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Archeparchy of Philadelphia is anxiously awaiting to welcome the UGCC Synod

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23.07, [11:39] // Press-releases // This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On July 19, 2007, His Excellency John Bura, the chair of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Province Planning Committee, announced at the meeting “We all are anxiously awaiting a moment of the centennial celebration.” The entire Patriarchal Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church will take part in this glorious and magnificent celebration.

In his first pastoral letter to the Ruthenian Catholics, Bishop Ortynsky wrote “As you are aware my priests, I am a bishop without a diocese. All the Ruthenian Catholics living in the United States of America have been placed under my jurisdiction and I have been made dependant on the Apostolic Delegate and through him directly to the Holy See. Our earnest efforts shall be directed towards the creation of a full diocese in the shortest possible time, with God's help, and your wise, honest, and patient collaboration, we will surely attain.”

The earnest prayers and desires of the good bishop Ortynsky have been fulfilled. Currently, the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan See in America has four eparchies: archeparchy of Philadelphia, eparchy of Stamford, St. Nicholas eparchy in Chicago, and St. Josaphat eparchy in Parma. “In the last hundred years our Church has grown. We have full ecclesiastical structure and dynamic pastoral life. We are at the beginning of a new era. It is up to us to build up on a foundation of the blessed memory of bishop Soter Stephen Ortynsky,” said Bishop John.

His grace, Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka has invited the entire Synod of our Church for this celebration. His Beatitude Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, the head and spiritual father of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, will be a principal celebrant together with almost 40 of our Ukrainian Catholic Bishops, 10 Eastern Catholic Bishops in North America, 8 Cardinal, and over 40 Roman Catholic Bishops. His presence at this celebration was announced by his excellency, the Most Reverend Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States of America. A large representation of Orthodox and Oriental Churches, and ecumenical dignitaries are expectinged to join this celebration.

We encourage all our faithful to come and celebrate with us this milestone in the history of our Church. The main event will take place on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia. “Come and celebrate our Ukrainian Catholic faith and heritage with us”!

Press Secretariat of the Metropolitan Planning Committee