UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH OF CANADA (UCYC) CONSTITUTION AND YOUTH MINISTRY GUIDELINES Section A. Vision NAME The name of the organization will be Ukrainian Catholic Youth of Canada. (U.C.Y.C.) EMBLEM The emblem shall be the Coat of Arms of Ukraine with a cross, upon a maple leaf. III. PATRON SAINT The patron saint of the organization shall be St. Michael the Archangel. IV. MOTTO Alive in Christ through our faith and heritage. V. PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT The Constitution and Youth Ministry Guidelines of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth of Canada aims to reflect and allow for the current variety of structures that exist in parishes and eparchies. It promotes the further development of youth ministry in our Church. It provides guidance and freedom to develop what is necessary for particular circumstances and to meet the needs of each parish and eparchy. It keeps youth in relationship with other organizations and the Ukrainian Catholic Council. The document emphasizes that youth activities are to be predominantly parish based. The following exciting vision can only be developed in a structure based on Christ and teamwork. VI. PURPOSE OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH OF CANADA To encourage and enable young people of our Ukrainian Catholic Christian community to share their gifts with their brothers and sisters in Christ supported in love by the community. VII. GOALS OF U.C.Y.C. MINISTRY 1. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. Youth ministry is comprehensive and seeks to respond to the total young person. Therefore, it works to meet educational, physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of young people. No one aspect of youth ministry is independent of others; they are all interdependent elements of a unified total vision. Because youth ministry is comprehensive IT REQUIRES THE SKILLS OF MANY PEOPLE such as youth, bishops, clergy, religious, parents, adults, and other community members. Youth ministry requires collaboration, not fragmentation or competition. Exposing youth to the richness of the Person of Christ exceeds the ability of one person. 2. To journey with youth to full responsibility and participation in the life, mission, and work of our faith community.
Young people are full members of the faith community here and now in the present. They are equal partners and should be fully involved in Church life and community life. Youth have talents that should be developed and used to enrich the Body of Christ. Youth ministry seeks to draw young people into a supportive experience of the local Christian community. This is accomplished by training, practice, and togetherness. Young people and adults must be open to youth having a vital role in parish life. Youth ministry seeks to make parishes youth-friendly. This means that parishes value the talents of young people. Parishes should celebrate the dynamism of youth. Parishes should demonstrate that they value and celebrate young people by tapping into this vital resource. Ideally, parishes do this by listening to youth and supporting them with prayer, time, facilities, and financial resources. It is so important for parishes to recognize the need to become youth-friendly if they are to benefit from the loyalty and active participation of youth. VIII. REALIZING THE GOALS Youth ministry can realize the goals of Ukrainian Catholic Youth of Canada by the following possible activities: Youth Advocacy Justice, Peace, and Service Community Life Ukrainian and Canadian Culture Education and Guidance Prayer and Worship Eastern Catholic Religious Education Each parish and eparchy will bring its own unique blend of components based on their own individual needs and concerns. All goals may be differently met. IX. MEMBERSHIP All youth, young men, and young women, of the Ukrainian Catholic Church community are eligible for membership in the organization. The programs can be directed to 3 levels. The levels reflect the different needs of the varying ages of youth. The three levels are: Junior High, Senior High, and Young Adults. SECTION B. STRUCTURE Part I -- Sections I. and/or II. can be replaced by formal executive structures as per Part II if needs warrant. PARISH YOUTH MINISTRIES A. The Parish Youth Ministry Team 1. The Parish Youth Ministry Team can consist of youth, adults, and parents. 2. This Parish Youth Ministry Team is recruited by the pastor, youth, youth leaders, youth coordinator (parish and/or eparchial), and/or a committee. Recruitment should take place on an on-going basis. 3. Responsibility must be taken for the following actions: Spiritual advising Budgeting
Record keeping Facilitating planning sessions Bookkeeping Communications 4. A Parish Youth Coordinator may be recruited. Duties shall be determined by each parish, but may include the following: - makes and maintains contact with the pastor, parish council, youth, youth leaders, and eparchial youth coordinators 5. Parish Youth Ministry Team members must work together as a team. Responsibilities must be shared and taken on by all. Projects can be taken ad hoc committees with any Youth Ministry Team members chairing project meetings. 6. The responsibilities of the Parish Youth Ministry Team include planning a program of activities, administering the parish youth ministry (budgeting, assessing, evaluating), cooperating and communicating with Eparchial and National Youth Ministry Teams. EPARCHIAL YOUTH MINISTRY TEAMS A. Role of the Eparchial Youth Ministry Team The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team shall enable and encourage the young people of our Christian community to share their gifts with their brothers and sisters in Christ supported in love by the community. The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team should consist of youth, parents, and adults. 2. This Eparchial Youth Ministry Team is recruited by the bishop, spiritual advisor, youth, youth leaders, eparchial youth coordinator, and/or a committee. Recruitment should take place on an on-going basis. 3. Responsibility must be taken for the following actions: Spiritual advising Budgeting Record keeping Facilitating planning sessions Bookkeeping Communications 4. A Youth Coordinator should be recruited for each eparchy. Duties shall be determined by each eparchy, but may include the following. makes and maintains contact with pastors, parish councils, youth, and youth leaders of the parishes plans Eparchial Youth Retreats and other large youth events with the Eparchial Youth Ministry Team maintains a spiritual, educational, and cultural tones to youth programs that is compatible with our Eastern Catholic and Ukrainian roots. being a catalyst for youth ministry in the eparchy (initiating, organizing, facilitating, enabling, advocating) being a constant and encouraging resource to individual parish youth ministry teams
B. Responsibility of the Eparchial Youth Ministry Team The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team shall cooperate with parish youth ministries and the National Youth Ministry Team. The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team shall be a resource for parish youth ministries with both human and material resources. Communication is also key. This can be done with newsletters, pamphlets, personal contact, posters, bulletin notices, etc. 2. The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team may train parish youth ministers through eparchial leadership courses, youth ministry courses, or courses in the community. 3. The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team shall plan comprehensively for the eparchy s youth in the following: Youth Advocacy Justice, Peace, and Service Community Life Ukrainian and Canadian Culture Education and Guidance Prayer and Worship Eastern Catholic Religious Education 4. The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team shall represent the eparchy s youth at all community youth functions and functions of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. 5. The Eparchial Youth Ministry Team shall also administer the youth ministry within the entire eparchy. This includes fund raising, budgeting, assessing, evaluating, working in cooperation with organizations and the Ukrainian Catholic Council, assisting in planning Eparchial Conventions, and formulating resolutions for these conventions. 6. Youth Ministry Team members must work together as a team. Responsibilities must be shared and taken on by all. Projects can be taken on by ad hoc committees with a Youth Ministry Team member chairing project meetings. Ill. NATIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM A. Role of the National Youth Ministry Team The National Youth Ministry Team shall be the communicative and supportive body of Eparchial Youth Ministries in the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada. 2. The National Youth Ministry Team shall consist of the hosting eparchy s Youth Ministry Team or eparchial executive. In addition, it is advised that a National Youth Coordinator be recruited to work between eparchies. An extended council for the National Youth Ministry Team shall be the Youth Coordinators of the eparchies. B. Responsibilities of the National Youth Ministry Team 1. The National Youth Ministry Team will meet with its extended council at least once a year. 2. The National Youth Ministry Team shall investigate youth ministry training for all youth leaders in the country and take part in youth ministry training themselves whenever possible. 3. The National Youth Ministry Team shall represent youth at Church functions of national significance. 4. Increased communication is essential. This may take the following forms: Mail-outs of resource information
Pamphlets Correspondence Faxes Reports Retreat information Circulars E-mail 5. The National Youth Ministry Team will help plan.the National Congress and formulate resolutions. 6. The National Youth Ministry Team shall establish and maintain contact with national and international youth ministries. Part II -- Alternate Structure LOCAL ORGANIZATION A. The Local Executive 1. Eligibility for election to the Local Executive: Any member of the UCYC may be elected to the executive of the Local Organization. (This limitation does not apply in this case of a newly formed organization.) 2. Role of the Local Executive: The Local Executive shall be the governing authority of all members of the UCYC in a Local Organization. 3. Composition of the Local Executive shall consist of the following officers: Spiritual Director President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Member at Large (MAL) Auditor (Note: Positions may be merged or expanded where necessary or desired.) 4. Elections of officers of the Local Executive: All officers of the Local Executive with the exception of the Spiritual Director shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Local Organization. No person shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms. The Spiritual Director shall be the Parish Priest or his designate. If no Spiritual Director can be found, the Local Executive shall consult with the Eparchial Executive within their Eparchy. The Spiritual Director shall be an ex-officio member of the UCYC. 5. General Duties of the Local Executive: To work in co-operation with the Eparchial and National Executives. To hold an executive meeting at least once a month with the Spiritual Director, to plan activities and meetings of the Local Organization, and implement the directives of the Eparchial and National Executives. To ensure the holding of a general meeting at least once a month. To prepare agendas for the general meetings of the Local Organization.
To promote increased membership in the organization. To prepare non-executive members for future leadership by delegating various responsibilities during the term. Plan an equal distribution and full coverage of the various types of activities as suggested by the constitution of the organization: spiritual, organizational, educational, cultural, recreational, and social during their term in office. To ensure proper representation of the Local Organization at all functions concerning the UCYC and/or the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Encourage and promote increased reading and circulation of Ukrainian and/or Catholic literature. B. Duties of the Elected Officers of the Local Executive: The President shall: convene and preside over all general meetings of the Local Organization. ensure that the officers of the Local Executive are carrying out their duties. prepare an agenda for general and executive meetings. be a signing officer of the Local Organization. approve all financial transactions of the Local Organization. represent the Local Organization at all events where the interest of the organization are concerned and shall delegate the responsibility to another member of the executive when necessary. 2. The Vice-President shall: assist the President with her/his duties. assume the duties of the President in the latter s absence. 3. The Secretary shall: record the minutes of the General and Executive meetings of the Local. maintain a minute book and all other records for archival purposes. prepare an annual report which shall be submitted to the Parish Council(s), and to the Eparchial Executive, and be distributed to the members of the Local Organization. on the request of the President, conduct the correspondence of the Local Organization. co-sign with the President all documents other than financial transactions. 4. The Treasurer shall: keep the financial records of the Local Organization. submit a current list of members to the Eparchial Executive. present a report of the financial status of the Local Organization at each general meeting. co-sign with the President, all financial transactions of the Local Organization. prepare an annual report of the financial status of the Local Organization which shall be submitted to the Parish Council(s) and to the Eparchial Executive and be submitted to the Parish Council(s) and to the Eparchial Executive and be distributed to the members of the Local Organization. make the financial records of the Local Organization available to the auditor upon request. 5. The Member at Large (MAL) shall:
assume the duties of any other member of the Local Executive when necessary, provided that the duties of the President shall only be assumed by the MAL in the absence of the Vice-President. perform any duties delegated to him/her by the executive. C. The Auditor 1. The Local Executive shall nominate a non-executive member as an auditor of its financial records. The person so nominated shall be approved by the members of the Local Organization and the Spiritual Director at the Annual General Meeting. 2. The auditor shall audit the financial records of the Local Organization and present a report at the Annual General Meeting. 3. The auditor may review the financial records of the Local Organization at any time. D. Duties of the Local Members shall be to: 1. Aid the growth of the Local Organization. 2. Abide by the Constitution of the UCYC. 3. Take an active part at meetings and gatherings of the UCYC. 4. Fulfill responsibilities delegated to them by the Local Executive. E. General Meetings shall: 1. Begin and end with a prayer or meditation. 2. Be conducted according to a carefully planned agenda. 3. Be convened at least once a month by the Local Executive; but if a meeting is not so called, it may be called by any member. 4. General meetings shall consist of: - a business portion. - a cultural/spiritual/educational program. - a social portion. 5. No general meetings of the Local Organization shall be called to order or transact any business unless a quorum of one-third of the members are present. The required quorum can be adjusted upwards by a Local Organization at its Annual General Meeting. 6. If no quorum is present, the items of the prepared agenda shall be tabled to the next general meeting. All members shall be notified of the date of the meeting at which the tabled agenda will be considered. At the adjourning meeting, the quorum shall be the members present. 7. Motions at General Meetings at which a quorum is present may be passed by a majority vote. 8. An Annual General Meeting of the members of the Local Organization shall be held on a date selected by the Local Executive. At the meeting, the members shall: - elect the Local Executive - review and approve the financial statement - approve the nomination of the auditor F. Establishing Local Divisions: Each group shall be organized and operate as a Local Organization. All provisions in this constitution shall apply to each.
EPARCHIAL EXECUTIVE A. Role of the Eparchial Executive 1. The Eparchial Executive shall be the governing authority of all members of the UCYC within an Eparchy. 2. Composition of the Eparchial Executive shall consist of the following officers: Honourary President Spiritual Director President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Member at Large (MAL) Auditors (Note: Positions may be merged or expanded where necessary or desired.) 3. Election of the Officers of the Eparchial Executive: - All officers of the Eparchial Executive, with the exception of the Honourary President and the Spiritual Director, shall be elected at the Eparchial Convention. The outgoing Eparchial executive shall be the nominating committee and shall present a proposed slate of officers at the Eparchial Convention. Nominations may also be made from the convention floor. The Eparchial Executive shall be elected to hold office until the next Eparchial Convention is held. - To be elected, the successful candidate must obtain a clear majority of the total votes cast. - The Honourary President shall be the Bishop of the Eparchy. - The Spiritual Director shall be a member of the clergy or religious order. She or he shall be appointed by the Honourary President. B. Duties of the Eparchial Executive shall be to: 1. Work in co-operation with Local Organizations and the National Executive. 2. Hold a meeting at least once every two months with the Spiritual Director to plan and co-ordinate activities for the UCYC in their Eparchy and implement directives of the National Executive. 3. Organize and hold a meeting with the officers of the Local Executives at least once a year. 4. Promote increased membership 5. Prepare non-executive members for future leadership. 6. Plan an equal distribution and full coverage of the various types of activities as suggested by the constitution of the organization: spiritual, organizational, educational, cultural, recreational, and social during their term in office. 7. Ensure proper representation of the Eparchial Executive at all functions of concerning the UCYC and/or Ukrainian Catholic Church. 8. Ensure and organized UCYC within its Eparchy. 9. Establish and maintain a written and (where possible) personal contact with the Executives and Spiritual Directors of the Local Organizations.
10. Prepare and distribute circulars, reports, and programs of activities to every Local Organization in the Eparchy. 11. Encourage and promote increased reading and circulation of Ukrainian and/or Catholic literature. 12. Assist with the organization of the Eparchial Convention. 13. Work in co-operation with the Eparchial Ukrainian Catholic Council. 14. Prepare resolutions for presentation at the Eparchial Convention. 15. The immediate past members of the executive shall remain available to assist the new executive members in assuming their duties of office. C. Duties of the Officers of the Eparchial Executive: The President shall: - convene and preside over all meetings of the Eparchial Executive - ensure that the officers of the Eparchial Executive are carrying out their duties. - prepare an agenda for executive meetings and meetings with the Local Officers. - be a signing officer of the Eparchial Executive. - approve all financial transactions of the Eparchial Executive. - represent the Eparchial Executive at all events where the interest of the organization are concerned and shall delegate the responsibility to another member of the executive when necessary. 2. The Vice-President shall: - assist the President with her/his duties. - assume the duties of the President in the latter s absence. - assume the duties of chairperson at the Eparchial Convention. 3. The Secretary shall: - record the minutes of all meetings of the Eparchial Executive, Eparchial meetings with the Local Officers, and of the Eparchial Convention. - maintain a minute book and all other records for archival purposes. - maintain a current list of all Officers of the Local Executives. - prepare a report for the Eparchial Convention - conduct correspondence of the Eparchial Executive on the request of the President. - prepare and distribute to the National Executive and Local Executives reports of the Eparchial Convention. - prepare a report for National Congress. - communicate to the National Executive all matters of general interest. 4. The Treasurer shall: - keep the financial records of the Eparchial Executive. - present a report of the financial status of the Eparchial Executive at each meeting. - be a signing officer for the Eparchial Executive - prepare a financial report which shall be submitted at the Eparchial Convention. - submit a report for National Congress. - upon request, make the financial records of the Eparchial Executive available to the auditor upon recognition. 5. The Member at Large (MAL) shall:
- assume the duties of the any other member of the Eparchial Executive, when necessary, provided that the duties of the President shall only be assumed by the MAL in the absence of the Vice-President. - perform any duties delegated to him/her by the executive. D. The Auditors 1. The Eparchial Executive shall immediately after election, appoint two independent individuals as auditors of the Eparchial Executive s financial records. - 2. The auditors may review the financial records of the Eparchial Executive at any time. SECTION C. RESIGNATIONS I. A member of any executive/team of the organization shall give thirty days written notice of her/his intention to resign to the President/Coordinator of the respective executive/team. In cases of the resignation of the President/Coordinator the notice shall be submitted to the Spiritual Director/Advisor. II. The resignation is to be acted upon the next immediate meeting. Upon the acceptance of the resignation, the resignation shall be acknowledged with an official letter. Ill. In cases where a resignation is of an immediate nature or in the event of the death of an executive/team member, a special meeting shall be held at which the vacancy shall be filled as provided in this constitution. IV. In the event of a Member at Large (MAL) of a Local Organization becomes vacant, that position shall be filled by a vote at the next general meeting of the Local Organization. V. In the event the position of the Member at Large (MAL) on the Eparchial executive becomes vacant, the vacancy shall be filled by a vote of the remaining executive. VI. The Eparchial Executive shall be informed of the resignation of any officer of the Local Executive within its Eparchy within one week of the expiration of the thirty days notice period. VII. The National Youth Ministry Team shall also be informed of the resignation of any officer of the Eparchial Executive within one week of the expiration of the thirty day notice period. VIII. All Eparchial Executives shall be informed of the resignation of any officer of the National Youth Ministry Team within one week of the expiration of the thirty day notice period. IX. If a Spiritual Director/Advisor resigns, the Executive/Team concerned shall consult with the Bishop of its Eparchy. SECTION D. AMENDMENTS I. The Constitution shall be amended by a 2/3 vote of the registered voting delegates at a National Congress. II. Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted in writing to the National Youth Ministry Team on or before the 120th day preceding the next National Congress. III. The National Youth Ministry Team may appoint a Congress Constitutional Committee from among UCYC members in the Eparchy where the National Youth Ministry Team is situated to review proposed amendments to the Constitution, consider the wording of the proposals and any consequential amendments that are made necessary
by the proposed changes, consider consolidation of various proposals, and the like. If a special committee is not appointed, the National Youth Ministry Team itself shall constitute the Congress Constitutional Committee. IV. The National Youth Ministry Team shall, at least two months before the next National Congress, send a complete list of the proposed amendments, as prepared by the Congress Constitutional Committee, to each Eparchial Executive/Team. V. The Chairperson of the Congress Constitutional Committee shall present the proposed amendments to the Constitution at the National Congress. VI. An amendment to the Constitution may be made during the term of office of a National Youth Ministry Team if it is approved by all the Eparchial Presidents or Coordinators and by the Ukrainian Catholic Council of Canada. Such amendments shall come into effect on the date that it is issued by bulletin from the National Youth Ministry Team to the Eparchial Executives/Teams. It shall remain in effect only until the next immediate National Congress at which time it must be presented for ratification. Section E. DISSOLUTION I. In the event of dissolution of a Local Organization, its records and assets shall be submitted to the Eparchial Executive. In the event of the dissolution of a parish youth ministry, the records and assets shall be submitted to the parish council. The assets shall be invested and held in trust during the five year period following dissolution for the purpose of providing funding for a rejuvenated or succeeding UCYC organization in that locale. If the assets are not so applied within five years, following dissolution they shall, upon consultation with the local Pastor, become the property of the Eparchial Executive/Team. II. In the event of the dissolution of an Eparchial Executive, the records and assets shall be sent to the National Youth Ministry Team and shall be held in trust for a succeeding executive in that Eparchy. In the event of the dissolution of an Eparchial Youth Ministry Team, the records and assets shall be sent to the Eparchy s bishop. The Bishop of that Eparchy shall be informed of the execution of this provision. III. In the event of the dissolution of the National Youth Ministry, all the records and assets shall be sent to the Metropolitan. SECTION F. CONVENTIONS EPARCHIAL CONVENTIONS The Eparchial Conventions shall consist of at least one session for administrative purposes, but most of the convention sessions should pertain to real concerns and needs of youth. This could take the form of a conference or a youth rally. Every parish shall be encouraged by the Eparchial Youth Ministry Team to send as many participants as possible to attend the Eparchial Convention. Each parish will be given one vote and there will be no voting by proxy. NATIONAL CONGRESS The National Congresses shall consist of at least one session for administrative purposes, but most of the convention sessions should pertain to real concerns and needs of youth. This could take the form of a conference or a youth rally. The congress is an excellent
opportunity to gather, unify, and energize youth from the entire Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada. Every parish shall be encouraged by the Eparchial Youth Ministry Team to send as many participants as possible to attend the National Congress. Each eparchy will be allowed three votes and no proxies will be allowed. Herein, is the UCYC Constitution as amended at the 18th National Congress in Edmonton, Alberta in 1995. All sections were passed with a majority vote of the voting delegates present. RESOLUTION WHEREAS THE YOUTH OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF CANADA WISH TO REMAIN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC COUNCIL OF CANADA AND OTHER UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND WHEREAS THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH OF CANADA IS INADEQUATE IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF YOUTH IN CANADA, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH OF CANADA, AMEND OUR CONSTITUTION, AS WELL AS, ADD YOUTH MINISTRY GUIDELINES. THE DOCUMENT, UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH OF CANADA - CONSTITUTION AND YOUTH MINISTRY GUIDELINES, PROMOTES THE FOLLOWING GOALS OF YOUTH MINISTRY BOTH BY NEW VISION AND STRUCTURE: 1. TO FOSTER THE TOTAL PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF EACH YOUNG PERSON. 2. TO JOURNEY WITH YOUTH TO FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE LIFE, MISSION AND WORK OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITY.