Australia’s new cardinal marked his elevation to the College of Cardinals at Domus Australia in Rome.
On the evening following the consistory, Cardinal Mykola Bychok, presided over Solemn Evening Prayer of the Immaculate Conception in the chapel of Domus Australia, and many travelled from near and far to fill the chapel to capacity and pray with the new Cardinal as he began his new ministry.
Among those present were Domus Australia’s Rector, Fr Joseph Hamilton, student priests resident at the Domus, and seminarians from the Pontifical Colleges in Rome.
Also in attendance were Bishop Greg Bennett, Vice President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Her Excellency Julianne Cowley, Australia’s Ambassador to Italy who represented the Australian government, Dr Marcus Wu, chargé d’affaires for the Australian Embassy to the Holy See as well as young pilgrims and members of the Ukrainian community.
He was greeted on arrival by Stephen Cardinal Brislin, the Archbishop of Johannesburg in South Africa, who celebrated the Mass for the Immaculate Conception before Vespers.
At the beginning of his homily, Cardinal Bychok acknowledged the significance of having a home for Australian pilgrims in Rome and asked those gathered to pray for the repose of those who brought the idea to fulfilment.
“I feel honoured to stand today and pray with you and for you in this magnificent chapel of Our Most Holy Lady of Pompeii which has now became a spiritual home for all Australians visiting the eternal city,” His Eminence said.
“It was the vision of my predecessor as an Australian Cardinal, George Pell, that brought to fruition the dream of having an Australian church and pilgrim centre here in Rome.” He also told those gathered that another Ukrainian priest, Fr Adrian Ckuj—the brother of Vicar-General Fr Simon Ckuj—served as the Procurator of the Archdiocese of Sydney and facilitated the purchase of Domus Australia as well as the initial stages of its redevelopment.
Cardinal Bychok’s prayerful reflection focused on each individual being chosen by God to fulfil his will, and the assistance in this call found in Our Lady. “In Ephesians 1:4 we read, “Before the world was made, he chose us; he chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence”. We are all chosen by God to fulfil his will in everything we do. To live a life of holiness, giving glory to God for all that we have received.”
The Cardinal spoke of his own calling to serve as a cardinal not as an honour, “but a cross— a cross that I do not carry alone” and asked those present to pray for him. “Your prayers give me great strength to carry this cross,” he said.
Cardinal Bychok also expressed his deep devotion to Our Lady, who was “chosen by God from the moment of her conception” and “an example to us on how to live our life in the service of God” and his love for the Holy Rosary. “The rosary has been central part of my prayer life,” he said.
“As a Redemptorist, it was presented to me on a day of my clothing in the habit with the words ‘Brother! Receive the spiritual sword.’ The rosary is our spiritual sword but as Our Lady reminded us in Fatima that God’s love is stronger than the world’s hatred. The rosary is a prayer by which we can overcome hatred and fulfil our vocation as messengers of God’s love. It is this spiritual sword that will help the people of Ukraine to overcome the enemy.
“It is a power of prayer and the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God that empowers all of us to fight ‘the good fight’ and to make known the love of God in Ukraine, Australia and throughout the world.”
He then led those present in a decade of the rosary for peace in the Ukraine and the world and formally blessed the image of Our Lady of the Southern Cross and Help of Christians.
Fr Hamilton commented on the number of young people who attended the evening prayer.
“It was great blessing for us to have our new cardinal with us in the chapel on such a great solemnity, surrounded by so many young people,” Fr Hamilton said.
“So many were moved by his words on the rosary, in this the Sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of the rosary. He called the rosary a ‘spiritual sword’ which captured the imagination of so many of the youth. We look forward to welcoming him back soon.”
