The letter below was released by the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s Metropolitan Archeparchy of Philadelphia on June 26.
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
Dear Reverend Fathers, Venerable Monastics and Beloved Faithful of the Philadelphia Archeparchy!
As you may already know, parts of western Ukraine are under water due to strong torrential rains that have been falling for several days earlier this week. Two regions, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi, were affected the most. In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, over 4,600 houses are lost or flooded, 550 kilometers of roads are damaged or washed away, and 90 bridges are gone. In addition, at least three people lost their lives. Thousands of people had to be evacuated, leaving their homes and properties behind. Many have lost their belongings and savings.
This is the time when our brothers and sisters in Ukraine need help. Patriarch Sviatoslav has sent a letter of appeal asking us “to show Christian solidarity and social service, so that those who are suffering might receive assistance as soon as possible. Therefore, I call upon our Church institutions – eparchies, religious communities and especially our network of the charitable organizations Caritas – to organize collections for those who cry for help. I appeal to all communities of our Church in Ukraine and throughout the world, to act in the spirit of the Good Samaritan of the Gospel, to support those who are deprived of their homes and have come face-to-face with misfortune.”
In response to our Patriarch’s request and in the spirit of Christian love and fellowship, we are announcing a campaign to raise funds for people who lost everything due to the floods and now need food and basic necessities. We ask you, dear Fathers, that every parish have a special collection taken on Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28 and July 4-5. Please remit the funds as soon as possible, so that we can wire them to “Caritas” organizations in the Archeparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk and Eparchy of Chernivtsi. They will be purchasing and distributing food, clothing and other necessary items. Please act now since time is of the essence.
If you would like to make a donation, you may do so by:
— making a check out to “Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia” and sending it to the chancery office of our Archeparchy located at 810 North Franklin Street, Philadelphia PA 19123. Please mark your check “Flood in Ukraine”;
— leaving your donation in your parish collection basket, which will be sent to the chancery office along with other donations;
— donating on the Archeparchial Facebook page, where a special fund-raising campaign will be set up.
No donation is too small or too large. However, your donation will change someone’s life, and God will repay a cheerful giver hundredfold. Please keep people of the affected areas in your prayers!
May God bless you always!
Sincerely Yours, in Christ,
Most Reverend Borys Gudziak
Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians
Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States
Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy
Auxiliary Bishop for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia