LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (03/30/97)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Let's support our shrine in D.C.

Dear Editor:

The former ambassador to Czecho-Slovakia, Tanzania and Norway, Thomas Byrn, and his wife, Margaret, attended an English-language divine liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington on December 15, 1996. "I am leaving soon for Ukraine on a humanitarian mission, and I would like to learn more about the Ukrainian Catholic rite," explained the former ambassador.

It was a great honor to welcome such guests to our shrine. Aristida Staruch met them at the door, introduced them to some parishioners and escorted them into the hall for the liturgy.

During the liturgy the Rev. Donald Latrick welcomed the distinguished guests, and afterwards the former ambassador and his wife joined the parishioners for coffee and some friendly conversation.

Yes, you read it correctly, the liturgy was celebrated in the hall, because the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family is not completed yet. Our trustee Walter Keyes and his wife, Linda, accompanied the ambassador upstairs, but the upper church stood empty and desolate. It did not reflect the rich heritage of the Ukrainian Eastern rite, because there aren't enough funds to complete it.

How proud we could have been if the ambassador and his wife could have really seen the richness of our Ukrainian rite, with all its icons and Eastern spirituality. But for the time being, we have to do with what we can.

Many hundreds and thousands of Ukrainians have already contributed to the erection of this symbol of Ukrainian Christianity in the capital of the United States where many dignitaries, Ukrainian and foreign, come more often now to visit since Ukraine has become a free nation.

If you have not contributed to Campaign 2000 to help finish the shrine, please do. The campaign is in its third year of a five-year plan. We are all very proud of our heritage, let's help show it off in all its beauty.

Theophil Staruch
Washington

The writer is a deacon at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington.

Canadian Ps&Bs deserve recognition

Dear Editor:

I welcome the continuing coverage by The Ukrainian Weekly of significant events that pertain to Ukraine. The excellent article of February 9, headlined "Investment forum explores Ukrainian market," is an excellent example of the kind of event I am referring to.

The 1989 Canadian Trade Mission was organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation. The president of the federation at that time was Dr. Peter Zakarow, a dentist and community leader from Oshawa, Ontario. This organization even provided the initial $2,000 to help ensure the success of the historic inaugural Canadian trade mission to Kyiv. Bohdan Onyschuk served as the chair of the organizing committee of this important business mission/conference.

Keep up the good work.

Mykhailo Wawryshyn
Toronto

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