NORWALK—Members of St. Matthew Church and the Fairfield County community, along with Father Bohdan Tymchyshyn and seminarians from St. Basil Seminary in Stamford, filled the church in a Holy Hour for Peace in Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16.
“We’re here tonight to pray for peace. In difficult times comes prayer. It starts with the individual, and through that solidarity, it spreads throughout the community. The power of prayer brought the community out,” offered Father Jeff Couture, pastor of St. Matthew, who led the prayer service.
“Through war, we have faith. And if we’re working together, we’re working toward peace. My heart breaks for them. But they’re not alone, and there is hope. I want to say to the people of Ukraine: we are praying with you. We are praying for you. Hope is not lost. A word from my bishop today who says, ‘Remember we are with you in hope. You have our support and all our prayers.’”
Father Bodhan Tymchyshyn, rector of the Ukrainian Seminary, thanked the community for their solidarity. “St. John Paul’s teaching about the church said, ‘The church breathes with two lungs. It’s east and west.’ Most of the majority of the Catholic Church is the western church, the Latin Church. And there is another one: Eastern, to which I and my brother seminarians belong to. And today it is the true meaning of it—that the church breathes with two lungs. Praying together today for Ukraine, for the people who are suffering, who are under tremendous attacks with the missiles, I was thinking what can I say to you? And there is only one thing that came to my mind.”
“Remember in the Gospel when Jesus Christ was in his last hours on earth, before His Crucifixion, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane. And he took with him three apostles. And he asked them only one thing: stay here and pray with me. And do you know what happened to them? They fell asleep.”
“But today I know that my friends here in the Western Church, the Latin Church, they are not asleep. They are praying with me. And I know that God is with us. I know that God is answering our prayers. The night is dark. But after that, the dawn is coming. The same is with Ukraine. Ukraine is going through tremendous suffering. The bloodshed. It’s hard to imagine, but through prayers, everybody is staying strong. So, thank you, to all of you, for on behalf of all Ukrainians, here in the States, and back at home in Ukraine, for your prayers, for your solidarity and for your support.”
“When we think about heroes, we think about soldiers who are standing on the front line. But it’s not what’s meant. Glory to heroes means those who are working for the same cause. And today, I also am saying to you, Glory to heroes. You are heroes because you are praying with us, you are standing with us. And God bless you and keep you and keep you all safe.”
The Holy Hour was attended by Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and Lucia Rilling, State Senator Bob Duff, Norwalk Fire Chief Gino Gatto and Assistant Edward McCabe. Seminarians concluded the Holy Hour with a Marian Hymn sung in their native language.
Knights of Columbus St. Matthew #14360 sponsored the Holy Hour, led by Grand Knight Anthony Armentano. St. Matthew was one of four locations in the US to simultaneously hold this hour of prayer for peace in Ukraine sponsored by the national Knights of Columbus.
By Ann Yannetti
Local Ukrainian seminarians join in prayer
NORWALK—To advance the need for Peace in Ukraine, Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council #14360 hosted a Holy Hour at St. Matthew Church on Wednesday, March 16. A large crowd attended the Holy Hour, presided over by St. Matthew Pastor and Knights Chaplain Father Jeff Couture in response to Pope Francis’ call for peace, which included Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a Scripture reading and the Rosary.
“We’re here tonight to pray for peace. In difficult times comes prayer. It starts with the individual and through that solidarity it spreads throughout the community. The power of prayer brought the community out,” offered Father Couture. “Through war, we have faith. And if we’re working together, we’re working toward peace. My heart breaks for them but they’re not alone and there is hope. I want to say to the people of Ukraine: we are praying with you, we are praying for you, hope is not lost. I want to share a word from my bishop today who says, ‘Remember we are with you in hope. You have our support and all our prayers.’”
Members of Council 14360 read the intentions and led the Rosary. The final decade of the Glorious Mysteries was said in Ukrainian by the visiting Seminarians.
At the conclusion, the seminarians and Father Bohdan Tymchyshyn, rector of St. Basil Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Stamford sang the Marian hymn in their native language. Father Bodhan and the seminarians recently became 3rd Degree Knights.
“When we think about heroes, we think about soldiers who are standing on the front line. But it’s not what’s meant. Glory to heroes means those who are working for the same cause. And today, I also am saying to you, glory to heroes. You are heroes because you are praying with us, you are standing with us. And God bless you and keep you and keep you all safe,” said Father Bodhan.
The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council filmed the event and will send to the People of Ukraine as a Spiritual Bouquet. St. Matthew Council #14360 and the parish were one of four locations in the United States chosen by the Supreme Knights of Columbus to be recorded for the video being sent to Ukraine.
There was a light reception hosted by the council at the conclusion of the event. Special thanks to Council #14360 Brother Knights Eric Benitez and Joe Palotto for putting together a nice array of Ukrainian hors d’oeuvres for all in attendance. The council was most appreciative of CT State Deputy Matt McGrath for attending and participating. The beautiful music was provided by Val Wyman and Lisa Moretti. “As Knights, we need to lead our communities in prayer and show our solidarity with those in Ukraine. It is about hope and the search for peace,” said Council #14360 Grand Knight Anthony Armentano.
The need to support Ukrainians displaced by the war continues to grow. The Knights of Columbus is working with our councils in Poland and Ukraine, as well as the Latin and Greek Catholic Churches in Ukraine, to provide temporary shelter, food, medical supplies, clothing and communications. Give to the Ukraine Solidarity Fund today. One-hundred percent of your donation will be used to assist those directly affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
To donate in the U.S. and Canada, visit: www.bit.ly/36fZoSw. To donate outside of the U.S. and Canada: www.bit.ly/3vCqr5s. To create your own fundraising team: www./bit.ly/3vG4vpU.
Contributions from Ann Yannetti—St. Matthew Church
(Photos by Anna Mastrolillo and Michael Martin)
By: George Ribellino
