vol. 82 - no. 1 english version january 10, 2021 christ is ... · bread for offering is prepared in...

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VOL. 82 - No. 1 ENGLISH VERSION Official Publication of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia Archeparchy News pg. 2-12 Children’s Corner pg. 13-17 Catechism pg. 18 Holidays/Feast Day pg. 19-20 Advertisements pg. 21-24 Church News pg. 25-34 JANUARY 10, 2021 CHRIST IS BORN! Very Rev. Roman Pitula, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak and Bishop Andriy Rabiy at the Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA, on Christmas according to the Gregorian Calendar on December 25, 2020.

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  • VOL. 82 - No. 1 ENGLISH VERSION

    Official Publication of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia

    Archeparchy News pg. 2-12Children’s Corner pg. 13-17

    Catechism pg. 18

    Holidays/Feast Day pg. 19-20Advertisements pg. 21-24Church News pg. 25-34

    JANUARY 10, 2021

    CHRIST IS BORN!

    Very Rev. Roman Pitula, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak and Bishop Andriy Rabiy at the Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA, on Christmas according to the

    Gregorian Calendar on December 25, 2020.

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 2

    Christmas (Julian Calendar) at the Cathedral onJanuary 7, 2021

    Christmas (Gregorian Calendar) at the Cathedral onDecember 25, 2020

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 3

    Theophany of Our Lord at the Cathedral in Philadelphia

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 4(continued on next page)

    Christmas at our Parishes (Photos from live-stream videos)

    Wilmington, DE

    Shamokin, PA

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 5

    (continued from previous page)

    Christmas at our Parishes (Photos from live-stream videos)

    (continued on next page)

    Swarthmore, PA

    McAdoo, PA

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 6

    Christmas at our Parishes (Photos from live-stream videos)

    (continued from previous page)

    (continued on next page)

    Newark, NJ

    Mt Carmel, PA

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 7

    (continued from previous page)

    Christmas at our Parishes (Photos from live-stream videos)

    Cherry Hill, NJ

    Trenton, NJ

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 8

    Archeparchy News

    The Eve of the Birth of Christ – Passaic, New Jersey

    “In the dark night, above Bethlehem, a bright star shined out, covering the Holy Land. The Most Pure Virgin, the Holy Bride, in a poor cave gave birth to a Son” *

    And so it was this 2020 Christmas Eve night at St. Nicholas Church. Neither dreadful high winds with blowing rain nor a local power outage could deter the faithful from welcoming the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. By candle-light and through the kindness of the faithful in attendance with modern technology, cell phone flashlights, Father Andriy Dudkevych was able to celebrate the Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy successfully. Local power was restored well after midnight. Those in attendance will long remember this special Christmas Eve celebrated as did the angels and shepherds on that first night so long ago.

    *excerpt from In the Dark Night, Sleep, Jesus, Sleep

    Christmas Eve in Passaic, NJ

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 9

    Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Participates in Online Retreats for Christmas and Theophany

    Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Bishop Hlib Lonchyna and Bishop Ken Nowakowski participated in three-day retreat titiled “Anticipating Christmas: Awaiting, Hoping, Staying together!.” In this picture during the retreat, Metropolitan Borys spoke about the darkness of the Nativity cave and how a light descends into the blackness of the Nativity cave. Metropolitan Borys also spoke about the darkness of Hades in the

    Resurrection icon.

    Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Bishop Hlib Lonchyna and Bishop Ken Nowakowski participated in one-day retreat that was held before Theophany on January 3, 2021. Theophany is the combination of two words in Greek – Theos meaning God, and a second word, phaino, which in middle or passive voice means to be revealed or made manifest. So, in English we could say that Theophany is God showing himself to us in a way that our human eyes can see and our minds can

    understand.

    Watch the Christmas Retreat at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVMQPk_9z0Lw-RzXe-Zfv_1TRZabVCheQ

    Watch the Theophany Retreat at: https://youtu.be/Gv7TeS7FVwY

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVMQPk_9z0Lw-RzXe-Zfv_1TRZabVCheQhttps://youtu.be/Gv7TeS7FVwY

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 10

    Archeparchy News

    Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Melrose Park, PA holds Food Drive

    In this joyous season of Christmas, we have the opportunity to share the many gifts and blessings bestowed upon us. Along with the other parishes of the Philadelphia Archeparchy, our parish held a very successful food drive, collecting at least a hundred bags on non perishable food items and other needed products. All was delivered to the food pantry at the Sisters of St. Basil the Great for distribution to those in need.

    Our heartfelt thanks to our parishioners and God bless them for their generosity. (Submitted by Myroslawa Hill) Photo (L/R): Helen Chaykowsky, Spirituality Center Director

    Sean McLaughlin, Myroslawa Hill

    Catechism Students Participate in Christmas Activity in Hazleton, PA

    On the Sunday before the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ (December 20th), seven CCD (Catechism) students participated in a St. Nicholas/Christmas activity program at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hazleton, PA.

    Georgine Borchick of St. Mary’s, McAdoo, PA. helped Fr. George Worschak, pastor and catechist, in presenting the program. Six children were from St. Michael’s and one from St. Mary’s.

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 11

    St. Nicholas Church, Great Meadows, NJ,

    Collects Food for the Needy

    As a parish social project, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Great Meadows, NJ, held a St. Phillip's Food Drive and distributed non-perishablefood to needy families and seniors for Christmas.

    Children Take Part in Christmas Eve Service in Hillside, NJ

    Several parish children at Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hillside, NJ, processed and placed Baby Jesus into the manger during Christmas Eve Liturgy 2020.

    Father Vasyl Vladyka blessed the children and gave them a Holy Family ornament to place on their Christmas trees at home.

    Simpson, PA Parish Helps Needy Families at Christmas

    In the Spirit of the Season of Giving, SS. Peter and Paul Church of Simpson, PA recently conducted a Christmas Food Drive for a needy family in their community with five small children under the age of 6. Various food staples were collected along with Gift Cards to Walmart and Weis Food Market to help brighten their Christmas. In addition, the parishioners purchased winter boots, shoes, vitamins and cold medicines for the children in an orphanage in Ukraine. Reverend Myron Myronyuk is pastor.

    Note: Pictured is one of the food baskets presented to the family.

  • Archeparchy News

    JANUARY 10, 2021 12

    APPEAL OF THE HIERARCHY OF THE

    UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES Regarding the events of January 6, 2021

    As Christians, on the Feast of the Theophany, we continue to celebrate and welcome the Emmanuel—“God is with us,” the Prince of Peace, “the Beloved Son of the Father” who calls us all to be His sisters and brothers in the Father’s house. But as a nation, today, we witness an appalling assault on the central seat and process of American democracy which must stop. Criminal trespassing, menacing break-in, and the intimidation of senators and members of Congress is unconscionable. Any use of Jesus' name to justify this violent behavior and chaos is a travesty of the Gospel. There is nothing Christian about it. Americans bear a great responsibility for the future of democracy in the world. American leaders, first of all the President of the United States, must do everything in their power to reestablish peace and the rule of law. There is much injustice in our land. There is much anger. No injustice will be remedied by violence. We ask all of our priests, religious, and faithful to pray for the future of our country, to call for repentance, to witness to the integrity of the Gospel of our Lord, and begin the difficult work of rebuilding the unity of America. We are called to help all people hear and believe the fundamental truth of Theophany— that each person is a "beloved son or daughter of the Father." We have a long road ahead of us. Let us return to a motto of the founders of our country: "In God we trust." + Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan and Archbishop of Philadelphia + Paul Chomnycky, Bishop of Stamford + Benedict Aleksiychuk, Bishop of St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago + Bohdan Danylo, Bishop of St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma + Andriy Rabiy, Auxiliary Bishop of the Philadelphia Archeparchy Theophany, January 6, 2021 5:30pm

  • Children’s Corner

    JANUARY 10, 2021 13

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 14

    Children’s Corner

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 15

    Children’s Corner

  • Children’s Corner

    JANUARY 10, 2021 16

  • Children’s Corner

    JANUARY 10, 2021 17

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 18

    Catechism

    January Reflection

    Proskomedia: Preparing the Gifts

    By Fr. Anthony Hernandez The Proskomedia takes place before the public Divine Liturgy begins. The practical purpose of the Proskomedia is to prepare the bread and wine to be offered and sanctified at the Anaphora of the Liturgy. But there are other wonderful layers of meaning that are expressed in the Proskomedia. One major theme is the unity of all things in Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that the eternal plan of God was "to bring all things in the heavens and on earth under Christ's headship." Eph. 1:10. The uniting of all in Christ, is expressed and brought about in the Divine Liturgy. This is clearly shown in how the prosphora (bread for offering) is prepared in the Prothesis Rite. Traditionally, five loaves are prepared. The first loaf is called the Lamb. At the Epiclesis (invocation of the Holy Spirit), the bread and wine are changed into the true Body and Blood of Christ. From the second loaf a triangle is cut to commemorate and honor the holy Theotokos. It is placed at the "right hand" of the Lamb. The third loaf is for commemorating the nine groups of Heavenly Powers (seraphim, cherubim, archangels, angels, etc), and also various groups of saints. For this purpose nine particles are cut from this loaf. With the fourth loaf different groups of people who are living are called to mind: hierarchs and clergy, our fellow church members, and those who are in special need. A particle of bread is cut for each category and for individuals who are being remembered. Particles from the fifth loaf are to commemorate all the departed: departed clergy, family and parish members, those who died long ago, and those who have recently died. We pray for their blessed repose. All of these cut particles from the four prosphora are placed around the Lamb, Jesus Christ. They are placed on a raised plate called the diskos. The diskos' round shape symbolizes that Christ reconciles "to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross". In Christ all are brought into unity: God and all creation, angels and human beings, men and women, people of all ethnicities, rich and poor, those who are alive and even those who have died.

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 19

    (continued on next page)

    Holiday/Feast Day

    Theophany (January 6th)At the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan, the public ministry of the Savior begins (see Mt 3; Mk 1). John the Baptist points to Christ in the Jordan and identifies Him as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). During the baptism of Jesus, the Most Holy Trinity is made known: “Worship of the Trinity was revealed; the voice of the Father bore witness to You, naming you the beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty.”

    The voice of the Father is the voice of the Heavenly Father, and

    the Spirit in the form of a dove is the Holy Spirit, who descends upon Christ, revealing him to be the Son of God. For this reason, Church tradition refers to the Baptism of Jesus Christ as the Theophany (from the Greek, meaning divine appearance).

    The Theophany at the Jordan is liturgically connected with the feast of the Nativity. In the celebration of both these events, Church tradition emphasizes that both the Incarnation and the Baptism of the Lord are when God appears. In Greek, theophania means manifestation of God. In the prayers for

    the Rite of the Great Blessing of Water at Theophany, we read: “in the preceding feast we have seen you as a babe, and in this present feast as perfect human, appearing as our perfect God.” At the Nativity, God the Word “was born,” but now He “appears in the flesh to the human race.”

    At the Nativity, the “Sun of Righteousness” rose, and now it “shines forth.” In the liturgical tradition of the Church, the Feast of Theophany is also called the Feast of Illumination. The sticheras of the Feast of Theophany elucidate the bond between the Feasts of the Nativity and Theophany:

    What was announced by the angel is now announced to the people by the Baptist; the spilling of infant blood caused Bethlehem to become childless, but through the sanctified waters of baptism, the Jordan now has many children. What was announced by the star to the Magi in Bethlehem is now revealed to the world by the Father Himself. The Son of God, “who covers Himself with light as with a garment ... today is covered by the streams of the Jordan.” Christ Himself “has no need to be cleansed by them; but through the cleansing that He Himself receives

    He bestows regeneration on us.” “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do you come to Me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so for now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness’” (Mt 3:13-15). The God-man enters into the Jordan waters: “As a man He came to be baptized, and the Jordan feared Him as God and turned back. As a man He bared Himself and entered the water, and the Father testified that He was God, saying: ‘This is My beloved Son.’”

    Christ brings regeneration to humankind, and He chooses the waters of the Jordan to signify this. In Holy Scripture, water is a symbol of elemental forces and death, and simultaneously a symbol of cleansing, rebirth, life, and the grace of the Holy Spirit. By means of water, God “drowned sin ... in the days of Noah ... [and] at the hand of Moses he set free the Hebrew nation from the bondage of Pharaoh ... [and] by fire and water through Elijah brought back Israel from the error of Baal.”

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 20

    Holiday/Feast Day

    A UKRAINIAN CELEBRATION OF THEOPHANY

    By immersion into water (baptism), Christ washes away the record of Adam’s sins. The waters of the Jordan regenerate all creation. In the Jordan, Christ “has renewed through water and the Spirit our nature grown old through sin.”

    “Transformed into waters of healing,” the waters of the Jordan become “a source of incorruption.”

    For by means of water, God offers to the world “a salvation of baptism.” Upon receiving it, a human being and all creation are filled with “mysterious streams.” With the sanctification of the human being begins the sanctification and eschatological transfiguring of creation. The word eschatological comes from the Greek, meaning final.

    In the Ukrainian Christian tradition, the symbolism of the Jordan water is closely connected with the memory of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine by Grand Prince Volodymyr the Great. The river Dnipro, in which the people of Kyiv were baptized, is figuratively called the Ukrainian Jordan. On the Feast of Theophany in Ukraine, an ice cross is erected as a sign and

    Theophany (January 6th)(continued from previous page)

    a memorial of baptism; during the Great Blessing of Water, three triple-branched candles are immersed into the waters. They bless their homes and farms, and keep the water throughout the year to partake of it, and to bless themselves in times of difficulty and illness.

    The third feast after that of St. Basil the Great, as mentioned in one of our Christmas carols, is the Feast of the “Baptism of Christ” (Theophany).

    On the Eve of Theophany another Holy Supper is celebrated “Schedryj Vechir”. Theophany Eve is a day of fasting. It was in the past a day of Strict fast – not only from meat, but also dairy products.

    With the appearance of the first star in the sky, the family would start the meal. The supper consisted of cooked fish, varenyky (pyrohy) with cabbage, buckwheat pancakes prepared in oil, kutya and uzvar. After the supper, everyone places

    their spoons into one bowl, and on top of the bread – that the bread (wheat) be fruitful. The kutya that remained after the supper was given (fed) to the chickens – to breed them well.

    When it gets dark, night-time approaches, they then take the “Didukh” out of the house and carry it out to the fields or crossroads and burn it.

    This evening is called “Schedryj Vechir” because it is especially joyous for the children. The children go from house to house and they sing festive songs (schedryvky) under each one’s window. And for this, the master of the house would reward them with generous

    treats: candy, apples and other such delicacies.

    On the next day, near the church or river (places of water) they would bless water. After the blessing of the water, all the people would return home. While the hostess would serve dinner, the master of the house would bless everything in the house and on his property and also bless (sprinkle with holy water) the livestock: cows, horses and sheep. He only did not sprinkle the pigs nor the chickens. After this, when the master completed blessing his property, he takes chalk and writes crosses on the images, and the doors. Afterwards, he sits down at the table and with him all members of the family.

    Before the meal, they all would drink some holy water.

    The next day after the Feast of Theophany, the master, rising early, takes into his hands bread and salt which remained, and breaks them into pieces. And he distributes them to the cattle, along with some hay. Thus, he distributes the final gifts of the Christmas-Theophany season: so that the cattle would be fertile.

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    Visit the Facebook page of the Good Samaritan Food Pantry

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    JANUARY 10, 2021 21

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    A COMMEMORATION OF THE DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE AND OF UNITY IN HONOR OF UKRAINE’S HEROIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

    “From this day forth, the Ukrainian National Republic becomes independent, subject to no one, a Free, Sovereign State of the Ukrainian People.” Act of Independence, Jan. 22, 1918 “The territory of Ukraine, divided over the centuries … will now become a great united Ukraine. The Dreams, for which the best sons of Ukraine fought and died, have come true.” Act of Unity, Jan. 22, 1919

    Ambassador Lonhyn Cehelsky, its author, proclaims the Act of Unity

    VIRTUAL PROGRAM: Available Starting Friday, January 22, 2021, at Noon

    “Panakhyda” Requiem Service and Commemoration Ceremony Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Ukrainian National Republic

    & Graveside of Ambassador Lonhyn Cehelsky, UNR’s Diplomat in the USA

    (St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Northern Suburbs of the City of Philadelphia, PA)

    Homily Greetings by Dignitaries Archbishop Metropolitan (to be announced) Borys Gudziak

    Commemorative Address His Excellency Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the USA

    VIRTUAL PROGRAM LINKS

    (Hosted on the YouTube and Facebook Pages of the UCCA)

    YouTube - https://bit.ly/UCCATube Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCA.org/videos

    = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Presenters: UCCA – Philadelphia & Ukraine’s Embassy in the USA

    JANUARY 10, 2021 22

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 23

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    Panakhyda at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the UNR (Photo from archive: Stephen Fartuszok)

    UKRAINE’S FREEDOM, SOVEREIGNTY AND UNITY -- JANUARY 22, 2021

    “From this day forth, the Ukrainian National Republic becomes independent, subject to no one, a Free, Sovereign State of the Ukrainian People.” -- Act of Independence, Jan. 22, 1918

    “The territory of Ukraine, divided over the centuries … will now become a great united Ukraine. The Dreams, for which the best sons of Ukraine fought and died, have come true.” -- Act of Unity, Jan. 22, 1919

    A COMMEMORATION OF THE

    DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE AND

    OF UNITYIN HONOR OF

    UKRAINE’S HEROIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

    Virtual Commemoration

    The Philadelphia Branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America invites you to participate, by virtual viewing, in the annual commemoration of the anniversaries of Ukraine’s Declarations of Independence and of Unity, which occurred on the historical dates of January 22, 1918 and 1919. Honor and pay tribute to all of the heroes that, both in those turbulent times and throughout history, fought and fight for the liberty, dignity and independence of Ukraine

    and her people.

    RECORDED AUDIO-VISUAL VIRTUAL PROGRAM[Viewing schedule and options, commencing Jan.22 at 12:00 PM, appear below]The virtual audio-visual recorded program will first be available, on Jan. 22, 2021, at noon, when we encourage all persons to participate together. It opens with a Panakhyda Requiem Service and C o m m e m o r a t i o n Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, in Elkins Park, PA, just North of Philadelphia. His Grace Archbishop Metropolitan Borys Gudziak will deliver the Homily and His Excellency Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, will deliver words of honor and commemoration. Other honored guests and

    members of Ukraine’s diplomatic corps to the United States will be viewing the service and will participate along with you in this virtual memorial event. At his graveside, we will also honor the service and memory of preeminent Ukrainian statesman and diplomat Ambassador Lonhyn Cehelsky, the UNR’s diplomatic representative to the United States who ultimately settled in and made the City of Philadelphia his home. This emotionally riveting program will also feature the beautiful voice of Yuliya Stupen and the majestic music and song of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America. Photos of prior years’ ceremonies will be streamed as well. VIRTUAL PROGRAM

    SCHEDULE AND LINKSLet us all gather to remember, to show our respect and to pray … we encourage everyone to view the commemoration together, on Jan. 22 at 12:00 noon.

    However, if you are not able to join us at the appointed time, the program will be available to you for quite some time afterwards, as it is being hosted by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America on its YouTube and Facebook Pages. Here are the links:

    YouTube - https://bit.ly/UCCATube

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCA.org/videos

    Presenters: UCCA – Philadelphia & Ukraine’s Embassy in the USA

    https://bit.ly/UCCATubehttps://bit.ly/UCCATubehttps://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCA.org/videoshttps://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCA.org/videoshttps://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCA.org/videos

  • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    Contact: Nina Prybolsky UECC Executive Director Search Committee Chair

    [email protected] 610-591-2492

    January 4, 2021

    Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center Announces Executive Director Search

    JENKINTOWN, PA - The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC), located in suburban Philadelphia, announced today that it is seeking a dynamic leader who envisions the Center’s strategic transformation and champions its implementation as the Executive Director (ED). The UECC, now in its 40th year, provides a central location for members of the Ukrainian community to have access to all elements of Ukrainian culture and offers spaces where numerous Ukrainian organizations can collaborate while fulfilling their (post-war) diaspora and successive generational missions.

    The UECC serves as a hub for the community where cultural events take place, where people of all ages can gather for basic interaction, where children can participate in various activities such as the Ukrainian Heritage School, Ukrainian Scouting Organizations, as well as dance, music lessons, and other cultural activities. The ED is an ambassador to these communities and the community at large. The UECC houses over thirty (30) organizations that fulfill Ukrainian culturally related missions. The ED is per se an influential position in our community, and is responsible for communicating with these organizations’ leaders. The ED helps them navigate through challenges, such as the current pandemic, so they can meet the needs of their membership.

    The pandemic has been an opportunity for the UECC to adapt and find ways to provide services in a virtual environment. It is anticipated that in-person activities will return as the pandemic wanes. The ED will be instrumental in driving the development and deployment of new concepts in the next-normal, to meet the UECC’s mission. Adopting new technologies and integrating them with the current operating methods will be key to the UECC’s continued success.

    The ED reports to the UECC Board of Directors and manages a staff of professionals who ensure daily execution of the UECC’s operational activities. Crucial to the UECC’s success will be the ED’s ability to fundraise and enhance government and benefactor relationships.

    The UECC seeks a leader who has awareness of the Ukrainian community and the issues it faces. This leader must be interested in bringing the Ukrainian diaspora and subsequent generations together to maximize opportunities to strengthen Ukrainian Culture and bolster UECC as a place where the community enthusiastically centers its events and activities.

    JANUARY 10, 2021 24

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  • JANUARY 10, 2021 25

    Church News

    (continued on next page)

    Pope Francis proclaims “Year of St Joseph”

    December 8, 2020

    With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from today, 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021.

    By Vatican News

    In a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a

    father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.

    The Letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021.

    Church grants plenary indulgence for year of St. Joseph

    The Holy Father wrote Patris corde against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he

    Photo: Metropolitan Borys Gudziak offers the homily on Christmas, December 25th

    says, has helped us see more clearly the importance of “ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”

    A beloved, tender, obedient father

    Saint Joseph, in fact, “concretely expressed his fatherhood” by making an offering of himself in love “a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home,” writes Pope Francis,

    quoting his predecessor St Paul VI.

    And because of his role at “the crossroads between the Old and New Testament,” St Joseph “has always been venerated as a father by the Christian people” (PC, 1). In him, “Jesus saw the tender love of God,” the one that helps us accept our weakness, because “it is through” and despite “our fears, our frailties, and our weakness” that most divine designs are realized. “Only tender love will save us from the snares of the accuser,” emphasizes the Pontiff, and it is by encountering God’s mercy especially

  • JANUARY 10, 2021 26

    Church News

    (continued from previous page)

    in the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we “experience His truth and tenderness,” – because “we know that God’s truth does not condemn us, but instead welcomes, embraces, sustains and forgives us” (2).

    Joseph is also a father in obedience to God: with his ‘fiat’ he protects Mary and Jesus and teaches his Son to “do the will of the Father.” Called by God to serve the mission of Jesus, he “cooperated… in the great mystery of Redemption,” as St John Paul II said, “and is truly a minister of salvation” (3).

    Welcoming the will of God

    At the same time, Joseph is “an accepting Father,” because he “accepted Mary unconditionally” — an important gesture even today, says Pope Francis, “in our world where psychological, verbal and physical violence towards women is so evident.” But the Bridegroom of Mary is also the one who, trusting in the Lord, accepts in his life even the events that he does not understand, “setting aside his own ideas” and reconciling himself with his own history.

    Joseph’s spiritual path “is not one that explains,

    Pope Francis proclaims “Year of St Joseph”

    but accepts” — which does not mean that he is “resigned.” Instead, he is “courageously and firmly proactive,” because with “Holy Spirit’s gift of fortitude,” and full of hope, he is able “to accept life as it is, with all its contradictions, frustrations and disappointments.” In practice, through St. Joseph, it is as if God were to repeat to us: “Do not be afraid!” because “faith gives meaning to every event, however happy or sad,” and makes us aware that “God can make flowers spring up from stony ground.” Joseph “did not look for shortcuts but confronted reality with open eyes and accepted personal responsibility for it.” For this reason, “he encourages us to accept and welcome others as they are, without exception, and to show special concern for the weak” (4).

    A creatively courageous father, example of love

    Patris corde highlights “the creative courage” of St. Joseph, which “emerges especially in the way we deal with difficulties.” “The carpenter of Nazareth,” explains the Pope, was able to turn a problem into a possibility by trusting in divine

    providence.” He had to deal with “the concrete problems” his Family faced, problems faced by other families in the world, and especially those of migrants.

    In this sense, St. Joseph is “the special patron of all those forced to leave their native lands because of war, hatred, persecution and poverty.” As the guardian of Jesus and Mary, Joseph cannot “be other than the guardian of the Church,” of her motherhood, and of the Body of Christ. “Consequently, every poor, needy, suffering or dying person, every stranger, every prisoner, every infirm person is ‘the child’ whom Joseph continues to protect.” From St Joseph, writes Pope Francis, “we must learn… to love the Church and the poor” (5).

    A father who teaches the value, dignity and joy of work

    “A carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family,” St Joseph also teaches us “the value, the dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that is the fruit of one’s own labour.” This aspect of Joseph’s character provides Pope Francis the opportunity to launch an appeal in favour of work, which has become

    “a burning social issue” even in countries with a certain level of well-being. “there is a renewed need to appreciate the importance of dignified work, of which Saint Joseph is an exemplary patron,” the Pope writes.

    Work, he says, “is a means of participating in the work of salvation, an opportunity to hasten the coming of the Kingdom, to develop our talents and abilities, and to put them at the service of society and fraternal communion.” Those who work, he explains, “are cooperating with God himself, and in some way become creators of the world around us.” Pope Francis encourages everyone “to rediscover the value, the importance and the necessity of work for bringing about a new ‘normal’ from which no one is excluded.” Especially in light of rising unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pope calls everyone to “review our priorities” and to express our firm conviction that no young person, no person at all, no family should be without work!” (6).

    A father “in the shadows,” centred on Mary and Jesus

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    JANUARY 10, 2021 27

    (continued from previous page)

    Taking a cue from The Shadow of the Father — a book by Polish writer Jan Dobraczynski — Pope Francis describes Joseph’s fatherhood of Jesus as “the earthly shadow of the heavenly Father.”

    “Fathers are not born, but made,” says Pope Francis. “A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child.” Unfortunately, in today’s society, children “often seem orphans, lacking fathers” who are able to introduce them “to life and reality.” Children, the Pope says, need fathers who will not try to dominate them, but instead raise them to be “capable of deciding for themselves, enjoying freedom and exploring new possibilities.”

    This is the sense in which St Joseph is described as a “most chaste” father, which is the opposite of domineering possessiveness. Joseph, says Pope Francis, “knew how to love with extraordinary freedom. He never made himself the centre of things. He did not think of himself, but focused instead on the lives of Mary and Jesus.”

    Happiness for Joseph

    Pope Francis proclaims “Year of St Joseph”

    involved a true gift of self: “In him, we never see frustration, but only trust,” writes Pope Francis. “His patient silence was the prelude to concrete expressions of trust.” Joseph stands out, therefore, as an exemplary figure for our time, in a world that “needs fathers,” and not “tyrants”; a society that “rejects those who confuse authority with authoritarianism, service with servility, discussion with oppression, charity with a welfare mentality, power with destruction.”True fathers, instead, “refuse to live the lives of their children for them,” and instead respect their freedom. In this sense, says Pope Francis, a father realizes that “he is most a father and an educator at the point when he becomes ‘useless,’ when he sees that his child has become independent and can walk the paths of life unaccompanied.” Being a father, the Pope emphasizes, “has nothing to do with possession, but is rather a ‘sign’ pointing to a greater fatherhood”: that of the “heavenly Father” (7).

    A daily prayer to St Joseph… and a challenge

    In his letter, Pope Francis notes how, “Every day, for over forty

    years, following Lauds [Morning Prayer]” he has “recited a prayer to Saint Joseph taken from a nineteenth-century French prayer book of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary.” This prayer, he says, expresses devotion and trust, and even poses a certain challenge to Saint Joseph,” on account of its closing words: “My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power.”At the conclusion of his Letter, he adds another prayer to St Joseph, which he encourages all

    of us to pray together:

    Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.

    Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.

    h t t p s : / / w w w .va t i cannews . va/en/pope/news/2020-12/pope-francis-proclaims-year-of-st-joseph.html

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    JANUARY 10, 2021 28

    1

    Fr. Maciej Zięba The last day of 2020 bore sad news – after a long struggle with cancer, Fr. Maciej Zięba O.P. died in Wrocław. Ukraine, the Ukrainian Catholic University, and I personally, lost a good friend. Poland, and the Church in Poland, lost one of the significant figures in their pilgrimage from fear to dignity. Maciej Zięba was a priest, a Dominican monk, a physicist, a theologian, a philosopher, a public intellectual, and a member of Solidarność [Solidarity]. But he was first of all a human being. The kind of human being that His Beatitude the late Lubomyr Husar often spoke of to us. I remember Maciej, who belonged to the younger cohort of the wide circle of collaborators of Pope St. John Paul II, as smiling, humane, unbelievably hard-working, and open. He was born in Wrocław in 1954. From his student days he participated in the Polish democratic opposition – in the 1970s and 1980s he was an advisor of Solidarność and a contributor to the Solidarność weekly, as well as an active participant and, from 1978, the vice-president of the Club of Catholic Intellectuals in Wrocław. He graduated from the University of Wrocław Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry with a master’s degree in Physics, and worked for several years as a research fellow at the Wrocław Institute of Meteorology. In August 1981 he joined the Dominican Order, made his permanent vows in 1986, and was ordained a priest a year later. He studied theology at the Pontifical Academy in Cracow (now the John Paul II Pontifical University), with residencies in Eichstätt, Germany and in Washington, DC. As the focus of his scholarly interest and his church and social work he chose the social doctrine of the Church, particularly the social teaching of Pope St. John Paul II. He lectured in Poland, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, the USA, and Ukraine. It is noteworthy that he taught not only in Catholic but also in secular institutions of higher education. He wrote extensively, publishing scholarly monographs and collections of essays on select spiritual and social topics (eighteen books, including One Misfortune after Another: A Catholic in a Europe Adrift [Kłopot za kłopotem. Katolik w dryfującej Europie], 2015) and, remaining faithful to his journalistic calling, contributed to Polish publications on various current problems. From 1991 to 1995 he was director of the Dominican publishing house W Drodze. From 1998 to 2006, Maciej Zięba headed the Polish province of the Dominican Order. Those familiar with monastic life and the radicalism of monks will understand that being the superior of a single monastery or convent is no simple challenge. In general, life in a community of consecrated people – like married and family life – is a high-wire act: while it is joyful, it also requires one to know how to balance on a tightrope over an abyss with no safety net. To serve as the leader of scores of monasteries, communities, and Dominican pastoral initiatives and to coordinate the varied activities of hundreds of religious all over Poland is altogether a superhuman task, which requires great faith, organizational talent, moral authority, and a sense of humor. It would be difficult to name all the church and lay organizations and initiatives in which Fr. Maciej was involved and which he founded. I will mention only one, which I had the privilege to witness and which will bear abundant fruit in the coming decades throughout Eastern Europe and beyond. It sprang from the generous, talented personality of the deceased, from his great love for young people and his farsighted strategic spiritual and geopolitical thinking. Fr. Maciej was one of those Polish Catholic intellectuals with a broad mind and a great soul. He was a leader among them, and to me he was one of the most likeable, both personally and intellectually. He not only

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    JANUARY 10, 2021 29

    (continued from previous page)

    2

    understood the importance of healthy Ukrainian-Polish relations, but also actively cultivated them explicitly on Christian principles. Maciej Zięba aspired to get to know the life of Ukraine and its Church, and made many efforts to foster Ukrainian Christian leaders. For a quarter of a century, the summer school of the Tertio Millennio Institute that he founded has accepted students from various post-communist countries, including Ukraine, and particularly from the Ukrainian Catholic University, where together with their contemporaries from Poland and the United States, they studied the social doctrine of the Catholic Church. The courses were taught in English, with lectures by charismatic intellectuals, leading lights from various countries. The school’s program included excursions to sites of genocide from the totalitarian epoch and to places where desperate, free intellectuals had prepared responses and ripostes to an inhumane, mendacious system. There were meetings with communities and individuals who had defended freedom and human dignity in extremely dangerous circumstances. Maciej understood that it was necessary to pass on to the new generation the experience that it lacked. For contemporary youth, the dramas of the twentieth century are already unknown and incomprehensible. Freedom and prosperity, which had to be achieved through struggle, with great sacrifices and efforts, beginning with the formation of critical ideas and visions on the basis of authentic principles and values, are taken for granted. More than anyone, Fr. Zięba saw the dangers of twenty-first century ideologies. In a creative, sincere, personal way, taking into account a subtle analysis of the present time, he sought to open young minds and souls to the eternal truths about human beings and society, and to form their relationship to contemporary socio-politico-economic problems. These courses opened up young people’s thinking and exposed them to the broader world. The students of the Institute included lay students, young priests, women theologians, and church activists. For example, among the graduates of this summer program directed by Fr. Maciej were such valuable workers in today’s spiritual field as Fr. Dr. Oleh Kindiy, a lecturer in the Department of Theology of the Ukrainian Catholic University; Dr. Orysia Bila, chairwoman of the Department of Philosophy of the Ukrainian Catholic University; Dr. Anatoly Babynsky, who long served as editor of the journal Patriyarkhat; and the active laywomen Natalia Karfut (Italy), Tetiana Ostapiuk (France), and Ivanka Zakharevych (Germany); as well as my assistants Mariana Karapinka and Deacon Volodymyr Radko. These are just a few. For scores of Ukrainian graduates of this program carry on quiet organic work in various lands in the spirit of the Catholic social teaching of Pope St. John Paul II and Fr. Maciej. The older students remember not only his inspired lectures, but also his energy in spirited volleyball matches with the Dominican brothers. If one counts the winter sessions, altogether there are close to 1,500 graduates of the Tertio Millennio Institute. From the mid-1980s, I had the great privilege to become acquainted with Polish communities that became the catalysts of the fall of the communist system in East Europe and thus contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. I am not about to canonize them, but I can testify that in these communities there prevailed a high spirit and farsighted strategic goals which to a great extent were achieved. This was a period when Christian intellectuals in Poland, led by Karol Wojtyła, played a leading role in world history. It was their open philosophical, spiritual, and social discussions and texts, their literary and artistic creativity, which contributed to cooperation with the workers’ movement and the formation of political programs for the development of democracy. Today, we all benefit from the fruits of their generous labors. They cultivated a profound cultural-spiritual understanding of Europe, its history and its mission – often more

    Fr. Maciej Zięba

  • 3

    profound than in the West, where it seems that Europe has been turned into an economic or legal union without a distinct soul, a union which today is not always capable of persuading its countries and cultivating the loyalty and constructive cooperation of their polarized citizens. It is sad to see today’s superficial populism, commercial materialism, and ideological fanaticism, which crowd out the refined vision and nobility of such figures as Maciej Zięba. In recent years, when we saw in Poland a bifurcation of views and ideologies, Fr. Maciej embodied a wise and open, but intellectually precise, spiritually principled and critical middle ground. This legacy remains, and we will return to it. Perhaps with time. I must say with regret that it is not easy to replace such individuals as Maciej Zięba, for they were formed by an experience that cannot be repeated, at least not exactly. At great cost, a pleiad of spiritual warriors -- conscientious, not noisy or entangled in public-relations strategies, and intellectually penetrating – was formed. Of course, it is good that the horrors of totalitarianism are behind us. But we will miss those who defeated it. Their experience is again becoming necessary. Only with spiritual-intellectual virtues and qualities will it be possible to defend freedom and human dignity in the face of a threat like “surveillance capitalism.” Algorithms in social networks and an archive of metadata about all of us (especially photo banks of our faces, our fingerprints, internet search histories, etc.) are being used to better determine our conduct, first as consumers, then politically (as was revealed by the scandal concerning the use of personal data from Facebook by Cambridge Analytica in hundreds of electoral campaigns), and eventually our general social conduct. Ukraine, too, is a laboratory for such schemes, and Ukrainians are the guineapigs. We will need both the faith and the intellect, and the sense of humor too, of those who, like Fr. Zięba, led the world out of the first attempts of truly total control over human beings. Indeed, Maciej Zięba belonged to a generation honed by the struggle for liberation from communism, which in a constant conversation with John Paul II constructively built a new Polish democracy on the basis of Christian anthropology, with its understanding of God-given human dignity. They were able and willing to discuss, to explain, to write, to organize and to engage their neighbors in the pilgrimage of solidarity. With the passing of Fr. Maciej, we have lost not only an outstanding person, but a part of the spiritual history of Poland and Ukraine – indeed, of the world, for our world and everything that is good in it rests upon such God-loving individuals as Maciej Zięba. Dear Maciej, thank you! Poland and Ukraine will miss you. Scores of wonderful young people – theologians, intellectuals, communicators – bear your legacy in the Ukrainian community. Together with them, I commend you to God. We begin this year in sadness, but also in the hope of the Resurrection. We will go forward with the hope and the vision by which you lived. I extend my sincere condolences to the Order of Dominicans, to family members, to friends, and to the entire Church in Poland and the Polish people. May he rest with the saints! Eternal memory! + Borys (Gudziak)

    Fr. Maciej Zięba(continued from previous page)

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    JANUARY 10, 2021 31

    40 years - Saints Cyril and Methodius co-patrons of Europe

    December 31, 2020

    Cardinal Kurt Koch, the president of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, releases a video message to mark 40 years of the declaration of the "Apostles to the Slavs" as co-patrons of Europe.By Vatican News staff writer

    It was 40 years ago, today, that Saint Pope John Paul II declared Saints Cyril and Methodius as co-patrons of Europe. With his Apostolic Letter Egregiae virtutis, dated 31 December 1980, Pope John Paul marked the centenary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical that introduced their liturgical feast of 14 February into the calendar of the Catholic Church.

    The 9th-century missionary brothers from Thessaloniki (in present-day Greece), evangelized the Slavic peoples and took the step of adapting the Greek alphabet into what came to be known as the “Cyrillic” alphabet. Saints Cyril and Methodius are also great ecumenical figures, venerated by several Christian Churches. Cardinal Kurt Koch, the president of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, released a video message to mark 40 years of the declaration of the "Apostles to the Slavs" as co-patrons of Europe.

    The Swiss cardinal underscored the importance of Saints Cyril and Methodius in

    the culture of the Slavic people. “By putting the spoken language into written form and recording it in alphabetic signs,” he noted, “they passed it on to those from whom they had earlier received it in safekeeping.” “Thus the Gospel came to be expressed in the written Slavic language.”

    The cardinal noted that the two brothers from Thessaloniki are also “witnesses of undivided unity at its wellspring,

    and of the possibility of holding diversity together”. Cardinal Koch wished that their lives be “an inspiration for the paths of unity and may their intercession sustain its fulfilment”.

    h t t p s : / / w w w .v a t i c a n n e w s . v a /e n / v a t i c a n - c i t y /news/2020-12/saints-cyril-methodius-patrons-europe-40-years-koch-message.html

    Let us wear masks, when necessary, but let them not silence our traditional carols, His Beatitude Sviatoslav

    in Christmas Pastoral Letter

    Monday, 04 January 2021

    In spite of our poverty and frailty, today we are rich in the joy and love of our newborn Savior. With Christ’s Nativity, I sincerely greet you all: from Kyiv to London, from Buenos Aires to Melbourne, from Winnipeg to Zelenyj Klyn.

    His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, wrote this in his Christmas message.

    The Primate noted that it is hard to believe how our life has changed from the final carol of last year to the first “Boh Predvichnyj” (God Pre-eternal) of this

    year’s Christmas Eve. Throughout 2020 we were, it would seem, transported into a different world—a world of fear and uncertainty before the unknown. Yet, in spite of the restrictions, challenges, and human losses we endured due to the coronavirus pandemic, together, as Church, in our families,

    parishes, communities, and countries, we did not cease to proclaim the good news of hope, love, and joy.

    "We are celebrating Christmas in the midst of a worldwide situation of human anguish, brought

    (continued on next page)

  • on by the coronavirus pandemic. We have not yet fully grasped or understood all the consequences and faces of this global misfortune. We do not know what changes await us in the sphere of economic, social-community, and church life… But we have already understood that the virus is not interested, neither in our place of residence, nor in our wealth or social status. All of us are equally in danger of infection, and a new threat of poverty hangs over all corners of the globe," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

    At the same time, he observes that all of us in the same way need the kind of help and strength that goes beyond human abilities and power. “For this reason, Christ’s Nativity is for us a ray of hope and joy in the midst of today’s dark fear and confusion, and each one of us must be open to God’s grace, which pours out on us without ceasing, even in the worst of times," writes the Primate of the UGCC.

    His Beatitude Sviatoslav asked to wear masks, when necessary, but let them not silence our traditional carols. “Let us

    Let us wear masks, when necessary, but let them not silence our traditional carols, His Beatitude Sviatoslav

    in Christmas Pastoral Letter

    Church News

    celebrate as we are able. Let us acclaim the birth of the Savior, however possible, so that even in this pandemic we might bear witness to the most important truth of human history—that we are not alone or abandoned, because ‘God is with us!’”

    In the days of celebrating Christmas, the Primate of the Church called to ask the newborn Savior for the richness of His love, which alone can restore this distressed world of ours, and grant it hope, security, and joy. “Solidarity with and closeness to those in need, participation in their pain and anxiety, rather than escape from the suffering that hangs over us all today—this will grant us the possibility to be merry and truly celebrate Christmas this year," explained His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

    "I sincerely greet you all: those who are celebrating today in their family circle and those who are keeping distance from their loved ones to protect them from danger, those who are able to attend church services for the Feast, and those who at home join in community prayer through social

    media. I especially greet all medical workers who, in spite of real danger to themselves and their families, tirelessly and with great sacrifice give of their time and talents for the health of others," the Head of the UGCC wrote.

    “I embrace those who suffer physical and spiritual wounds. I send a word of comfort to those who this year lost family members and friends, and for whom it is particularly painful to approach the festive table this Christmas eve. I unite myself in prayer with those who fearlessly stand on the frontlines and defend our country

    (continued from previous page)

    and people, risking their lives not only before the threat of the insidious sniper’s bullet, but also before the microscopic virus-enemy that has come upon us and inflicts on us added suffering and distress," assured His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

    The UGCC Department for Information

    http://news.ugcc.ua/en/news/let_us_wear_masks_when_necessary_b u t _ l e t _ t h e m _ n o t _silence_our_traditional_carols_his_beatitude_sviatoslav_in_christmas_pastoral_letter_91953.html

    JANUARY 10, 2021 32

  • Church News

    Head of Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church sends New Year message of peace

    January 4, 2021

    he Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church releases a message to mark the New Year, noting that as we leave a year in which we were forced to reduce social contact, we must enter the new one prioritising building human relationships.

    By Vatican News staff writer

    2020, which was “full of special experiences, difficulties and challenges, but also special blessings, discoveries and joy” has come to an end. This message, from the Primate of the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, came in a video released on the Church’s website to wish all Ukrainians a happy new year.

    In his video message, the Primate continued saying that this year we experienced and learned a lot for the first time. "We have realized that human life is priceless, and human health cannot be valued by any money, economic benefits or political expediency."

    What is happening in Ukraine?

    An armed conflict has been raging on in Eastern Ukraine since 2014. The six-year conflict in the Donbas region – between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed forces - has seen more than 13,000 people killed; 30,000 wounded; and almost 1,500,000 Ukrainians internally displaced.

    Despite international efforts to stop the fighting, numerous ceasefires, and the swearing in of a new President in Ukraine in 2019, an end to the conflict is still not in sight.

    Pope Francis and aid to Ukraine

    During his pontificate, Pope Francis has often expressed his concern for Ukraine and offered aid to the country. Notably, In 2016, Pope Francis asked Catholic parishes in Europe to take up a special collection for humanitarian support in Ukraine. A total of 12 million euros were collected, to which Pope Francis then added 6 million of his own to the cause.

    After his Sunday Angelus on 26 July 2020, Pope Francis prayed for the people of Ukraine, and, referring to the numerous ceasefires (twenty since

    the start of the conflict), said, “While I thank you for this sign of goodwill aimed at restoring the much desired peace in that tormented region, I pray that what has been agreed will finally be put into practice.”

    Lessons from 2020

    Continuing his message, Major Archbishop Shevchuk noted that through struggling with disease not yet known to the world, we saw the strength and victory of human solidarity in our lives.

    "We realized," he said, "that indifference kills, and love of neighbour sustains, gives new hope, saves lives. This year we recognised the family as the home Church, where the Lord Creator and Saviour Himself is present in our house.”

    The Head of the Church also noted that in 2020 we especially appreciated the art of medicine, and the heroism of our doctors and medical workers who save patients at the cost of their own lives.

    A 2021 of joy and light

    "But we look with joy and light at the new year 2021 that we are

    entering. We feel that in the new year we will still be together, in one boat we will cross this sea of life. Our Lord and Saviour, who is coming to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, will be in that boat with us," His Beatitude Sviatoslav assured his people.The Primate wished everyone God's blessing, optimism, strength, and joy, so that we could really move forward together.

    "Happy New Year to you, dear brothers and sisters! Happy New Year to you, Ukraine!” he concluded.

    h t t p s : / / w w w .va t i cannews . va/en/church/news/2021-01/ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-pr imate-new-year-message.html

    JANUARY 10, 2021 33

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    JANUARY 10, 2021 34

    The Head of the UGCC: Whoever learns to be grateful will receive even more gifts from God

    Monday, 21 December 2020

    Today's Sunday is a good opportunity for all of us, especially in the context of the results of the year 2020, to thank the Lord God for the fact that we are alive, for the fact that God has given us health to serve. This was stated by the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church His Beatitude Sviatoslav in a Sunday sermon on the healing of lepers by Jesus Christ.

    The Primate added that when we thank the Lord God, He will never close His gifts to us. Anyone who can remember all

    the gifts we received, will be able to receive much more next year.

    Explaining the philosophy of gratitude, His Beatitude Sviatoslav remarked that when we thank someone, when we thank God, it is as if we are confessing our faith. We recognize that God is the source of all good. God is the key to the fullness of our lives. In His hands lies my mental and physical health.

    “Giving thanks, we profess our faith,” says the Head of the Church, “but at the same time we grow in that act of gratitude. Perhaps it is not as necessary to God as to us. We seem to open

    all our pockets of soul and body. We discover our whole being and become able to draw even more from that source than what was received primarily. Such dynamics of gratitude and receiving is the beginning of eternal life.”

    According to the preacher, this Sunday is also a good opportunity to thank each other. "We have seen how we depend on each other ...As Pope Francis said, we are all in the same boat. We will not survive alone, we must take care of each other, pray for each other, thank each other for the gift of life, because my life and health depend

    on the health of my neighbor," the Head of the Church said.“May our faith,” wished the spiritual leader of the Ukrainians, “grow day by day in the context of our gratitude to our Savior. Then Christ will also tell us: ‘Arise and go, your faith has saved you!’”

    The UGCC Department for Information

    http://news.ugcc.ua/en/news/the_head_of_the_ugcc_whoever_learns_to_be_grateful_wi l l_ rece ive_even_mo r e _ g i f t s _ f r om_god_91848.html