Roman Catholic Redemptorists are resuming their ministry in Lviv, Ukraine. On September 7th, Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki, the Metropolitan of Lviv, met with Father Dariusz Paszyński, the Superior of the Warsaw Province of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Exactly 140 years ago in Mostyska, the cult of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which spread across Ukrainian and Polish lands, began to flourish. This revival comes after the expulsion of the first Redemptorist community from Warsaw in 1807.
The Lviv Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine reported this development.
Father Dariusz Paszyński explained that he met with Archbishop Mieczysław to sign an agreement for the return of the Redemptorist Fathers to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Mostyska.
He stated, "The Redemptorists are returning after an 11-year hiatus. We concluded our mission after the passing of Father Władysław Ziobro, but we are returning to our roots. Exactly 140 years ago, on September 8th, 1883, the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was brought to the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
It was brought from Rome by the Servant of God Bernard Łubieński, and it was from this place that the cult of Our Lady of Perpetual Help began to spread in the Polish territories of that time. It was also the first Redemptorist community since our expulsion from Warsaw in 1807.
The official reintroduction ceremony took place on September 8th. The Holy Mass for this occasion was presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Edward Kawa, who is originally from Mostyska. The veteran missionaries, Father Krzysztof Szczygło and Father Dariusz Świda, who also served in Truskavets and Boryslav for many years, have commenced their service.
The primary mission of the Redemptorists in this province will be to oversee the Sanctuary, which includes pastoral ministry and the promotion of the cult of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the local community. Additionally, they may organize pilgrimages in the future. As their Congregation's charism includes proclaiming parish missions and retreats, one of the fathers will be dedicated to this task.
Protosynkellos (Deputy Hegumen) Volodymyr (Boreyko) of the Lviv Province of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer stated, "Our Province represents the Eastern branch of the Byzantine Rite Congregation, and Lviv can be considered our 'canonical territory.' When the monks of the Warsaw Province of the Roman Catholic Church decided to resume their activities in Mostyska, they corresponded with their colleagues in Lviv."
He added, "We have very good relations with the Redemptorists of the Warsaw Province. Father Dariusz was present at our chapter, and I attended the Warsaw chapter. Our Congregation is headed by an Archimandrite who resides in Rome, and each Province operates autonomously. Our fellow brothers from the Warsaw Province will conduct their activities among Roman Catholics, while our mission is focused on Greek Catholics."