Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy Annual Report 2022-2023 (Eng)

2022-2023 UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC ARCHEPARCHY OF PHILADELPHIA

ukrcatholic.org

Life and Ministry

Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia

of the

600

400

200

0 2018

2019 Baptisms

2020

2021

First Confessions & Solemn Communions

Marriages

2022 Deaths

13.2K 13K 12.8K 12.6K 12.4K 12.2K 2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Missions 2

60

40

20

0 2018

2019 Priests

1

2020 Deacons

2021

Seminarians

2022 Sisters

Parishes 62

Glory to Jesus Christ! Слава Ісусу Христу!

Dear Friends, Allow me to present to you the Annual Report of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia with a sincere hope that this will become a tradition reinforcing our unity and fostering openness and transparency within our Ukrainian Catholic community.

We all want to know more about one another. The good we do together inspires us and makes us stronger.

In our tradition, when referring to the New Testament, we use the Greek word euangelion, which means good news. Along with turmoil and challenges, there is so much good news worth knowing and sharing. In the deluge of information, the good news published in our newsletter, The Way, posted on social media, or shared from the pulpit does not always make it to all the faithful of the Philadelphia Archeparchy.

It was a year of tragic losses, deep trauma, and devastating destruction. But it was also a year of untold courage, valor, generosity, and creativity.

In a comprehensive yet concise manner, we would like to inform you of what has happened in the past year and what you helped accomplish. Most importantly, we share what God has done with us, for us, and through us.

Last December, Bishop Andriy Rabiy was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg. On behalf of the clergy, religious, and faithful of Philadelphia I would like to thank him for his many years of dedicated service to the people of our Archeparchy.

We are living through a brutal war against Ukraine – a country near and dear to us from where our Church tradition comes.

It was a year of tragic losses, deep trauma, and devastating destruction. But it was also a year of untold courage, valor, generosity, and creativity. The story is biblical: David stands up to Goliath. We all try to play our part to support our sisters and brothers through prayer, advocacy, and aid.

We can help our fellow brothers and sisters in Ukraine if we are strong in the US. Thus the Archeparchy of Philadelphia continues to develop ministries, services, and initiatives presented in this report.

Read and see how the Archeparchy has responded to internal and global challenges. Learn about the service to our neighbor through the Good Samaritan Pantry, the blessing of a new church, and the ordination of new ministers. The past year was full of events – joyful and sad – presented here in a timeline. I am grateful to each of you for your prayers, support, and generosity.

Our people and our Church are at the epicenter of global change. It is a time to rise and be counted. It is time to encourage and build up one another, proclaiming the Good News.

2

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) published the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in June 2002 in response to the sex abuse crisis in the Church. Additionally, the Charter created the USCCB’s Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection. The Secretariat also developed the compliance audit mechanism to assist bishops in fulfilling the Charter’s requirements. The Secretariat publishes an annual report based on the audit results for all 196 dioceses/eparchies in the United States.

May the safeguarding of minors be an ever more concrete and regular priority in the Church’s educational efforts and may it be promoted as a service that is open, reliable, and authoritative.

Pope Francis The Archeparchy appointed new a Review Board, which holds a minimum of three meetings per year. Thanks to its efforts, the Archeparchy is compliant with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People as evaluated by the outside auditors StoneBridge.

All who work with or around children, youth, or vulnerable adults must complete Safe Environment training and present a background check every five years. The Archeparchy uses the VIRTUS Online training platform and relies on JDP, a nationwide background check provider, for background checks. Additionally, the Archeparchy oversees Safe Environment and VIRTUS training for children/youth involved in parish life or enrolled in parochial schools.

3

Article 2 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People mandates that each diocese/eparchy have a review board that functions as a confidential consultative body to the bishop/eparch. This board advises the diocesan/eparchial bishop in his assessment of allegations of (sexual) abuse of minors and/or vulnerable adults and in his determination of a cleric’s, diocesan/eparchial employee's, or volunteer's suitability for ministry. On a regular basis, it reviews diocesan/eparchial policies and procedures for dealing with sexual abuse of minors. We are most grateful to the Review Board and safe guarding teams for their diligence and professionalism.

- Helen Chaykowsky (Review Board Chair) - John Kurey - Stephen Nasevich - Rev. Ihor Royik - Myron Soltys - Andrew Tershakovec, MD - Xenia Zacharczuk Protosyncellus/Chancellor Mitred Archpriest Peter D. Waslo (215) 627-0143 pwaslo@ukrcatholic.org Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC) Sister Natalya Stoczanyn, SSMI (845) 709-0769 Safe Environment Coordinator (SEC) Sean McLaughlin (215) 627-0143 smclaughlin@ukrcatholic.org

The Good Samaritan Pantry is a charitable initiative of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia serving those in need, regardless of age, race, or nationality. Sister Teodora Kopyn, OSBM, heads the ministry.

In 2020, responding to the global call of Pope Francis, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, and the Department of Social Services of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Archeparchy of Philadelphia launched the Good Samaritan Pantry. Bishop Andriy Rabiy, Sister Teodora Kopyn, OSBM, and Sean McLaughlin offered particular leadership in establishing the Pantry.

In 2023, the Good Samaritan Pantry, along with other charitable projects led by the Basilian Sisters, was recognized by the Lumen Christi Award established by Catholic Extension. This is a national Catholic award that was bestowed on representatives of our Church for the first time. We congratulate our Basilian Sisters.

The main idea - help low-income families and the homeless.

Sr. Teodora Kopyn, OSBM

In Philadelphia, about six thousand people are homeless. Kensington is the neighborhood with the highest number of homeless and addicted people of different backgrounds. Sr. Teodora and her volunteers visit this neighborhood weekly with their outreach program.

Main areas of activity of the Good Samaritan Pantry: - Distribution of food, clothing, and supplies - Assistance to Ukrainian refugees - Work with the homeless and addicts Over the course of one year, the Good Samaritan Pantry distributed more than 14,000 food packages and other necessities.

Some 2,000 families from Ukraine have received material assistance, including clothing, furniture, personal hygiene items, food, and other essentials.

The Good Samaritan Pantry is made possible by a vibrant volunteer community of over 40 people. All volunteers note that helping others is a great source of personal enrichment.

- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, PA - Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great in Fox Chase, PA 4

Protosyncellus (Vicar General) and Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia Msgr. Peter Waslo was elevated by Patriarch Sviatoslav to the rank of Mitred Archpriest.

Father Peter was ordained as a priest of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, OH in 1986, studied canon law at St. Paul University, and the University of Ottawa, and over the years held numerous pastoral, administrative, and leadership positions in St. Josaphat’s Eparchy and the Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

When the Lord calls, when the church asks, when the bishop is in need, Father Peter never says no. You can always count on him.

Metropolitan Borys Gudziak

Mitred Archpriest Peter Waslo is never one to shy away from work. "My thing is to lead with my sleeves rolled up, by example, by doing because I think it is hypocritical to ask people to do something or demand something of somebody if you don't ask or demand it of yourself. I understand my role as a servant. Our job is working with the people whether in administration or at the parish level."

The Holy Spirit leads us all. He is the leader.

Mitred Archpriest Peter Waslo

From August 1 to 6, youth of the Philadelphia Archeparchy participated in World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. Together with 1.5 million young people from all over the world, they were welcomed and united in joy, prayer, and God's presence.

"In such a difficult time for Ukrainians, we were embraced by youth from the whole world: one family with a common goal - to meet God, to see His face in each other, to be the Church of the Risen Christ, and to find peace, joy and strength," stated Fr. Ostap Mykytchyn.

In the first months of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of the United States met with Sister Donna Markham, then president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. During the discussion, they realized that no chapter of Catholic Charities existed in any Eastern Eparchy/Diocese in the United States. The bishops decided to create Catholic Charities for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States.

The process of establishing the chapter is ongoing. It is overseen by Mitred Archpriest Peter Waslo, Archeparchy's chief-of-staff Sofia Zacharczuk, and Sr. Melanie DiPietro, serving as legal counsel. This new chapter of Catholic Charities will be a national chapter sponsored by all four Ukrainian Catholic eparchies in the United States.

5

Over the last decade, the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia has been praying for and awaiting news of the ordination of new priests. This summer we were blessed with two new presbyters, and we are happy to introduce them.

Father Andrii Rubel discovered a desire to dedicate his life to serving God and His people gradually. He had the example of his father, a priest. “…not only young people need the attention of a priest but also the elderly. It is important to be here and now, at this very moment, with those who are in need and feel lonely.

Every moment in life is equally important,” shares Father Andrii about his pastoral experience as a deacon at Holy Myrrh-Bearers parish in Swarthmore, PA. Father Andrii was ordained at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Philadelphia by Metropolitan Borys on July 24th.

He and his wife Halyna have a one-year-old son, Amadeo, and a newborn son, Theodore. The family is filled with joy and zeal at the beginning of this new stage in their life.

On June 4, 2023, Saints Joachim and Anna, the youngest mission of the Archeparchy, in Front Royal, Virginia, reached an important milestone - the consecration of a new church.

The Ukrainian Catholic mission in the Shenandoah Valley began its journey of faith in 2015 under the dedicated pastoral care of Father Robert Hitchens. Metropolitan Borys consecrated the altar and the church, purchased by the community in November 2020.

This year Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Cherry Hill, NJ celebrated a different milestone: one hundred years of history of faith, education, and service in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.

The parish was founded on September 6, 1923, in Camden, NJ, under the pastoral care of Fr. John J. Dorohovic. In 1968, the faithful were able to purchase the property in Cherry Hill and subsequently build a new church.

Father Paul Spotts was born in the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania. He entered the five-year Diaconate program at St. Pius X Seminary in Scranton, PA and in 2009 was ordained a deacon. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Metropolitan Borys in his home parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Frackville, PA, on August 15th, the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. “As a priest, I will continue many things I was doing as a deacon. However, as a priest, I will be able to do even more— to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and anoint the sick,” Father Paul shares his enthusiasm at the beginning of his new ministry.

Father Paul and his wife Donna had been Catechism instructors at St. Michael’s in Frackville for many years.

The Spotts family is actively involved in parish life and assist with parish and deanery fundraising projects, especially the annual Seminary Day in July.

6

$1,701,284

$3,357,798

$791,607

+

$631,924

+

$544,232

+ Support of Internally Displaced Persons *At donor request

Medical & First Aid

Emergency Food Assistance

Church Ministry

Supply chain **Supported by the General Aid Fund

Nadia lost her limb when she was trying to escape Russian-occupied Kherson. Russian troops shelled the vehicle in which she and her family were traveling. Her husband was killed, and her son suffered deep burns. Nadia found temporary refuge at the Nazareth Center for spiritual and psychological recovery and rehabilitation for people with alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions.

The Center, located near Drohobych in western Ukraine, has been supported by the Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund.

Since the full-scale invasion started, the Nazareth Center opened its doors to hundreds of internally displaced people for extended and brief stays. People who lost their homes have an opportunity to participate in liturgies in the church at the center, receive spiritual and psychological support, and material aid.

The Metropolia Fund also supports Nazareth’s project of spiritual and psychological rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers. The number of veterans, their family members, and family members of fallen army personnel continually increases. The Ukrainian government anticipates the number of veterans will rise to 4 million.

The Nazareth Center is one among the more than 90 initiatives which the Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund has supported since February 2022. The fund was created by the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, the Eparchy of Stamford, the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago, and the Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma, to support humanitarian aid projects and organizations as well as suffering Church institutions in Ukraine. The Fund addresses the humanitarian crisis created by the Russian invasion. According to the program of our Church's Synod it will continue to help heal the long-term spiritual, psychological, and physical wounds of war.

"Visits to people and projects our Fund supports is a true blessing. From a distance, numbers, facts, and needs might seem abstract. But being with people, and seeing the relief and gratitude in their eyes helps one to understand the value of each dollar," stated Fr. Roman Oliynyk, fund manager.

The Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund was among the first donors who provided our Church with resources for immediate relief projects for the people of Ukraine. Your solidarity helped our Church to survive, to continue, and to expand her ministry, serving people during these dark times of war. + Sviatoslav, Major Archbishop of Kyiv and Halych, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church 7

Net Diocesan Assessments

$526,649

Cemetery Contributions

$3,550

Contributions and Bequests

$463,492

Investment Income

$382,531

Service Fees

$188,537

Grants

$275,673

Treasury of Faith Museum

$1,173

U.S. Government Grant

-

Special Events

$148,295

Other Income

$363,954

Byzantine Supply

$321,511

Total

$2,674,365

The archeparchial annual financial audit is conducted by the firm Tait Weller located in Philadelphia. The 2022 audit surveys the assets, liabilities, and net assets of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, not including the finances of the parishes and of the Cathedral. The Archeparchy follows a modified cash basis of accounting. Modified cash basis accounting combines cash and accrual accounting recording sales and expenses for longterm assets on an accrual basis and those of shortterm assets on a cash basis.

Collections for the Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund (over $9M in 2022 and 2023) are not included in the 2022 revenue gains and expenses.

2.8M 2.6M Chancery

$1,392,384

Seminary

$434,541

Ministries

$208,826

Assistance Program

$385,489

2M

Byzantine Supply

$241,405

1.8M

Total

$2,662,645

2.4M 2.2M

1.6M 1.4M

1M 0.8M

0.4M 0.2M 0

$12,720

0.6M $2,662,645

Audit report by Tait Weller.

1.2M

$2,675,365

Note: All reported values are taken from the 2022 Financial

Revenue

Expenses

Net Gain

8

March for Peace in Ukraine (Philadelphia, PA) 26.II.2023

New York Encounter of the Communion & Liberation Movement (New York, NY) 19.II.2023

Sr. Donna Markham, President of CCUSA, & Bishop John Barres of Rockville Centre, NY visit Ukraine 5-12.II.2023

Catholic School Week 29.I - 4.II.2023

Metropolitan Borys speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos 20-21.I.2023

Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi of Kyiv visits the Archeparchy 9.I.2023

In Memoriam - Sr. Thomas Hrynewich, SSMI first female Ukrainian Catholic Chancellor 6.I.2023

Liturgy of Thanksgiving Honoring Bishop Andriy Rabiy (Philadelphia, PA) 17.XII.2022

Metropolitan Borys receives Excellence Award, Catholic Faith Network (Garden City, NY) 22.XI.2022

USCCB Fall Plenary Assembly (Baltimore, MD) 14-17.XI.2022

Liberty Medal awarded to President Zelenskyy (Philadelphia, PA) 7.XI.2022

Charity Soccer Match (Philadelphia, PA) 30.X.2022

Metropolitan Borys attends 77th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner (New York, NY) 20.X.2022

Laity Conference (Chicago, IL) 13-15.X.2022

Msgr. Ronald Popivchak is awarded the Metropolitan Service Award 9.X.2022

Metropolitan Borys meets with Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, India 7.X.2022

Mass to Commemorate World Day of Migrants & Refugees (Washington, DC) 25.IX.2022

Clergy Retreat 19-22.IX.2022

Metropolitan Borys meets with Pope Francis (Vatican) 26.VIII.2022

Dormition Pilgrimage, (Sloatsburg, NY - Stamford Eparchy) 13-14.VIII.2022

Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Przemysl, Poland) 7-15.VII.2022

22-23.II.2023 Lumen Christi Theological Conference (Chicago, IL)

18.II.2023 Ecumenical Prayer - One Year of War (St. Patrick's Cathedral New York, NY)

1.II.2023 World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life

21.I.2023 In Memoriam - Sr. Laura (Lilian Mary Palka), OSBM former Provincial of the Basilian Sisters

17.I.2023 In Memoriam - Bishop John Bura

8.I.2023 Festival of Carols (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception)

25.XII.2022 CHRISTMAS

30.XI - 2.XII2022 Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (online)

19.XI.2022 Annual Holodomor Remembrance Service (St. Patrick's Cathedral New York, NY)

10-11.XI.2022 Metropolitan Borys Plenary of the Dicastery of Communication (Vatican)

30.X.2022 Archeparchy Reporting & Benefit Luncheon (Whippany, NJ)

22.X.2022 Archeparchy participates in We4U Event (Jenkintown, PA)

19.X.2022 Meeting with Ukrainian Veterans Foundation (Jenkintown, PA)

10-13.X.2022 All American Ukrainian Catholic Clergy Conference (Chicago, IL)

9.X.2022 Archeparchy Reporting & Benefit Luncheon (Philadelphia, PA)

2.X.2022 91st Annual Pilgrimage of the Mother of God (Fox Chase, PA)

21.IX.2022 Ecumenical Prayer Service for peace in Ukraine (Crypt Church of the National Shrine, Washington, DC)

2-7.IX.2022 Metropolitan Borys visits Romania in behalf of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops

21.VIII.2022 Dormition Pilgrimage (Centralia, PA)

7.VIII.2022 In Memoriam - Bishop Robert Moskal

All Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organization delegates visit the USA 29.X - 3.XI.2023

92nd Annual Pilgrimage of the Mother of God (Fox Chase, PA) 1.X.2023

Clergy Retreat 18-21.IX.2023

Priestly Ordination of Deacon Paul Spotts (Frackville, PA) 15.VIII.2023

Archeparchy youth participates in World Youth Day (Lisbon, Portugal) 1-6.VIII.2023

Priestly Ordination of Deacon Andrii Rubel (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) 24.VII.2023

Archeparchy patriciates in World Refugee Day (Philadelphia, PA) 20.VI.2023

Metrpolitan Borys participates in USCCB sprint meeting (San Diego, CA) 13-16.VI.2023

Consecration of Saints Joachim and Anna Church (Front Royal, VA) 4.VI.2023

Summer Camps for children across the Archeparchy VI - VIII.2023

Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Wroclaw, Poland) 23-27.V.2023

Metropolitan Borys delivers commencement speech at University of San Francisco 19.V.2023

Seminarian Bohdan Vasyliv ordained a Subdeacon 14.V.2023

Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of USA Meeting (Washington, DC) 8-11.V.2023

In Memoriam - Fr. Ihor Bloschynskyy 26.IV.2023

In Memoriam - Sr. Judith Thaddeu Piszyk, OSBM 10.IV.2023

Ukrainian Leaders & Cardinal O'Malley hold Lenten prayer service for peace (Boston, MA) 31.III.2023

Eastern Catholic Bishops of the US Meeting (St. Louis, MO) 22-23.III.2023

Metropolitan Borys speaks at National Catholic 14.III.2023

In Memoriam - Sr. Martin Michaela Pauline Rodko, MSMG 10.III.2023

Archeparchy participates in Ukrainian Days (Washington, DC) 8-9.III.2023

15.X.2023 Centennial celebration of St. Michael the Archangel Parish (Cherry Hill, NJ)

21.IX.2023 President Zelenskyy awards Metropolitan Borys with the Ivan Mazepa Cross

3-13.IX.2023 Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Rome, Italy)

12-13.VIII.2023 Dormition Pilgrimage (Sloatsburg, NY - Stamford Eparchy)

30.VII.2023 89th Ukrainian Seminary Day (Frackville, PA)

28-30.VI.2023 Metropolitan Borys accompanies Cardinal Cupich during his visit to Ukraine

16-18.VI.2023 Archeparchy participates in All American Youth Pilgrimage (Parma, OH)

11.VI.2023 Msgr. Peter Waslo elevated to Mitred Archpriest (Ambridge, PA)

2.VI.2023 Archeparchy hosts Job Fair for Newcomers from Ukraine (Jenkintown, PA)

24.V.2023 Archeparchy participates in Shared Safety Immigrant Faith Leaders' Summit (Philadelphia, PA)

22.V.2023 Metropolitan Borys delivers commencement speech at Seton Hall University

14-15.V.2023 Clergy Retreat

13.V.2023 Metropolitan Borys delivers commencement speech at Ave Maria Law School

V - VI.2023 First Confession & Solemn Holy Communion in parishes throughout the Archeparchy

23-24.IV.2023 Ukraine Action Summit (Washington, DC)

2.IV.2023 EASTER

27.III.2023 Spring Clergy Conference (Philadelphia, PA)

18.III.2023 Archeparchy participates in We4U Event (Jenkintown, PA)

11.III.2023 Forum of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (online)

8-10.III.2023 Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (online)

7.III.2023 Ecumenical Prayer for Peace in Ukraine (National Shrine Washington, DC)