17th January 2020
PRESS RELEASE
CYM AUSTRALIA WELCOMES THE BISHOP ELECT – FR MYKOLA BYCHOK – NEWLY APPOINTED BISHOP/EPARCH FOR UKRAINIAN CATHOLICS IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND OCEANIA AXIOS!
The National Executive of the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) extends its sincerest congratulations to the newly appointed Bishop Elect, the new leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania FR MYKOLA BYCHOK.
Fr Mykola Bychok CSsR is originally from Ternopil, Ukraine and has served in Ukraine and in the USA with a wide range of pastoral and administrative experiences. At 40 years of age Fr Bychok has a wealth of knowledge and experience coming into this role including recently serving at St John parish Newark, New Jersey, USA for the past 5 years.
CYM’s motto ‘God and Ukraine’ places its’ faith at the foundation of the organisation. It has always had a strong relationship with our churches and sees it as a vital part in the upbringing and nurturing of Ukrainian youth in today’s society in Australia.
We look forward to working with the Bishop Elect in the continuation of promoting our Ukrainian spiritual life in tandem with our Ukrainian heritage.
We would also like to take this time to thank retiring Bishop Peter Stasiuk, who has been a wonderful guiding figure for the Ukrainian Youth Association since he first arrived. Bishop Stasiuk ensured he visited CYM camps on a yearly basis to join our church closer to its youth and discuss the challenges and successes the church has had to date. He has served our Ukrainian community well, building strong foundations for our Church.
Bishop Peter came with a vision and worked in partnership with his clergy and the community in delivering this vision. He has worked closely with the National Executive in ensuring each CYM oseredok has a chaplain, a spiritual figure that each and every member of the CYM community can come to for spiritual guidance.
Bishop Stasiuk was recently made an Honorary Member of the Ukrainian Youth Association of Australia.
We wish him well in his new life as an assistant priest in Yorkton Canada and chaplain to several schools within the province.