APRIL 4-13, 2013

At the invitation of the Visitor of the Vice-Province of Saint Cyril and Methodius and the advisors, Father Pavol visited the groups of the Vincentian Marian Youth Association in said Province.  There were also plans to visit Belorussia but because of difficulties in obtaining a visa and other problems, the visit was limited to the Ukraine.

In order to understand the situation in the Ukraine it should be stated that the Church and the Association live and minister as a minority in the midst of the Orthodox Church and is slowly recovering from a long period of communist persecution.  It should also be stated that there are lengthy distances to travel in order to move from one place and another.

The plan for this trip was the following: to visit the existing groups and then to meet on

April 13th with the coordinating team in Kiev.

April 4th: Arrival in Kiev.

April 5th: Travel to the Bukovina region in Sniatyn (the place where Sister Marta Wiecka, a recently beatified Daughter of Charity, ministered and is buried) and there I met with eighty young people and children.  Each group made a presentation and Father Pavol had a dialogue about the work of the International Team.  The young people had prepared a dramatization about the life and the martyrdom of Blessed Carmen (a member of the Association who was martyred during the Spanish Civil War).  It was an enriching gathering for everyone involved.  After the meeting we prayed together before the tomb of Sister Marta Wiecka.

April 9th: Traveled to Svalavy, a city located near the Slovakian boarder and the place where Father Pavol met with the young men and women of that region.

April 10th: Traveled to Kiev and then continued the journey to Jarkov (very close to the Russian boarder).  There the Missionaries, together with the members of the AIC and the DePaul Trust, minister with street children, with the immigrants from Africa and with the Ukrainian converts.  It is a very lively missionary parish in which there is much collaboration among the branches of the Vincentian Family.  There we met with the young people from the parish.  This was a very interesting experience and the majority of the young people and children are from mixed marriages between Ukrainians and Africans.  I presented the ministry of the Association and the Missionaries presented their vision for implementing the formation process that was drawn up by the International Team … a catechumenate process that will be extended to the whole parish.  This gathering took place in the midst of a very enriching dynamic and the young people were very spontaneous in their participation.

April 13th: Traveled to Kiev to meet with the Coordinating Team.  The Sisters and young people from Belorussia, lay delegates from each region in the Ukraine and the advisors participated in this gathering.  There we dealt with themes that touch the lives of these young people.  Father Pavol directed a formation session and shared his impressions of the Association in the Ukraine.  He also offered some guidelines to follow up on some themes that are still pending.

John Paul II stated that the Church in Europe needs two lungs — the East and the West.  After having visited our Association in Europe I agree with those words of the deceased Pope.  I see a great future for the development of the Association in this part of the world and there is much enthusiasm among the young people and the advisors.  I want to thank everyone who made this trip possible and I am especially grateful for your witness to the faith and your commitment to the poor.

Visita Ukrania 2013

“I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in me, even though that person dies, will live” (Jn 11;25)

The Glory of the RESURRECTION strengthens our FAITH and our JOY!

HAPPY EASTER!

It’s what the VMY International Secretariat wishes you !!!

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The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Nm. 6, 24-26)

God is giving you a whole year so you keep being a blessing in others’ life and a sign of His Love for the most needy.

HAVE A BLESSED 2013!

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