Parish Missions in St. Vincent de Paul’s Parish

Between September 20 and 26, ahead of the great solemnity of our church’s patron saint St. Vincent de Paul and the 20^th anniversary of our parish, we had our first Parish Missions held by Fr. Stanislav Irisik, CM, Fr. Serhii Pavlish, CM, Sr. Yozefa Sterle and Vasylyna.

That was something new to parishioners, and something long awaited, because the core preparation for the feast was making our souls ready and “revising” our life.

One could hear many good words, emotions and words of delight from people. But what was the most important thing was that everyone felt God’s special presence as well as His grace in our parish and in every parishioner’s heart. People managed to leave behind their daily cares, and the church was full every day. Everyone, who participated in the Parish Missions, could discover something really important for oneself, for personal faith strengthening, find an answer to a question that had tormented that person for many years, or acquire peace in one’s heart.

Some married couples were said to have in a special way and more deeply realized and experienced the blessing of their marriage while renewing their wedding vows, when they held each other’s hands and recalled their wedding ceremony.

The Prayer of Forgiveness helped many people forgive many-year offences and quarrels, and reconcile with another person in one’s heart and in life. That was a strong moment when one could hardly hold back tears. However, God was near and healing hearts! It was even more so when a year before the celebration of the parish anniversary was the Year of Forgiveness.

Every day we felt Lord’s hand reviving the parish and showering His numerous graces on us. What is more, a grant of permission to build the Chapel of the Blessed Mother of God was passed at a municipal council session during the Parish Missions! Wasn’t that a miracle and the sign of God’s presence among us?!

Parish children and youth took part in the Holy Mass every day and asked for additional meetings. Holy Spirit opened their souls in a supernatural way so that they were able to do a lot of sharing and socializing, to bear witness of their faith and belonging to the Church!

Each conference held in itself something separate and special for everyone. Nobody left for home indifferent, but rather having got some “living water”. Long conversations of parishioners outside the church and after the Missions spoke for it.

During the Parish Missions people could spend more time in a prayer with God, having their personal talk with Him! For in the present-day world we are running like in a great whirligig, falling behind, being surrounded by many duties and loads of various information… and God is somewhere in-between all that. And here we have the grace-filled time! A week of Missions. It is an opportunity to stop and pray in silence… for ourselves, for our families, for Ukraine, for our parish, and to bring many requests and thanksgivings that we have been carrying in our hearts for many years not being able to place them in the hands of Our Heavenly Father.

Many people recalled how the prayer of the Stations of the Cross, which had been prepared in a special way, created sacramental atmosphere in the church, the holy silence, when everyone bent their knees in front of Jesus, thanking Him for our salvation.

We could re-experience our faith in one God, being enriched and strengthened. We rediscovered and made it clear to ourselves why we were in the Church and why we were Christians.

For many of us, a general confession was something unusual, hard and at the same time a strong and sacramental moment. It is hard to share about it; however, it is definitely vitally important that people have reconciled with God!

And, of course, we cannot leave out here numerous personal meetings and spiritual talks of parishioners with the priests both in the church and at homes of the sick, who in their turn have also been the actual sign of God’s blessing.

The solemn and inspired by Devine Spirit celebration of the Patron Saint’s Day and the parish anniversary was an unforgettable conclusion, a kind of a crowning of the Parish Missions.

It is hard to describe all that what is left inside people, what has changed them, what has been healed and what has borne its fruit. Parishioners said many words of gratitude, expressed their personal feelings and joys to the missionary group. However, the main thanksgiving belongs to God!!! People were a great tool in His hands!

Parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul’s Church

20-26/09/2016