Tag: Ukraine

Ukraine, World War III and Pope Francis’ roadmap for the church

In America magazine, the U.S. periodical published by the Jesuits, there is an article by Father Tomáš Halík, “Ukraine, World War III and Pope Francis’ roadmap for the church.” Halík is a professor of sociology at Charles University, Prague.

The article has an interesting thesis and worth the time reading. However, the author’s note of Pope Francis’ contribution lacks. Not because of the author but because of the Pope.

One take-away:

“If the West is now unwilling or unable to help Ukraine sufficiently to stop Russian aggression and defend its national independence, if the West sacrifices Ukraine on the basis of the false illusion that this will save world peace—as happened in the case of Czechoslovakia on the threshold of World War II—then this will be an encouragement not only for further Russian expansion, but for all dictators and aggressors around the world.”

Call to prayer tonight at the parish

Christ is among us!

We are having a 7pm bi-lingual prayer service TONIGHT for Ukraine.

Join us.

ALSO, at 7pm tonight in other parishes in the Eparchy:

St Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, 135 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford CT
St Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church, 303 Eddy Glover Blvd, New Britain CT
St Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, 569 George Street, New Haven CT
St John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, 39 New London Tpke, Glastonbury CT
St Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, 178 Linwood Avenue, Colchester CT
Sts Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 105 Clifton Avenue, Ansonia CT
Holy Dormition of BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church, 255 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport CT
St Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, 24 Wenzel Terrace, Stamford CT
St Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, 35 Allen Street, Terryville CT

AND the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches

Holy Trinity Parish of Orthodox Church of Ukraine 99 York Street, Bridgeport CT
St Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 10 Oakwood Street, Bridgeport, CT
St Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 24 Winter Street, New Britain CT
St Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 50 Fowler Street, New Haven CT

AND in Massachusetts

Sts Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 45 Newbury Street, Ludlow MA

Appeal of His Beatitude Sviatoslav

Appeal of His Beatitude Sviatoslav to the Sons and Daughters of the Ukrainian People in Ukraine and Abroad, and to all People of Good Will

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The recognition by the president of the Russian Federation of the “independence and sovereignty” of the self-proclaimed LNR and DNR creates serious challenges and threats for the entire international community and for international law, on the basis of which today people and their nations exist and cooperate. Irreparable damage has been done to the very logic of international relations, which are called to safeguard peace and the just order of societies, the supremacy of law, the accountability of state powers, the defence of the human being, human life and natural rights. Today all of humanity has been placed in danger—that the powerful have a right to impose themselves on whomever they wish, with no regard for the rule of law.

In its decision the government of the Russian Federation unilaterally withdrew from a lengthy peace process, tasked with ensuring the restoration of dignified conditions for life on the territories controlled by Russia in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, for those impacted by Russian military aggression. The war, initiated against our people in 2014, has inflicted deep wounds on many of our fellow citizens: thousands killed, wounded, left in solitude. Yesterday’s step taken by the president of the Russian Federation destroyed foundational principles for a long-term process of restoring peace in Ukraine, created the path for a new wave of military aggression against our state, opened the doors for a full scale military operation against the Ukrainian people.

We consider the defense of our native land, our historical memory and our hope, our God-given right to exist to be the personal responsibility and sacred duty of the citizens of Ukraine. The defence of our Fatherland is our natural right and civic duty. We are strong when we are together. Now has come the time to unite our efforts in order to defend the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Ukrainian state. The duty and responsibility of all of humanity—to actively work to avert war and protect a just peace.

We are convinced that the world cannot develop and find answers for the challenges of today by resorting to might and violence, by showing disdain for shared human values and the truth of the Gospel. I call upon all people of good will to not ignore the suffering of the Ukrainian people, brought on by Russian military aggression. We are a people who love peace. And precisely for that reason we are ready to defend it and fight for it.

Today we call out in prayer to the Almighty Creator, with a special appeal for wisdom for those entrusted with making important decisions for society, in whose hands lies the fate of humanity. We ask the Heavenly Father for assistance in restoring a just peace on Ukrainian land.

We pray especially for those who defend Ukraine, who in these days are for us an example of loving sacrifice and dedicated service to their people. May the merciful Lord protect them from every danger and crown their efforts with the victory of truth and good.

We call for the gracious blessing of a loving God and Creator upon Ukraine and its people!

The blessing of the Lord be upon you.

+Sviatoslav

Day of Prayer for Peace on January 26

Christ is among us!
Two opportunities for prayer for January 26:
1. At the Parish on January 26 at 7pm, we will pray the Moleben to the Holy Mother of God. It is critical that we as a parish community of faith come to the Church to beg for the gift of peace! One’s physical presence is an important witness of Faith. We will try to have the service on Facebook.

 

2. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly urges brother Knights around the world to join with Pope Francis and the Universal Church in praying for peace in Ukraine, on January 26, at 3 p.m. EST. Learn more: https://bit.ly/35hsxfH

Ukrainian Bishop Paul and Archbishop Blair expect to be in attendance.

Ukrainian Bishops in the USA call to prayer

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Mt. 189:20)

For the past eight years, since the invasion of parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has lived under constant threat. The hybrid war fomented on Ukraine by Russia continues unabated until this day.

Since that time, the Ukrainian people, in Ukraine and throughout the world, have responded to this unprovoked aggression with undaunted determination.  They have countered the Russian disinformation campaign with objective truth, they have morally and financially supported the Ukrainian military and especially the wounded soldiers and citizens displaced by the conflict, and, most importantly, they have prayed to God for peace and an end to the conflict.

As you are aware, the tensions along Ukraine’s eastern border have recently intensified to the point that a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia has become a distinct possibility.

Shaken by the threat of actual armed conflict on the European continent, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, addressed the situation in Ukraine in remarks to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, January 23: “I make a heartfelt appeal to all people of good will to raise prayers to Almighty God that all political actions and initiatives may be at the service of human brotherhood rather than partisan interests.”  The Holy Father then proposed that Wednesday, January 26 be proclaimed a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine in the universal Catholic Church.  We wish to sincerely thank Pope Francis for this gesture of solidarity and his paternal love and care for the people of Ukraine.

Our desire as your bishops is that all our parishes and faithful take up this appeal to prayer of the Holy Father.  In our parish communities, wherever possible, we ask that the parish faithful be gathered on Wednesday, January 26 for prayer vigils, divine liturgies, molebens or akathists.  We also encourage that our families and individual faithful respond to this appeal with their own private devotions, prayer and fasting on that day.  Let an avalanche of prayer from every corner of the world ascend to heaven so that the Lord would make an end to the threat of war, death and destruction in Ukraine and everywhere in the world.

We also encourage our faithful to take part in a “Marathon of Prayer” for peace in Ukraine initiated by the Head and Father of our Church, His Beatitude, Patriarch Sviatoslav. It will take place on Wednesday, January 26 for twelve consecutive hours from 9:00 am to 9:00 (Kyiv time); 2:00 am to 2:00 pm (EST); 1:00 am to 1:00 pm (CST); 12:00 am to 12:00 pm (MST); and 11:00 pm to 11:00 am (PST) and can be accessed on the internet at zhyve.tv

With confidence and faith let us lift our hearts to the Lord who saves, as we pray with the Psalmist: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles.” (Ps. 34:17)

+Borys Gudziak
Archbishop of Philadelphia,
Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States

+Paul Chomnycky, OSBM
Eparch of Stamford

+Benedict Aleksiychuk
Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago

+ Bohdan J. Danylo
Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma

+Andriy Rabiy
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia

US Ukrainian Catholic Bishops make peace and justice appeal

In letter to the faithful, the US Ukraine Catholic Bishops speak out against the aggression of Russian toward the people of Ukraine. In part the bishops wrote, “God-given human dignity and freedom threaten rulers who seek to dominate others, build empires, enslave, and colonize. Those with the audacity to resist, who dare to move from the fear of totalitarianism to freedom and dignity are mercilessly punished.”

The bishops ask us to “Pray for peace and justice for Ukraine. Be informed. Support the suffering.” Read the entire episcopal missive:

 Pray for peace and justice for Ukraine

Update on Humanitarian Efforts in Ukraine

U.S. Senator Blumenthal will be visiting the parish on December 10th at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will take place in the church hall.
 
The main focus of his visit is to let our community know where things stand with the Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative and our Wounded Ukrainian Soldier Project.

Ukraine at a Crossroads –Yale seminar

UKRAINE AT A CROSSROADS: WILL IT BECOME A SUCCESS STORY?

Monday, November 6, 2017 at 4:00 pm

Watson Center (WTS), 60 Sachem Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Four years have passed since the Revolution of Dignity began in Ukraine. The country faced war, the annexation of Crimea, and millions of internally displaced persons. At the same time, Ukraine was pushing a reform agenda with major involvement from the international community and civil society. Today, the nation is in a time of transition. Pension, medical and educational reforms were introduced only during the last 2 months. Despite many changes in place, a high level of corruption still remains.

While the future is uncertain and the tipping point has not passed, the question is: What can make Ukraine a success story? How can it avoid being treated as a failed state? What is a bigger priority now: democracy, economy or rule of law? These issues will be discussed by three World Fellows (Taras Shevchenko ‘17, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk ‘15, and Andriy Shevchenko ‘08), joined by the executive director of the IMF. They will speak about possible future scenarios for their country and will share their views on how to achieve success in a difficult situation.

Speakers:

  • Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, social activist, founder of the Centre for Economic Strategy and lead vocalist for Okean Elzy (2015 World Fellow)
  • Andriy Shevchenko, Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada (2008 World Fellow)
  • Taras Shevchenko, director of Center for Democracy and Rule of Law (2017 World Fellow)

Moderator:

  • Vladyslav Rashkovan, alternate Executive Director at International Monetary Fund

To RSVP for the talk, please email taras.shevchenko@yale.edu

Contact:
Jackson Institute for Global Affairs
203-432-6253
jackson.institute@yale.edu