The history of the Roman Catholic Church has its share of ups and downs. In 1066, a major schism occurred, the result of which was that we now have what we refer to as the Church of the West, made up of Roman Catholics throughout the world, and the Eastern Churches, a series of national Churches, each of which has two branches. One of these sub-branches refers to what we call the uniate Churches - those who recognize the Bishop of Rome as their leader. The other sub-branch is referred to as the Orthodox Churches, those that claim the Archbishop of Constantinople as their leader.
The Eastern uniate Churches, which communicate with the Vatican through the Congregation for Oriental Churches, are similar in their structure to the Church of the West although there are a number of differences. For example, married clergy is allowed in the Eastern Churches, and their bishops are usually appointed by a Synod or gathering of Eastern Rite bishops, pending the approval of the Holy Father in Rome.
On June 1, 2007, Benedict XVI accepted the resignation presented by His Excellency, Severian Stefan Yakymyshyn, OSBM, a Basilian who has served as Eparch of New Westminster, British Columbia, a post he had held since January 5, 1995. On the same day, the Holy Father appointed Rev. Kenneth Anthony Adam Nowakowski, a priest of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Saskatoon who was currently serving as Chancellor of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Saskatoon.
When a priest is appointed Bishop or Eparch, he must receive Episcopal Ordination, usually within three months of the date of his appointment. Eparch-elect Nowakowski's ordination is taking place today in Saint Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Westminster, British Columbia. During the liturgy of Ordination, he also takes posession of his new Eparchy and begins his Episcopal ministry.
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