UGCC Primate meets with CYM representatives from 12 countries
On November 21, 2018, the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church Patriarch Sviatoslav met with the World Executive Board of the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) in the village of Knyazhychi located near Kyiv and spoke with CYM representatives from 12 countries, the Department of Information of the UGCC reports.
The meeting took place on the day of the Archangel Michael, who is the patron saint of CYM. Also on this day, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Dignity and Liberty. Five years ago, a completely new period started in Ukraine - the Revolution of Dignity began and is ongoing now.
According to the Head of the Church, our Lord gives us unique opportunities, and we do not have the right to neglect them. “Liberty is a spiritual concept. You can have no external coercion, but fail to feel free. Or you can be in a concentration camp, a Stalin camp-and remain a free man. We have an independent state, but we have yet to build a free Ukraine,” the Head of the UGCC said.
One of the great challenges facing Ukraine today is, in the opinion of the Head of the Church, a colossal wave of migration. “This can be evaluated differently, but today we are shifting towards a new type of community of people. The whole world is moving today ... And the Ukrainian youth is the active nucleus of that movement. And all organizations need to follow the youth,” he said.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the representatives of the Union for the fact that the organization was moving for the youth and declared that the UGCC Union has a truly reliable partner. “With CYM, it is not boring. We will carry out our educational activities together, both in Ukraine and in the global Ukrainian framework. I want to declare absolute support for CYM, for all your affairs, the rallying and upbringing of Ukrainian youth on the basis of love for God, for their people, not only in Ukraine, but also throughout the world,” added the Primate.
The spiritual leader of Ukrainians expressed hope that this support would turn into a variety of different initiatives.
During October, the entire Catholic Church postponed all other matters and focused its attention on the topic of youth, its upbringing and vocations in the modern world. “I am still under the impression the Pontifical Synod has made on me. And I become more aware of how responsible and difficult the Church's mission is and, in particular, the mission of the CYM, in order to instill in our youth the deep foundations of dignity, freedom, responsibility, and kindness,” the Head of the Church said.
The Primate admitted that visiting countries around the world he was seeking to establish contacts with youth organizations. He also thanked the CYM for its attempts to open its new branches, in particular in new communities: Spain, Portugal. He expressed hope that the same cells will be set up in Italy, Greece, Israel, UAE, South Africa, and everywhere where already there are Ukrainians and the UGCC.
UGCC Head also urged the CYM to move to the East of Ukraine, because it is where the future of Ukraine can be found today. “Ukrainian youth, particularly in the East of Ukraine, in the Center and the South, are in great need of your presence. Today there are unique opportunities. The hearts of young people are open to a new reality. Communities such as the CYM have an absolutely open field for work,” said Patriarch Sviatoslav.
