Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Ireland Experience a Historic Week
From October 10 to 13, with the blessing of Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Apostolic Visitator for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Ireland and Northern Ireland, the first retreat for UGCC priests in Ireland will be held in Limerick (Ireland). Later, on October 14, the faithful of the UGCC and the clergy will make a pilgrimage to the main pilgrimage center of Ireland. On October 15, the first church for Ukrainians in this country will be consecrated.
Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski reported this on Facebook.
The retreat for priests is being held at the monastery of the Redemptorist Fathers of St. Alphonsus under the leadership of Fr. Father Roman, who recently arrived from Ukraine to begin pastoral ministry for Ukrainians in Limrek.
On Saturday, October 14, an All-Ukrainian pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland’s main pilgrimage center, is scheduled to take place. The pilgrimage will start at 13:00 in the main basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Ireland. The Divine Liturgy will be presided over by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, along with the participation of Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy, and the clergy of Ireland.
On Sunday, October 15, the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Waterford will celebrate the renewal of St. Francis Church. The celebrations will begin at 10:00 AM with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy led by Bishop Kenneth together with Bishop Hryhoriy. The rector of St. Francis Church is Fr. Andriy Soviak, a priest of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy. With the blessing of Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, and the efforts of Fr. Andriy, the Ukrainian community of St. Francis in Waterford received its church for prayer. It is the first church established by the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ireland.
