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      Songs of Hope: Ukrainian Catholic Community Celebrates Annual Carols Festival in Philadelphia

      On January 12, the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia hosted its annual Festival of Carols, bringing together choirs and musical groups from parishes across the Archeparchy. The event celebrated the rich musical heritage of the Ukrainian Catholic community and offered an evening of joy and unity.

      Participants included choirs from the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchial Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Perth Amboy, Christ the King Parish in Philadelphia, Saint Nicholas Parish in Philadelphia, and St. Michael Parish in Jenkintown. The program also featured performances by the Flute Quartet from New Jersey, the Ukrainian House of Gospel Singers from Vineland, NJ, the Kobzarska Sich Bandura Ensemble, the "Soloveyky" Children’s Ensemble, the Male Choir "Dzvin" from Philadelphia, and the Choir of the United Baptist Church from Warminster, PA.

      Fr. Roman Pitula, Rector of the Cathedral, served as the master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through the program. The festival was honored by the presence of Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop of Philadelphia, and Bishop Teodor Matsapula, the newly appointed bishop of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy in Ukraine.

      In his remarks, Archbishop Borys emphasized the importance of hope in today’s world, saying, "In the Catholic Church, this year is a Jubilee Year—a year of hope. We Ukrainians need hope, Americans need hope—we are living in turbulent times. And there is no better source of hope than communal prayer, our sacraments, and singing together. Saint Augustine said that he who sings prays twice. This evening is always an evening of great joy, a climax of the Christmas holidays."

      Bishop Teodor expressed his gratitude for being part of the celebration, sharing, "This is my first time in America, and I am delighted that my first day began this way—with such wonderful company and with carols. The Christmas carol is a code of our identity. It is something unique. It is a proclamation of the Gospel. It is a connection with generations—our great-grandparents sang these songs, and we use the same words. The carol also has a social dimension—those who carol collect funds to help those in need, for example, the armed forces."

      Reflecting on the current situation in Ukraine, Bishop Teodor added, "This is a very difficult moment for Ukraine. People are not desperate, but they are exhausted. Your unity with Ukraine and the preservation of identity are a source of support for us. It is great to know that here in the U.S., there are those who hold the Ukrainian flag high and proclaim the truth, who do not let the world forget the pain that Ukrainians are enduring."

      The evening concluded with a heartfelt performance by a combined choir of all participants.

      Photos