Latest Headlines:
• RUSSIA: GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH AT ODDS OVER PAPAL VISIT // 13.02.2002 (16:17)
• Ukrainian Ministry Presents New Books On Papal Visit // 29.09.2001 (13:15)
• Kazakhs Will Hear Pope in Russian; Also a Stop in Armenia // 29.08.2001 (18:56)
• Pope Greets Ukrainians On 10th Anniversary of Independence // 23.08.2001 (16:32)
• Over 50% of Ukrainians View Papal Visit Positively // 07.08.2001 (01:51)
• Pope Will Also Find Ukrainians in Kazakhstan // 01.08.2001 (02:56)
• Pope Gets Boost From Putin // 30.07.2001 (11:23)
• Belarusian Cardinal Hopes for Papal Visit "Sooner or Later Alexy II’s Veto Will Be Discarded" // 30.07.2001 (10:24)
• Pope Gives Patriarch Alexis Book of His Speeches from Ukraine // 26.07.2001 (23:45)
• U.S. Ukrainian Catholics find hope in pope's trip to homeland // 26.07.2001 (00:33)
• Ukrainian Envoy to Vatican Hails Papal Visit // 16.07.2001 (17:14)
• "Reflecting on John Paul"-- Kyiv Post // 07.07.2001 (12:52)
• Seven Impressions: A Commentary from Kyiv // 06.07.2001 (12:34)
• Russians Impressed With Pope During His Ukraine Trip // 05.07.2001 (11:51)
• John Paul II Recalls Key Moments in Ukraine // 05.07.2001 (11:47)
• Pope Thanks Mary for Trip to Ukraine // 04.07.2001 (19:38)
• Orthodox Archpriest Joins Papal Ceremony // 04.07.2001 (19:34)
• Orthodox Theologian Views Papal Trip // 04.07.2001 (19:29)
• Ukraine a Step Toward Re-evangelizing Europe, Pope Says // 04.07.2001 (09:58)
• Pope Beatifies 28 Greek Catholics at Largest Byzantine Liturgy in History // 27.06.2001 (21:14)
|
 |
|
|
Lviv's Nativity of the Mother of God parish awaits Pope
LVIV, Ukraine (CNS) -- The church's brick-red walls are unfinished; the edges are rough. Much of the church's surrounding field has not been sown with seedlings. Inside, parishioners mustered a makeshift altar for Pope John Paul II's June 24-27 visit to their homeland. Despite the lack of grandeur, the Vatican selected Nativity of the Mother of God Church as one of two sites from which the pope will speak to the public in Lviv, the center of Ukrainian Catholicism.
22.06.2001 (16:36) // Religious Information Service of Ukraine
Source: Zenon Zawada, Catholic News Service
|
``I think that for the Holy Father, it wasn't about the best site or the nicest stone walls, but (being historically) significant, and vibrant people,'' said Father Orest Fredyna, 38, pastor at the Eastern Catholic church. The parish was formed 10 years ago; construction of the church began six years ago. The church relies entirely on its 4,000-member parish for funding. The average wage of a parishioner is about $30 a month. ``It's not wealthy people or foundations who built this,'' Father Fredyna said. ``The parish members built all this together. To me, it's another example that Ukrainians have an innate spirit of God.''
Nativity is in many ways symbolic of Catholicism in Ukraine, the priest said. After more than a half-century of persecution under the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian Catholic Church is enjoying rebirth and growth in Western Ukraine, led largely by young priests, nuns and parishioners. But like Nativity of the Mother of God's construction, progress has been slow because of the country's economic woes. Ukrainian Catholics view the pope's visit as a valuable spiritual boost.
``Without a doubt, this is a good opportunity for every person to think about who is this pope,'' said Vasyl Bilash, president of St. Sophia's Youth Catholic Center in Lviv. At Nativity, parishioners have been volunteering their free time to prepare the church for the pope's visit. Female parishioners have been weaving wreaths in the cool concrete chambers of the church's basement. The traditional Ukrainian wreaths will decorate the scene for the pope's visit with youths in front of the church June 26. ``I'm doing this for the church and for my soul,'' said Ira Rozhyk, 60, a retiree who spent most of the past several weeks weaving wreaths. While studying for final exams, students have set aside hours to prepare hymns and even set up a Web site for their church, www.hBohorodytci.lviv.ua.
At the youth rally, Pope John Paul will greet children dressed in traditional costumes and members of religious and scouting organizations. To prepare for the rally, about 300 of Lviv's youth gathered at a nearby theater after Mass June 17 for a ``Youth and the Pope'' conference. They studied the pope's biography and practiced hymns and songs written for the papal visit. They also crafted a resolution in which they declared that Ukraine is in a deep spiritual and moral crisis, and that Pope John Paul's visit signals the arrival of a brighter day. ``Our goal is to be ready in our spiritual plans and to have a joyful outlook,'' said Mariana Drushlyakivska, 22, a conference organizer. ``We also invited our Orthodox brothers because we live in one country and we want people to positively welcome this.''
A few miles south of the church, a construction company has been building an altar at Lviv's Hippodrome, a horse-racing track where the pope will celebrate Mass June 26 and a Divine Liturgy the next morning. The visit is the biggest event in Lviv since Ukrainian independence in 1991, and organizers will have to provide unusually large amounts of public transportation, security and portable toilets. Cars will be forbidden within three miles of Nativity church and the Hippodrome. The government will provide minibuses and trains, said Mykola Fredyna, a member of the coordinating committee for the visit. Almost all worshippers will find themselves standing: There are only a few hundred benches at the church and the Hippodrome.
|
|
|
Get the printable page