History and Archival Collections

The Ukrainian Catholic Religious Education Centre: A Short History

In the promotional pamphlet created by the Centre in 1987, called “Ukrainian Catholic Religious Education Centre, A Place to Obtain Resources, Plan, Develop, and Grow, A Place of Religious Education and Formation”, the following programmes are listed: Catechist Formation; Catechetical Workshops; Adult Religious Education; Parent Sacramental Programmes; Retreats for Catechists, Adults, Youth, Children; Parish Programs; Ministry to Youth and Young Adults; Prison Ministry and Service to the Poor; Media Preparation. At the Centre’s twenty-fifth Anniversary Banquet in 2002, Metropolitan Michael Bzdel, CSsR, pointed out that the Sisters had succeeded in sustaining more than the programmes in the pamphlet. In particular, they initiated the following: Training of Animators of Children of Mary Programmes; Iconography Workshops; development of the Library Resources; Icon Library; Training of Laity who assist in Faith Enrichment Programmes; Spiritual Direction; Development of Programmes for Parish Use for children and adults; production of materials for Church celebrations, such as the Centenary of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, the Millennium and Jubilee 2000.

In her address at the UCREC 25th Jubilee Banquet, Sr. Theresa Matwe, SSMI, noted that since the creation of the Centre, seven Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate had dedicated an accumulation of fifty-six years to realizing the catechetical mandate of the Centre. Of special note, Sr. Carmela, had contributed twenty-two years, Sr. Hilary, twenty years. Sr. Theresa further recognized the dedication of lay support, naming Vicky Adams, Elsie Yarish, and many others, including the Catechetical Coordinators, the Catechists and the students. She pointed out that a special photo display was created for the Anniversary Banquet, with hundreds of photos taken from the Chronicles created by Sr. Carmela over the years.

 

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