Saskatoon gets a new Eparch

(RISU) - On May 2, 2008, at 13.00 in the Vatican it was reported that His Holiness Benedict XVI has blessed the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church about the appointment of priest-monk Bryan Joseph Bayda, CSSR, pastor of the Church of the Mother of God of Perpetual Help in Yorkton (Canada), as Eparch of Saskatoon. It was also reported that, according to can. 210 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, the resignation from government of the Most Rev. Bishop Michael (Wiwchar), former Eparch of Saskatoon, was accepted.
“The Eparchy of Saskatoon is one of the five eparchies of the UGCC in Canada. A new bishop, Ken (Nowakowski), was recently appointed in the New-Westminster eparchy, where, in consideration of age, the request to resign from government of Bishop Severian (Yakymyshyn) was accepted. Now, the same is taking place in the Eparchy of Saskatoon,” explained His Beatitude Lubomyr. “We are pleased to see that the life of our Church in Canada proceeds and we have a hope that with the arrival of new emigrants and the appointment of new bishops the life of the church community is developing fruitfully.”

Biographical information on Fr. Bryan Joseph Bayda

He was born on August 21, 1961, in Saskatoon (province of Saskatchewan, Canada). He obtained primary education in the Catholic schools of Saskatoon. From 1975 to 1979 he studied at the College of Saint Vladimir in Roblin (province of Manitoba). From 1979 to 1982 he studied in the House of the Redeemer in Toronto, where he finished preparatory studies before being received into the novitiate of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSSR). At that time he studied philosophy in the College of Saint Michael, where received a bachelor’s degree.

From 1982 to 1983 he passed his novitiate in Oconomowoc (the state of Wisconsin, USA). On July 31, 1983, he took his first monastic vow, and on September 13, 1986, took perpetual vows.

From 1983 to 1987 he studied again at the College of Saint Michael, where he obtained a master’s degree in theology.

On May 30, 1987, he received priestly ordination (he was ordained by Bishop Basil (Filevych), Eparch of Saskatoon).

From 1987 to 1990 he was a chaplain at the College of Saint Vladimir in Roblin and simultaneously visited courses of pedagogy at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, where in 1991 he received a bachelor’s degree. He continued his studies at the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Eastern studies. In 1990 he was appointed an associate professor at the College of Saint Vladimir. From 1993 to 1994 he was director of this college.

From 1994 to 1997 he was an abbot and director of the House of the Redeemer in Toronto, where he prepared candidates for monastic life.

From 1997 to 1999 he was co-pastor at the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles in Saskatoon. In 1999 he was the abbot of the house for poor and abandoned people. From 2000 to 2002 he was co-pastor at the Parish of the Mother of God of Perpetual Help in Yorktown. From 2002 he was abbot and pastor in Yorkton.

It is said of him that he is a zealous pastor, a good preacher, and easily socializes both with youth and with older people, with both rich and poor.