Media release from Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon
[April 28, 2022] – This morning the Holy Father, Pope Francis, appointed His Excellency Bryan J. Bayda, CSsR as Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada, following the recommendation of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in this matter.
Bishop Bayda was appointed Bishop of the Ukrainian Cathoolic Eparchy of Saskatoon in 2008, and had also been serving as Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Toronto since November 2019, following the resignation of Bishop-emeritus Stephen Chmilar.
The Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, called Bishop Bayda, expressed his congratulations, and extended his blessings and prayers to the clergy and faithful of the Eparchy.
Bishop Bayda commented on his new appointment: “When I look back on my 14 years of episcopal ministry in the Eparchy of Saskatoon, I have so many fond memories of journeying together with the clergy and faithful of Saskatchewan. I hope and pray that the experience I have gained from the Holy Spirit through the gifts that were shared with me by so many missionary disciples in our Church, will serve me well in my new appointment. I thank God for His graces, my brother Bishops in Canada and Ukraine for their patience, friendship and trust, and all people of good will, who have challenged me to grow pastorally and spiritually these past years.”
Born on his mother’s birthday August 21, 1961 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Bryan Bayda was the third of six children that God entrusted to his parents Joseph and Florence (Niedzielski) Bayda. Bishop Bryan particularly loves writing songs and his Redemptorist formation deepened his thirst for preaching as he encourages others to be Missionary Disciples.
The motto on his coat of arms is based on Acts 1:8 – You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and You Will Be My Witnesses.
A special devotion to Mary as the Mother of Perpetual Help and as Our Lady of Guadalupe sustains him in his Ukrainian Catholic faith since she is key in understanding the Good News of Jesus Christ. – Website of Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada
Over the next few months Bishop Bayda will be bidding his beloved Eparchy of Saskatoon farewell, and preparing to take permanent residence in an Eparchy he has already visited extensively over the past two and a half years, and come to love. The territory of the Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada spans from Kenora, Ontario to Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Details regarding Bishop Bayda’s episcopal installation will be made public as soon as they are finalized.
In conjunction with Bishop Bayda’s appointment to Toronto, His Grace, Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM Archbishop of Winnipeg, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Saskatoon.
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