where conflict destroys lives and divides nations. We ask Christ the King to bend the hearts of leaders away from violence and pride, and toward justice, reconciliation, and true peace.”
“May Christ the King reign in our hearts, in our families, in our Church, and in our world. May His peace heal the nations, especially Ukraine. And may we remain faithful to His Gospel until the day He comes in glory and His kingdom has no end,” concluded Bishop Mykola.
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