APPEAL TO THE COMMUNITY: Help support the papal visit with generous contributions (05/06/01)

APPEAL TO THE COMMUNITY

Help support the papal visit with generous contributions

Following is the full text of an appeal to Ukrainian Americans issued on April 24 by Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II will make a pastoral visit to Ukraine on June 23-27 at the invitation of the president of Ukraine and the bishops of both the Ukrainian Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches. The principal sites of the visit will be Kyiv, the national capital, and Lviv, the seat of the major archbishop and cardinal of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, as well as the cardinal-archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. During his visit, the pope will recognize the sufferings of the past century by beatifying several martyrs for the Christian faith.

Our major archbishop, Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, has asked the faithful of the entire Ukrainian Catholic Church to pray for the success of the pope's visit. The holy father's visit to Ukraine is expected to have a significant spiritual impact on the entire nation, and particularly for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine.

His presence and messages on the theme of the visit, "Christ: The Way, Truth and Life" will significantly impact the faith and culture of this geographically second largest country in Europe, with a population of 49 million people.

Such a visit will necessarily involve tremendous costs, well in excess of what may normally be afforded by the state and Church authorities in Ukraine. Much preparatory work has already begun, including the restoration of the exterior of the historic St. George Cathedral and the entire metropolitan's residence in Lviv, where the holy father is expected to stay while in Lviv. Preparations are underway for the sites where the holy father will celebrate divine liturgies for the millions expected to attend, including a special youth gathering.

Let us help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine meet their share of the costs of the papal visit. This additional financial burden will be too much for a Church and country facing tremendous economic renewal difficulties. The expected media coverage of the papal visit throughout the world may, in turn, provide additional socio-economic benefits for Ukraine and its development. Your generous help at this time will play a crucial role in helping meet the financial costs of the papal visit and in influencing the future development of Ukraine on the world scene.

Special contribution envelopes are available at your parish. You may also send your generous gift to Archbishop's Chancery, 827 North Franklin St., Philadelphia, PA 19123-2097. Your generous gift will be forwarded to Major-Archbishop Husar for the costs of the papal visit.

Know that your help and contribution is very much appreciated in our prayers.

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