Annual Report. PATRIARCHAL CURIA UGCC 2019

49 Ministry of the Laity As the first step towards creation of centers of the formation of laity in each eparchy and exarchate of the UGCC, the Commission on Laity of the UGCC Patriarchal Curia launched a two-year project of formation of leaders of the all-Church Christian lay movements. The goal of the project is to contribute to the formation of the lay structures within the UGCC and foster networking and coordination among lay initiatives. The Commission on Laity organized an intensive one-week summer school for leaders of lay movements on Au- gust 19-25, 2019. During the school there was a special three- days seminar offered by a President of the UMOFC (World union of female Catholic organizations) Ms. Maria Giovanna Ruggieri. Ms. Ruggieri presented a charisma and mission of the Catholic Action. She talked about elaborating a strategy for establishing the Catholic Action in Ukraine; how existing Catholic organizations can join forces together in the Catho- lic Action movement; planning common events in the Church and society as part of the Catholic Action initiatives; forma- tional materials for children, youth and adults; formation of leaders of professional societies and their integration into the Church community. We hope that the Catholic Action will take roots in Ukrainian lay ministry and bear good fruit. We have an impressive number of Altar boys, 16 200 members, and 11 870 Marian society members, who are very active in our parishes The Commission on laity also conducted a 3-day week- end school for spiritual leaders of lay communities and a special seminar on Catholic social teaching offered by a renowned specialist in this area Mr. Andriy Kostyuk. More- over, the Commission has been working on formation of parish Altar boys and Marian societies. The Commission co-organized III Annual pilgrimage of the members of altar boys and Marian societies on June 8, 2019 attended by al- most 4 000 participants. "We have an impressive number of Altar boys (16 200 members) and Marian society members (11 870), who are very active in our parishes, who will even - tuallyl become young adults and many of them may con- sider vocation to the priesthood and religious life", stated the head of the Commission on laity Rev. Vasyl Bilash. The Commission on laity plans to expand the network of professional lay organization which are active in the Church. The formation of laity will remain the key factor of our work for the future as we are looking forward to col- laborating with the existing lay organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, family movements and members of the Altar boys and Marian society.