Reverend Father Adrian Paul Ckuj rests in peace

The official web-site of the UGCC in Italy (www.chiesaucraina.it) reports the sad news that on February 21, 2009, at 18.30, in his 40th year of life after a difficult illness Reverend Father Ckuj, vice-pastor of the Ukrainian Parish of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus in Rome and from 2004 to 2008 chancellor of the Apostolic Visitator for Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in Italy, passed to eternity. We express our condolences to his relatives and friends and ask the Lord to grant rest to the soul and His Heavenly Kingdom for the recently-deceased priest Adrian.

 May his memory be eternal!

Father Adrian Paul Ckuj was born on February 11, 1970, in Melbourne (Australia).  From 1988 to 1991 he studied at Melbourne University, specializing in immunology and microbiology.  From 1992 to 1997 he was a seminarian of the Pontifical College of Saint Josaphat in Rome.  On December 13, 1997, he received priestly ordination and was appointed to the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles in Melbourne. From 1999 he studied at the licentiate program of the Pontifical Gregorian University, which he completed in 2001, receiving the degree of license, specializing in dogmatic theology. In 2002 he began studies in the licentiate program of the Pontifical University Santa Croce, which he finished in 2004, receiving the degree of license, specializing in canon law. In September 2004 he was appointed chancellor of the Procurator and Apostolic Visitator.  On February 2005 he was elected a member and the secretary of the Society of Ukrainian-Catholics of Saint Sophia in Rome.  From March 2006 to 2008 he was president of the society.