First official issue of "The Way", January 6, 1940.

On December 30, 1939, the pilot issue of our archeparchial newspaper, The Way, was published, followed by its first official issue on January 6, 1940. 

For nearly nine decades, The Way has been a vital source of information, sharing the stories of our Church’s life in the United States. From its inception, Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky envisioned a Catholic press to educate the faithful. In his inaugural address in the pilot issue, he wrote: 

“At a time when in the Homeland our press, Catholic and close to us in rite and language, has fallen silent, here our own press, Catholic and Ukrainian, is emerging. Go ‘The Way’ to every house where our immigrant lives! Win hearts and souls for God and the Fatherland! For the Faith, the Rite, and our language! Be an apostle! Spread God’s teaching, faith, education, school! Be a leader of youth! Grow the thousand-year-old culture of the 50-million people on this earth! Bring back the times of Saint Volodymyr!” 

Bishop Constantine’s vision reflected the urgent need for a Ukrainian Catholic press during a time when the Church in Ukraine faced immense persecution. Here in the diaspora, The Way became a beacon of faith, spreading the Word of God among its readers. 

In its early issues, the newspaper itself introduced its mission: 

“Here am I. I am ‘The Way.’ I was born on January 6, 1940, in Philadelphia, PA. I came onto the earth when the Ukrainians were at the table having their ‘Sviata Vechera.’ I am a Ukrainian. I am a Catholic. I am an eight-page newspaper and shall be published every week by the ‘Apostolate.’ Subscribe to me so that I may come to visit you frequently. From my pages, you’ll receive spiritual guidance, you’ll find news.” 

This introduction beautifully highlighted The Way’s purpose as a bilingual publication serving both Ukrainian- and English-speaking faithful. 

Along with this post, we’ve shared: 

The full text of Bishop Constantine’s address, The Way’s introduction to its readers, the first reviews from readers, and a selection of the newspaper’s logos, from its inception to today. 

We invite you to read The Way, subscribe to the Archeparchial newsletter, and support its continued growth.