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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Philadelpia - Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, together with Bishop John Bura and Bishop Andriy Rabiy, clergy, religious and faithful, pray for those suffering as a result of the damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, especially in Texas and Louisiana:
Let us remember in our prayers those who died and their grieving families and community. Let us also remember those who suffered loss of their homes and earthly possessions as we ask Our Lord to give them His grace, wisdom and courage as they move forward with their lives and look forward to a new day filled with hope. Let us offer prayers of gratitude for the many first responders and the medical professionals who so quickly rendered life-saving help to rescue many of the victims, especially those from the flooded communities.
We pray that the victims may find comfort in the reassuring words of the Prophet Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11).
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CWN - Pope Francis announced on August 30, at his regular weekly public audience, that he would be joining with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in a statement for the annual Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
The annual observance will take place on September 1. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople has observed the day since 1989. Pope Francis joined in 2015, celebrating a Liturgy of the Word in the Vatican basilica for the first annual observance.
In this year’s joint message, the Pope told his audience, “we invite all to assume a respectful and responsible attitude toward Creation.” He added that the statement would appeal to the world’s wealthy and powerful people “to listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, who suffer most from ecological imbalances.”
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Philadelphia (ugcc.org.ua) - Buildings and the cost to maintain them prompted the leader of the Ukrainian catholic church in Philadelphia to take steps to begin a restructuring of church operations.
Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka, who leads the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy – or diocese – says it became clear in the last several months that the church has too many buildings and needs to better manage its resources.
So, leading by example, Soroka says he ordered the move of the chancery building on North Franklin Street, and the cathedral rectory to space across the street next to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
“This building the chancery moved in was a school before. Well, the school’s been closed for 30 years already. And, so we kind of used it for a retreat center, for a museum, different things, but is that the best use for it,” said Soroka.
The rectory now occupies a former monastery here.
Soroka says he’s also directing pastors in this region to re-evaluate their building needs and recommend consolidation steps.
As to the vacated buildings, Soroka says he’s in active negotiations with potential tenants to lease them.
Mark Abrams
philadelphia.cbslocal.com
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newsworks.org - Only a few structures still stand in what was Centralia, Pennsylvania. Even fewer are visible through the tree cover from the top of an adjacent mountain overlooking what was once a thriving community.
The most notable and recognizable structure is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, whose bright-blue domes rise out of the foliage on the side of the mountain. Though all but seven of the town’s residents relocated because of the ongoing fire in the anthracite coal mine below its surface, the church continues to serve a successful parish.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, the church was the site of the second annual “A Call to Prayer” pilgrimage. Two years ago, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk visited the church and suggested it as a place for pilgrimage. He marveled at the beauty of the property, the number of vocations from the parish, its rich history in Centralia, and qualities about it that are endearing to prayer and a place for gathering.
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Centrailia, PA (ugcc.org.ua) - This Pilgrimage was inspired by His Beatitude Sviatoslav during his historic visit to the Centralia church in November 2015. He marveled at the continuing presence of the church in Centralia, where an underground mine-fire resulted in the abandonment of the town, the demolition of almost all buildings and the relocation of all but less than ten residents. Patriarch Sviatoslav felt a sense of true holiness which pervades the entire church property. His desire is for all people of faith to come and experience this holiness, sanctity and serenity as pilgrims to this holy place on the mountain.
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CWN - Cardinal Pietro Parolin reviewed his visit to Moscow, and his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, in an interview with Vatican Radio.
The Vatican Secretary of State revealed that he had given a full briefing on the visit to Pope Francis immediately upon his return to Rome. The Pontiff “was pleased with the impressions and positive results” of the trip, he said.
Cardinal Parolin said that in his conversation with Patriarch Kirill, the focus was primarily on cooperation between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. “Slightly thorny issues were also touched,” he said. He mentioned the situation in Ukraine, where Catholic and Orthodox leaders have frequently clashed.
With President Putin, the cardinal said, the conversation centered on the Middle East, and especially the plight of Christians in that region. He said that he also spoke with the Russian leader about Ukraine and about the crisis in Venezuela. Cardinal Parolin discussed the same international issues earlier in talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
Overall, the cardinal said, his meetings in Rome “were truly characterized by a cordial, listening, and respectful climate.”
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