The Pope appointed Father Oleg Butkevich as the bishop of the Vitebsk region.
Nine months after the resignation of Vladislav Blin due to serious illness, the Catholics of Pridzvinnye had no bishop. He was temporarily replaced by Apostolic Administrator Franciszek Kisiel. And now, finally, the long-awaited news has come from the Vatican: Pope Francis has appointed Father Oleg Butkevich (pictured) as the new chief hierarch of the Vitebsk Diocese.
The rectors of all parishes in our region, led by the papal nuncio, Monsignor Claudio Gutterotti, gathered to congratulate their brother in Christ at the Cathedral of Jesus the Merciful. He even jokingly let the newly appointed priest try on his bishop's mitre. The envoy of the Holy See urged our countryman "to work for this land, to love this land and its culture".
Oleg Butkevich was born in Braslav. He graduated from the Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University, but the priestly calling prevailed, and he entered the Grodno Seminary. He served in the parishes of Miory, Beshenkovichi, and Ula. Vitebsk residents remember the priest as the rector of the Church of St. Anthony of Padua on Gagarin Street, the design and reconstruction of which he has been engaged in for 10 years. From a neglected former House of Culture of the deaf society, a beautiful building is being erected before our eyes today, which will undoubtedly become an adornment of the entire district.
Like Pope Francis, Father Oleg is known for his charitable activities. People with disabilities and those who, for various reasons, found themselves
"at the bottom" of society could always find support from him; meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous are held in the church.The consecration of Bishop-elect Oleg Butkevich will take place on January 18, 2014, at 12:00 PM in the Cathedral of Jesus the Merciful.
Ales Byńkov, "Vitebskiye Vesti"