St. Demetrius Parish in Fairfield, USA Establishes Scholarships for Seminarians Affected by the War in Ukraine
The parish community of St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church is honored to share an important initiative carried out through its Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund, part of the parish’s ongoing mission to support those affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Through this effort, the parish has established two annual scholarships totaling $1,600 for seminarians who lost their fathers during the war. Each scholarship of $800 per year fully covers a student’s annual stay at the seminary, including tuition, room and board, meals, utilities, and other essential living expenses. This assistance helps ensure that young men discerning the priesthood can continue their formation despite the hardships caused by the loss of their primary providers.
The first scholarship recipient is Volodymyr Slobodyan, currently in his sixth year of study, and the second is Denys Yatsunda, who is in his second year of seminary formation. The parish also received a Letter of Gratitude from Teodor Martynyuk, Archbishop of Ternopil, as well as from the seminary rector, Ivan Rymar, expressing appreciation for the support offered by the faithful of the parish.
For the community of St. Demetrius, this initiative has particular meaning because several priests who have served the parish over the years are graduates of Ternopil Theological Seminary, including the current pastor, Stepan Ivanchyk.
Today, the seminary in Ternopil is home to 129 seminarians from across Ukraine, each discerning a vocation to the priesthood during a time of great challenge for their country and for the Church.
The faithful of St. Demetrius Parish hope that this small but meaningful effort will help support future priests who will serve the Church in Ukraine and beyond. Parishioners also invite others who may feel inspired by this initiative to consider supporting seminarians in need. An annual scholarship of $800 can make a profound difference in sustaining a young man’s vocation and the future ministry of the Church.
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