On October 12, the Apostolic Nunciature of Kazakhstan in Nur-Sultan hosted the ceremony to confer the Papal medal "Cross "For Services to the Church and the Pope" and the corresponding Diploma on Sister Sevastiana Shegda, the congregation of the Sisters of the Ministry of the Immaculate Virgin Mary of the UGCC.
This is reported by the UGCC Information Department.
The papal award was presented by Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The nuncio personally expressed his gratitude to Sister Sevastiana for 10 years of sacrificial service in the Nunciature and stressed that this is a reward for the entire community of Service sisters who work all over the world in the church and for the Church.
Attending this ceremony were: Fr. Vasyl Hovera, apostolic administrator for the faithful of the Byzantine rite in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, Sister Miroslava Yakhymets, provincial Abbess from Ukraine, Sister Nazaria Dudar, who together with S. Sevastiana serves in the Apostolic Nunciature of Kazakhstan, Sister Olena Gnydets and S. Vera Korishchuk, who conduct missionary service in the UGCC of Karaganda. Attending was also Fr. Andriy Stetsyk, priest of the Church of the Holy Betrothed Joseph of the UGCC in Nur-Sultan and Fr. Michele Tutalo, second secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature.
Sister Sevastiana Shegda said in her words of thanks: "I accept this award with gratitude and express my gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis on your behalf."