Witnesses of faith

On 29 January, a meeting of the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) from the countries of Western Europe was held in Rome, with aim to establish a closer cooperation among the structures of UGCC in the region. It was attended by apostolic exarch in Germany and Scandinavia, bishop Petro Kryk; London eparch and apostolic visitator for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Ireland, bishop Hlib Lonchyna; apostolic visitator in Italy and Spain, bishop Dionisii Liakhovych; and delegate in Benelux and Switzerland and eparch of Paris, bishop Borys Gudziak.Main areas of interest. Among the issues examined during the meeting in Rome, there was a matter of training and selection of priests for pastoral care in the countries of Western Europe. The hierarchs shared their pastoral experience, considering that the faithful in the region include both representatives of the former waves of emigration who form a permanent Ukrainian diaspora today, as well as representatives of the current massive emigration from Ukraine. The prelates also discussed the main areas of interest in regard to further development and orientation of UGCC in Western Europe: implementation of the UGCC development strategy for the period until 2020 "Living parish – a place to meet living Christ"; pastoral care among children and youth, preservation of spiritual and national identity and fostering of vocations; catechization of children, youth, adults; integration, mixed marriages, prevention of assimilation; liturgical themes: unification and approbation of liturgical texts in foreign languages, participation of children in the communion; joint days of spiritual renewal and meetings of priests of UGCC in Western Europe aimed to exchange of information and experience; financial questions, criteria for donations.New eparchies in Great Britain and France. It’s worth mentioning that in January, pope Benedict XVI raised the existing apostolic exarchates for Byzantine Rite Ukrainians in Great Britain and France to the level of eparchies. "We are establishing an eparchy in the community of the Ukrainian faithful of the Byzantine Rite in Great Britain, who are increasing in number, so that they can be led for the good of their souls and so that at the same time one can see the growth of their faith", wrote the Holy Father. According to the new eparch, bishop Hlib Lonchyna, this step is not only an honour but also a responsibility that the new Eparchy of the Holy Family becomes worthy of its name, works towards the greater glory of God, renews faith in the hearts of its faithful and becomes a place to encounter the living Christ. As reported by the official website of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the London eparchy currently has 30 parishes while the Paris eparchy 25. In Germany and Scandinavia, the apostolic exarchate, established in 1959, includes some 75 parishes. Upon the request of the UGCC Synod of Bishops, the Holy Father designated an apostolic visitator for UGCC faithful consisting mostly of migrant workers in Italy (2003) and in Spain (2004). However, UGCC in these countries does not have an official legal structure. Currently, there are 140 UGCC parishes in Italy and 40 in Spain. Church services are usually held in local Roman-Catholic churches, and the legal status of the Ukrainian church congregations has a form of chaplaincy or a mission for the faithful of another Church sui iuris on the territory of the Latin Church. Overall, some 1.5 million Ukrainians reside in Germany, England, France, Italy and Spain. There are 125 priests serving as UGCC pastors for more than 300 Church communities on the territories of the Western European countries.Apostles of faith and ambassadors of culture. "We want to assist our faithful overseas to realize that they are not, as they are often called – migrant workers – but that, above all, they are witnesses of faith, dignified members of a martyred Church, which Christ miraculously and sacramentally resurrected", said bishop Dionisiy Liakhovych at the press conference in Italy. "They are the sons and daughters of people whom the Lord with His forceful hand is leading from slavery, people with a long history and a rich historical heritage. We are all called to be apostles of the faith of Jesus Christ and ambassadors of Ukrainian culture. Our presence in various countries of Western Europe is also an opportunity to get a deeper understanding of Catholicism and its unity in diversity", concluded the prelate.