Pilgrims of Hope from Perth Amboy Share Their Testimonies

Rev. Ivan Turyk, Pastor

The pilgrimage to Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope was a deeply spiritual and unforgettable journey. One of the most moving moments was a powerful encounter with Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Basilica, where he delivered a message of hope to Ukrainian pilgrims amidst the ongoing war. It was a profound honor for me to pray for all our parishioners and to receive the Holy Eucharist at the altar built over the tomb of Saint Peter, located beneath the main altar of the Vatican Basilica.

The following day, we celebrated another beautiful liturgy at St. Sophia Cathedral, where two young altar servers from Assumption Parish in Perth Amboy, NJ — Nicholas Derevenskiy and Andriy Hrud — had the privilege of participating in the service.

Our pilgrimage also included visits to the four Papal Basilicas and the Holy Stairs, offering moments of deep prayer, reflection, and penance. We visited several Marian shrines and paid our respects at the tomb of Pope Francis — each stop enriching our spiritual experience.

The journey concluded with awe-inspiring visits to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon — each place offering a deeper connection to our faith and the timeless beauty of the Eternal City.

Andriy Hrad

This summer, my family and I went on an unforgettable pilgrimage to the Vatican. We traveled from the United States to Rome to participate in the Universal Assembly of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. On June 28, 2025, a grand pilgrimage Liturgy was held in St. Peter’s Basilica, led by His Beatitude Sviatoslav. Our Father Ivan was also present at this Liturgy, making the event even closer to our hearts.

A truly amazing blessing was the greeting from Pope Leo XIV, who personally addressed us, the pilgrims, with words of encouragement and prayer, and gave us his Apostolic Blessing.

The Liturgy was festive, inspiring, and at the same time very sincere and filled with light.

The highlight of my visit was serving as an altar server during the liturgy at St. Sophia Cathedral in Rome.

I felt that I belonged to a great family in Christ and that our faith is a true bridge between nations and continents. This pilgrimage strengthened my faith, filled me with spiritual joy, and inspired me to serve God even more sincerely.

Nicholas Derevenskiy

It was truly special because I got to pray with His Holiness Pope Leo, who warmly greeted the faithful, and also with His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Together with thousands of Ukrainian pilgrims, we gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It was a moment I will never forget.

One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was visiting all four Holy Doors at the four major basilicas: St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. I also had the chance to climb the Holy Stairs on my knees, just like many pilgrims have done for centuries. We explored the Vatican Museums and saw the breathtaking Sistine Chapel — it was amazing to see Michelangelo’s art in person.

Another highlight for me was serving as an altar boy with my friend Andriy during the Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian church in Rome. We served with 62 priests, including our own priest, Father Ivan, from the Assumption Catholic Church in Perth Amboy.

This pilgrimage was not just a trip — it was a powerful spiritual journey. I felt so close to God, to my Church, and to my Ukrainian roots. It’s something I will carry in my heart forever.