We had a double joy in the chapel of the Beatitudes in Kyiv

Our dear friends, on September 23, we had a double joy in the chapel of the Beatitudes in Kyiv, Ukraine.

After completing the novitiate in Krakow, our seminarian Vitaliy Beliak made a “Bonum Propositum” – a good intention to keep chastity, poverty and obedience according to the Constitution and Statute of the Congregation of the Mission, and to serve faithfully in the Congregation for the rest of his life. This is an important step on the way to ministry in the Congregation, to serve the poor, following the example of St. Vincent. We congratulate Vitaliy and pray for him!

On the same day, Petro Mazur, a sixth-year seminarian, made eternal vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for the whole life in accordance with the Constitution and Statute of the Congregation of the Mission. The solemn Holy Mass was headed by Father Leonid Kuklyshyn CM, Visitor of the Vice-Province of SS. Cyril and Methodius.

Confreres from different parts of Ukraine, Daughters of Charity, Marian Sisters of the Miraculous Medal, seminarians of the Higher Theological Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, friends, relatives and acquaintances of Petro and Vitalii gathered for this solemn event in the chapel of the Beatitudes.

The next day, September 24, in the Cathedral of St. Alexander of Kyiv, during the solemn Eucharist, the Ordinary of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi SDB, ordained seminarian Petro Mazur CM to diaconate. Deacon Petro delivered his first sermon on Sunday, September 25, 2022, in our chapel of the Beatitudes.

During his first homily, deacon Petro gave comments on the Gospel about a rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16, 19-31), he urged present people not to be indifferent, to do good deeds to those in need, and to notice the needy, whom the Lord sends us on the path of life. So that in such way we could show our love to the Lord.

Elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus calls: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Mt 9:37-38).

So let us pray that in these difficult times for Ukraine, the Lord called workers to serve for the joy of people.