His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today appointed Father Bryan Bayda, C.Ss.R., as the Catholic Ukrainian Eparchial Bishop of Saskatoon.

Father Bayda was born in Saskatoon on August 21, 1961. Upon completing high school at St. Vladimir’s College Minor Seminary in Roblin, Manitoba, he pursued studies at the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1982 and a Master of Divinity in 1987. Further studies included a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1990 and a Diploma in Eastern Christian theology from the Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa in 1997.

The newly appointed Eparchial Bishop of Saskatoon made his first profession as a Redemptorist on July 31, 1983 after a year’s novitiate at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, USA, and he made his final profession on September 13, 1986. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1987. Redemptionists assignments have included serving as a teacher and director of St. Vladimir’s College and formation director of the major seminary of his community, and serving as parish priest in a number of parishes throughout Western Canada. Most recently, he was the pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Yorkton, within the Eparchy of Saskatoon.

The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon includes 21 diocesan priests, three permanent deacons and more than 20 men and women religious who serve a population of 18,000 Catholics in 87 parishes and missions.

The Holy Father also accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Michael Wiwchar, C.Ss.R., who held the position since 2001. Conforming to the mandatory age of retirement at 75, Bishop Wiwchar formally requested retirement following his 75th birthday in May 2007.

The Most Rev. Edward J. Gibert, Archbishop of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, a Redemptorist, invited Fr. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R., professor of moral theology and spirituality at the Accademia Alfonsiana, to accompany him on his recent ad limina visit with Pope Benedict XVI.

"The General Government of the Redemptorists is confident that the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States will be a blessing for all the citizens of that country. Americans will be impressed by the simplicity, intelligence and spiritual depth of the Holy Father. We pray that his address to the United Nations will serve to unite the member states in a real commitment to peace that is based on justice." Father Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R. Superior General, The Redemptorists Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer Pope Benedict XVI greets Redemptorist Superior General, Father Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R. Cardinal Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes, also pictured. February 2, 2008, The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy. Photo courtesy of L’Osservatore Romano.

Redemptorist Father Fernando José Monteiro Guimarães, named Bishop of Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazill.

Today the Holy Father nominated as bishop of the diocese of Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil, Father Fernando José Monteiro Guimarães, C.Ss.R., of the Province of Rio de Janeiro.

Padre Guimarães was born on July 19, 1946 in Recife, Brazil. He attended the Redemptorist Minor Seminary at Garanhuns and did his higher studies at the Redemptorist Seminary at Campo Grande. He completed his philosophy and theology studies at the Redemptorist Major Seminary at Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, obtaining a licence in philosophy at Campus Don Bosco at São João del Rei. He earned a Doctorate in Moral Theology at the Alphonsianum Academy in 1989 and a licence in Canon Law from the Pontifical Atheneum (University) of the Holy Cross.

He made his first profession as a Redemptorist on January 25, 1965 and perpetual profession on December 13, 1969. He was ordained on August 15, 1971.

Padre Fernando has lived in Rome and worked in the Vatican for many years. At the present time he is serving as Capo Ufficio of the Congregation for the Clergy. Other duties include being a member of the Special Commission that handles declarations of nullity of Sacred Orders and of dispensation from the obligations of the diaconal and presbyterial states; Consultor for the cause of saints, and a judge of the Appeals Tribunal of the Rome Vicariate.

Father Guimarães will be ordained bishop at Sant’Alfonso, Rome, on March 31, 2008. Principal Consecrator will be Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. Co-consecrators are not known at this time.

The diocese of Garanhuns, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife, has according to the Annuario Pontificio approximately 550,000 Catholics, 27 parishes, 41 priests, 29 male religious, 94 female religious.

The Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province met in its XIV Provincial Chapter January 21 – January 30, 2008. A Chapter is a representative governing body of the entire Province membership. It meets every three years to elect its leadership Council, to review its ministries of the past three years, and to set policies and to plan for the future. Seventy-four men will serve as Delegates for this Chapter.

Around the world the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) organizes its 5,875 priests and brothers by Provinces – groups of communities within geographical units. As the Baltimore Province begins its Chapter, other provinces may be finishing or anticipating theirs; every province within the Congregation from Scotland to Australia holds its Chapter within the same six-month timeframe.

This is a milestone moment within the apostolic life of the Province and the Congregation. Please remember the Redemptorists, especially the Chapter delegates, in your prayers:

"Holy Spirit, pour out your abundant blessings on the Redemptorists as they meet in their Provincial Chapter."

Ten novices participated in the Ceremony of Investiture – receiving their Redemptorist habits, "putting on Christ" – during Mass at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc, WI.

Listed left to right (Province affiliation in parens), front row: Alistair Elias (Baltimore Province, Caribbean Region); Jean Tetreault (St Anne-de-Beaupré); Alfredo Delos Santos (Yorkton); Mario Gonzalez (Denver); Bruce Davidson (Denver); Fr. Ray Corriveau, C.Ss.R., Assistant Novice Master (Edmonton-Toronto)

Back row: Fr. Gary Lauenstein, C.Ss.R., Novice Master (Denver); Ted Dorcey (Denver); Hermann Holtkamp (St Clement, i.e. Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland); Michael McCloskey (Dublin); Jim McCabe (Baltimore); Elton LeTang (Baltimore, Caribbean Region)

For more pictures, please download these PDF documents:
Investiture photos - Vol 1.  Investiture photos - Vol 2.