Day One: Evening Vigil
The spiritual renewal program began on Saturday, February 15, with an evening vigil featuring Vespers, the Jesus Prayer, the prayerful reading of Scripture, a healing prayer with anointing, and the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God. Fr. Yuriy Shchurko delivered a spiritual reflection on the kerygma—the core proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. The vigil concluded with an evening blessing.
Day Two: Liturgical Celebrations and Spiritual Reflections
On Sunday, February 16, the day began with Matins, followed by reflections on hope delivered by UGCC bishops serving in the U.S.: Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia, Bishop Paul Chomnycky of Stamford, Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk of the St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago, and Bishop Bohdan Danylo of the St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma.
The highlight of the day was the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, presided over by His Beatitude Sviatoslav and concelebrated by Ukrainian Catholic bishops from across the U.S. The service took place in the majestic cathedral, one of the largest Greek Catholic churches in the world, drawing over a thousand faithful.
Among the honored guests were Khrystyna Haiovyshyn, Acting Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, as well as Ukrainian soldiers undergoing prosthetic treatment and rehabilitation in the U.S. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the congregation joined in singing the spiritual anthem of Ukraine, Bozhe Velykyi Yedynyi (O Great and Only God). His Beatitude Sviatoslav then offered an individual pastoral blessing to each attendee.
In the afternoon, participants reflected further on the theme of hope through various discussions. A panel on vocation, moderated by Fr. Volodymyr Radko, featured speakers such as Sr. Maria Veronica of the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and the married couple Maria Ivaniv Lonchyna and Bohdan Lonchyna.
Fr. Herman Mykhzak spoke about how the Liturgy instills hope and strengthens faith. Fr. Ostap Mykytych distinguished between hope and optimism, emphasizing that Christian hope is not mere positive thinking but a profound trust in Divine Providence.
Fr. Andriy Chornopyskyi explored the biblical understanding of hope through key Scripture passages. Fr. Yuriy Shchurko discussed the relationship between hope, war, and just peace. Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk reflected on the life of Mother Teresa as a witness to God’s gift of hope, highlighting her service and unwavering faith.
The two-day program concluded with a prayer service for hope, perseverance, peace, and justice in Ukraine, led by His Beatitude Sviatoslav and Archbishop Nelson Pérez of Philadelphia at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
These two days were a time of spiritual renewal, unity, and encouragement. Hundreds of people received the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. A distinctive feature of the celebration was the congregational singing, led by cantor Illia Galadza, who traveled from Canada for the occasion. A special program was also prepared for children.
