Holy Father appoints bishop of the Eparchy of Saskatoon

Vatican City, May 2, 2008 / 06:47 pm MT (CNA).-

Today Pope Benedict appointed Fr. Byran Bayda as bishop of the Eparchy of Saskatoon of the Ukrainians.  The bishop-elect will succeed Most Rev. Michael Wiwchar, who submitted his resignation upon his 75th birthday last year.

Fr. Bayda was born in Saskatoon in 1961.  According to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the bishop-elect made his final profession to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1986 and was ordained a priest the following year.

He is currently the pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Parish in Yorktown, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The bishop-elect will serve 8,422 Catholics and 11 priests in the Eparchy of Saskatoon of the Ukrainians.