November 29, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Irene Jarosewich, UCEF, i.jarosewich@att.net
NEW YORK – Guests attending the “Tribute to Ukrainian Catholic Church Leaders” experienced a glorious and uplifting celebration on November 20, as the leaders of the Ukrainian Catholic Church were honored in a moving ceremony that brought together representatives from four denominations – Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Ukrainian Orthodox; two universities – Fordham University and the Ukrainian Catholic University, and Ukrainian Americans from more than a dozen states.
Gathering during the late afternoon at University Church on Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus, more than 850 guests filled the sanctuary to capacity to witness the blessing of the coat-of arms of Ukrainian Catholic Patriarch Emeritus Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, a 1966 Fordham University alumnus and one of eight cardinals to be associated with the university. At the height of the celebration, the President of Fordham, Joseph M. McShane, SJ conferred an honorary degree on the new head and father of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who, at 41 years of age, is the youngest of church prelates worldwide.
Welcoming guests to University Church, Rev. McShane noted that “As we honor these two remarkable archbishops, we celebrate the spirit of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, both in the Ukraine and in the Diaspora …,” a history that has been “rich in holiness, rich in wisdom, and altogether too rich in martyrs.”
Jointly blessing the newly installed marble mosaic coat of arms, high above and behind the altar near several other such heralds, were Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan and Patriarch Sviatoslav. Placing the leadership of Cardinal Husar and Patriarch Sviatoslav within the context of the upcoming Thanksgiving week, Archbishop Dolan stated in his remarks “we thank God for the freedom and liberty we enjoy. We will have another reason for gratitude this week: that we have been privileged to be part of an occasion in which we honor you for the bravery, fortitude, integrity, fidelity, and tenacity of you and Cardinal Husar and your beloved Ukrainian Catholics, who exhibited those virtues in a land that did not have religious liberty and freedom. … Please accept our love and gratitude for you witness; we need it more than ever.”
Also speaking were the Rev. Mark Arey from the Greek Orthodox Church in America and Archbishop Antony, eparchial bishop from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States—a church that has been historically at odds with Catholics in the Ukraine. Both speakers recognized the role of Fordham University in bringing together different branches of Christianity in dialogue. In particular, Archbishop Antony praised the efforts or Patriarch Emeritus Lubomyr to heal rifts between Orthodox and Catholics in Ukraine, and expressed his confidence that the new prelate will do so, as well.
Three choirs, The Dumka Choir of New York, led by Vasyl Hrechynsky, The Yevshan Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble of Connecticut led by Alexander Kuzma, and the Fordham University Choir led by Robert Minotti greeted guests upon arrival in the church and performed magnificently throughout the ceremony.
Participating in the procession entering the church were Fordham students of Ukrainian heritage, among them Yuliana Kletsun, Adriana Krasniansky, Areta Boyko and Bohdan Lonchyna. The Fordham banners were carried by students planning a trip to Ukraine this spring through Fordham’s Global Outreach! program. The faculty sponsors of the honorary doctorate degree conferred upon Patriarch Sviatoslav of Ukrainian heritage, as well – Prof. Olena Nikolayenko and Rev. George Drance, Jr. SJ.
Introducing the conferral of the honorary degree, a doctorate of humane letters, Fordham University Provost Stephen Freedman stated, “At this promising moment in the life of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and since his enthronement earlier this year …. His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk embodies the movement of the Spirit. Entrusted with the dreams of his revered predecessors and called to bring to life his own vision, His Beatitude is charged with the pastoral care of the souls of the faithful in Ukraine and throughout the diaspora… Recognizing that the identity of those who form this body find their roots in Kyivan Christianity, His Beatitude calls his Church to a greater awareness of its unique mission as a Church born in the land of Kyivan Rus at a time when Christianity was not divided. He urges his flock to remember its origins as a subsidiary of the Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and, at the same time, in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome.”
Patriarch Sviatoslav, who is also the Grand Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic University, received the diploma and mantle of the honorary degree from President McShane and the chair of Fordham University’s Board of Trustees, John Tognino.
Patriarch Shevchuk, in accepting the honorary degree, made light of his age, stating “One of my Angelicum professors in Rome used to joke that honorary doctorates are usually given to those people for whom it is too late to get an ordinary one.” His Beatitude holds a doctorate in theology from Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and speaks several languages.
Among the light-hearted banter between Fordham University representatives, the guest speakers and Patriarch Sviatoslav, the deeper message of respect for the legacy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church prevailed. “This honorary doctorate is a reward not for me but for my church of martyrs,” stated Patriarch Shevchuk in his response.
“It is a service I borrowed from my predecessors and carry out as head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Despite all the hatred and humiliation it encountered,” he noted, referring to the humiliation the Ukrainian Catholic Church suffered during Soviet rule, “it remained a true Church of the Risen Christ. It is this church that sent me to you today, and especially for it, for its Christian wisdom and intellectual life, this award is being conferred.”
The Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, a joint host with Fordham University of the day’s events, was warmly thanked near the end of the tribute in University Church by Fordham Vice President Msgr. Joseph Quinn who, in closing remarks, thanked the hundreds of guests who came to honor their Church leaders and who spoke movingly about the privilege of hosting an event that would be remembered as historic.
After the ceremony, guests were invited to a reception at McGinley Center. In opening remarks at the reception, master of ceremonies Rev. Ivan Kaszczak noted that Patriarch Emeritus Lubomyr for many years served the parish in nearby Kerhonkson, New York, and was the chaplain for SUM in Ellenville, as well. He is also a longtime and proud member of the Plast fraternity “Chervona Kalyna.” Rev. Kaszczak then led the several hundred guests in a moving version of “Plastoviy Otche Nash” (The Lord’s Prayer).
At the reception, Provost Freedman announced the formation of a Memorandum of Understanding between Fordham and Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv, introducing Rev. Borys Gudziak, PhD, rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University. The universities have agreed to partner on faculty research, faculty, and student visits, and to foster exchange of academic publications across the arts and sciences.
Remarking after the event, Rev. Gudziak noted that the relationship between the Ukrainian Catholic University and Fordham University has been evolving for several years, having begun with a fruitful encounter between UCU’s Institute for Ecumenical Studies and Fordham in 2009 and the discussion of the Memorandum of Understanding during a visit in November 2010. “This event, a magnificent one, will live on in the memories of all who attended. In honoring our two Patriarchs, we honor our Church martyrs, acknowledge the remarkable path our Church has traveled in 20 years – from one that was banned and proclaimed non-existent by Soviet authorities, to one that is celebrated internationally and vibrantly alive.”
Alexander Kuzma, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation noted that “UCEF is profoundly grateful for the success of this what-is-sure-to-be remembered as a unique event. As a representative of the Ukrainian Catholic University in North America, UCEF is pleased to have had our staff and volunteers help Fordham host this tribute, and we are thankful for the support of our sponsors, Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union, SUMA (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union, Tetyana and George Logush and The Coca-Cola Company.”
“Also critical to the success of this event were the efforts of Fordham alumni of Ukrainian descent, such as New York Friends of UCU committee members Andrew Lencyk, Roman Kyzyk, Andrew Lastoweckyj, Dr. Maria Chaban, as well as Andrew Tytla, who produced the wonderful slide show presented at the reception. We are particularly grateful for the support of the various heads of Ukrainian community groups that met back in July at Fordham to help give direction to this effort, and for the dozens of volunteers, in particular members of the SUM chapter in Yonkers, for their help the day of the event. Maria Rypan, the niece of Patriarch Lubomyr, who unfortunately was unable to attend for reasons of his health, was irreplaceable in her efforts and advice. None of this would have happened without the expert leadership of Fordham Vice President Msgr. Joseph Quinn, who chaired the organizational committee that met weekly for several months and included Reverends Danylo and Kaszczak from the Eparchy of Stamford, Irene Jarosewich and myself from UCEF, Jennifer Mussi, Prof. Olena Nikolayenko, Andrew Hlabse, SJ, and Fordham choir director Robert Minotti from Fordham. We admire the efforts of Yuliana Kletsun, the student leader of Fordham’s Global Outreach! Ukraine project, who will be traveling to Lviv in the spring, and we look forward to assisting in a visit of a Fordham delegation to UCU in the near future.”
“It is Fordham’s great honor to confer a degree upon Major Archbishop Shevchuk,” said Joseph M. McShane, SJ, president of the University after the event. “We were delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate Fordham’s ties to the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and to honor His Eminence Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, an alumnus of whom we are immensely and justifiably proud.”
The tribute event at Fordham University was the final event of a two-day pastoral visit to New York City by Patriarch Sviatoslav. The visit, which also included a Holodomor commemoration at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a Divine Liturgy at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, was guided by the Ukrainian Catholic Eparch of Stamford, Bishop Paul Chomnycky, who commented after Patriarch Shevchuk’s departure, “I was particularly struck by the poise and dignity displayed by His Beatitude on every occasion and in every situation despite his young age and relative inexperience. He seemed to rise to the occasion every time he was called upon. I was impressed by his almost innate ability to be able to speak to the people in a language and in a way that was immediately understandable to them. … The manner in which he was received by the faithful … also made a great impression on me. … Everyone strained to draw near to him … With the possible exception of the reception given to His Beatitude Josyf Cardinal Slipyj upon his arrival to the West after years of imprisonment in Soviet labor camps, I have never witnessed a figure of our Church greeted with such enthusiasm, adulation, pride, and love. This indeed was a unique two days in the life of the Ukrainian community of New York – a memorable Ukrainian Weekend in the capital of the world!”
