Annual Report. PATRIARCHAL CURIA UGCC 2019

70 The UGCC Commission on clergy analyzes academic programs in the UGCC semi- naries and tries to adopt curriculum and formation programs to the current needs. For example, a special emphasis has been placed on introducing additional courses preparing for medical/military chaplaincy as well as encouraging a missionary spirit among the seminarians. Profess ional Development of Clergy and Rel igious A special document "Directives for the Preparation of Candidates to Priest- hood" was presented by a member of the Commission on Clergy Rev. Ihor Boyko, Rector of Lviv Holy Spirit Seminary, to the bishops during the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Metropolia held in Zarvanytsia. Moreover, Fr. Ihor participated in the Catholic Council of those responsible for vocations in Europe on June 4-8, 2019 in Rome representing the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The Commission also organized a formational meeting for rectors and spiritual directors of seminaries on October 21-25, 2019 in Lviv. The main topics covered during the training: "service by authority and obedience", "canonical visitations of seminaries" and "conflict management". We have been truly blessed to have 737 seminarians studying for priesthood in 6 Seminaries in Ukraine and 101 seminarians studying abroad From May 13 to May 17, 2019 the Commission organized an annual meeting of Rectors of Spir- itual Seminaries in Drohobych. The rectors of the UGCC seminaries from all over the world dis- cussed several important issues. The first one was the implementation of the program: "Norms and principles of protection of children and youth in pastoral activities with the involvement of seminarians and clergy of the UGCC in Ukraine". This important document is a fruit of the UGCC Synodal efforts of introducing and implementing the policies of child protection in the Church. The Commission has prepared a final draft of the document "Clergy in ‘golden age", which em- phasizes the importance of providing care for priests during their retirement .