Berdychiv in Zhytomyr region prepares to receive Roman Catholic pilgrims from different parts of Ukraine, Europe and the world who will take part in the pilgrimage celebrations of the Mother of God of Saint Scapularis on July 20-21, 2019. This year's celebrations in Berdychiv will be held under the slogan "Holy Theotokos, accept Ukrainian family under your protection." It was reported by Religion in Ukraine.
Berdychiv in Zhytomyr region prepares to receive Roman Catholic pilgrims from different parts of Ukraine, Europe and the world who will take part in the pilgrimage celebrations of the Mother of God of Saint Scapularis on July 20-21, 2019. This year's celebrations in Berdychiv will be held under the slogan "Holy Theotokos, accept Ukrainian family under your protection." It was reported by Religion in Ukraine.
"This year, we celebrate the feast of the Mother of God of St Scapularis in the context of the Year of Sanctity of Marriage and Family in Ukraine. Our celebration coincides with the day of elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. We want to place hope for a better future of families in our state under the charge of the blessed Virgin Mary.
Therefore, as every year, we invite all of you for a pilgrimage to the sanctuary in Berdychiv. The prayer call of our meeting is "Holy Theotokos, accept Ukrainian family under your protection." This is the embodiment of our desire to entrust to the Mother of God all families who live on the Ukrainian land. We especially want to ask for the strengthening of love, healing from misunderstandings, liberation from addictions harmful to relationships. We hope to obtain from merciful God the graces we need", said Fr Rafail Myshkovsky, the sanctuary keeper.
For several weeks now, the construction of three main facilities – a field altar, a tower for media representatives and a platform for musicians and a choir – has been ongoing in St. John Paul II Square in Berdychiv. It is being constructed by monastery workers, parishioners, brethren and the Discalced Carmelites nuns of the Congregation of St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus.
According to Fr Raphael Myshkovsky, this year about 15 hiking groups and two groups of cyclists are to arrive to Berdychiv.
The pilgrims will be met on Saturday, July 20, 16:00. At 18:00, the Liturgy will be led by the Chairman of the Conference of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, Bishop Bronislav Bernatsky of Odesa-Simferopol Diocese, and the sermon will be delivered by the Bishop of Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese, Vitaly Kryvytsky.
From 22:00 on July 20 to 6:00 on July 21, a night prayer vigil in intentions of families of Ukraine will be held in the church.
On the morning of July 21, the divine service will be held in the temple. At 9:30, the prayer of the rosary will begin in St. John Paul II Square, and at 11:00 – the dismissal Liturgy, which will be led by Archbishop Tomazzo Caputo. Concelebrating with him will be the bishops of Ukraine led by Bishop Bronislav Bernatsky. Representatives of the authorities and the diplomatic corps and official delegations will take part in the celebrations.
On the occasion of the celebrations in Berdychiv and the beginning of the pilgrimage, Bishop Vitaly Kryvytsky of Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese reached out to the believers: "We are very happy to invite all people of good will, all Christians, as they think they are waiting for and require all this special time of openness to God, all those who have gathered today their requests and needs and strive to bring them to the Lord this year. I invite you to the current pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Mother of God of Berdychiv! In order that at that time, of course, as far as one is capable of this — to make this way to the Sanctuary by foot, or travel by car, by bus. We invite you to share with us the joy of celebration on July 20-21, 2019. Let us become more and more numerous – those who have already discovered God in their lives and come to share with others the understanding that the Lord is truly acting in our lives."