The chief shepherd of the Ukrainian people in the Philadelphia area expressed his gratitude for the prayers and support of Roman Catholics in the Diocese of Camden and beyond during a March 8 interview with the Catholic Star Herald.
The Most Reverend Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, responded to a March 3 letter issued by New Jersey’s Catholic Bishops in which they expressed their “prayers and support to the victims of the odium and hostility that have fallen on Ukraine” beginning in late February. “Through the intercession of Mary, Our Blessed Mother and Queen of Peace, we ask that the Lord guide the world’s leaders to work toward a swift and diplomatic resolution to end this war,” it continued. The letter bore the signatures of all seven Catholic bishops of New Jersey, including Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan of Camden.
Archbishop Gudziak responded on behalf of the faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, recognizing, “During the past two weeks, our chancery, individual parishes and communities received thousands of phone calls, and the support of the Roman Catholic Church has been overwhelming and heartwarming.”
Noting with sorrow that two million refugees have been displaced thus far by Russian forces, including the damage of close to 250 schools, the archbishop declared, “This is the first truly ‘live-streamed’, fully wired war, and we are observers of the suffering in real time.”
Local, national and international support has been a bright light in the unimaginable darkness, Archbishop Gudziak said. The Archeparchy and the Ukrainian Catholic Church throughout the United States focused on collecting funds for humanitarian aid, while other local organizations have been collecting goods such as food and clothing. In addition, neighboring countries, such as Moldova and Poland, have accepted about 1.5 million Ukraine refugees to date.
“Internationally, seeing how our leaders and the world have come together has been inspiring,” he noted. “Ukraine has united the world. … People in the world are inspired to believe again – in truth, in sacrifice, in solidarity.
The tumult in Ukraine has affected Archbishop Gudziak personally, as he has many friends and colleagues “from Lviv in the West, which is relatively safe, to Kharkiv in the East, which is being brutally destroyed by rocket fire and air strikes.” He explained, “I lived in Ukraine for 20 years working on the establishment and development of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv – the only Catholic university in the former Soviet Union. Recently, the Russian strike damaged a main building of Kharkiv University, one of the oldest universities in Ukraine.”
Archbishop Gudziak recalled a visit to Ukraine early last month with a joyful mission – to ordain a new priest who had served as his deacon in Paris and then in Philadelphia for five years.
“This young priest was unable to leave the country, and he is currently in Ukraine,” the archbishop said. “It is painful and heartbreaking, but we must stay focused.”
The Ukrainian Archeparchy advocates those concerned to pray; stay informed and share information, and support Ukraine via humanitarian agencies. Archbishop Gudziak described a recent prayer vigil with vespers, reflections by numerous archbishops from the Philadelphia Archdiocese, and the praying of the Rosary with a special intention for Ukraine led by the Roman Catholic bishops.
A Ukrainian Catholic Crisis Media Center has been established, complete with a website – uccmc.org – and a social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Archbishop Gudziak also serves as Head of the External Church Relations for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, focusing on getting as much information about the current events in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukraine to as many audiences as possible.
To assist with needs in Ukraine, Archbishop Gudziak and other U.S. Ukrainian Catholic Bishops have established a fund for humanitarian support. See ukrarcheparchy.us/donate for details. In addition, the Diocese of Camden advocates for donations to go to Catholic Relief Services at www.crs.org.
“We must stay focused,” Archbishop Gudziak concluded. “I encourage all to pray, to be informed, to help in any way you can.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
