A Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fátima Brings Ukrainian Pilgrims Together in Prayer for Peace and Ukraine
A pilgrimage of Ukrainians to Our Lady of Fátima took place in the Portuguese city of Fátima. To mark the occasion, Bishop Stepan Sus, head of the Pastoral and Migration Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), presided over the Divine Liturgy for the pilgrims at the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. Concelebrating with him were Bishop Paul Chomnytsky of the UGCC Eparchy of Stamford, as well as all UGCC priests ministering in Portugal, Fr. Volodymyr Tsyzh, the priest serving Ukrainians in Spain, and Fr. Vasyl Zakharus, the priest serving Ukrainians in Cyprus.
This was reported by the Pastoral and Migration Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
“Here in Fátima, more than 100 years ago, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to ordinary children at a time of great fear, hatred, and spiritual darkness in the world. And it is in this very place, in May—the month dedicated to Mary—that we Ukrainians have gathered as a people wounded by war, a people who carry their cross far from their homeland, yet never cease to look to heaven and seek the protection of the Mother of God,” Bishop Paul said during his homily.
He noted that when Mary appeared in Fátima in 1917, Europe was engulfed in war, humanity was beginning to lose faith in God, and that same year the Bolshevik Revolution broke out in Russia, bringing with it a wave of atheism, persecution of the Church, hatred of God, and the enslavement of peoples.
“It was then that the Blessed Virgin Mary spoke these words in Fátima—words that resonate prophetically today: if people do not convert, Russia will spread its errors throughout the world, causing wars and the persecution of the Church. We Ukrainians, unfortunately, know the true meaning of these words.
Our people have endured the Holodomor, the destruction of the Church, exile, torture, executions, the elimination of the clergy, the underground existence of the UGCC, and decades of fear and silence—all because of Russia’s errors. For centuries, our people have stood on the threshold between life and death, between freedom and slavery. And today, in the 21 st century, we are once again witnessing the evil of war returning to our land. We see missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities, mothers mourning once again, children fleeing their homes once again, and Ukrainians scattered across the world once again.”
The bishop emphasized that during the darkest moments of its history, the Ukrainian people have always turned to the Mother of God. “It is no coincidence that one of our most beloved feasts is the Protection of the Holy Mother of God, for the Ukrainian soul senses that Mary is the Mother who shelters us beneath her mighty mantle in times of great danger. And today, as Ukraine bleeds once again, our people once again run to the feet of the Mother of God. Fátima reminds us that the final word belongs not to evil, but to God,” emphasized the Bishop of Stamford. “Dear pilgrims, do not lose your faith, your language, or your Christian soul. A Christian has no right to lose hope. We do not know when the war will end, but we know that God will not abandon Ukraine.”
Hundreds of Ukrainians from various parts of Portugal, as well as groups of pilgrims from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, took part in the pilgrimage. Among those attending the Divine Liturgy were Maryna Mykhailenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Portugal; Yevheniya Koshta Kvarezhma, President of “Obra Catolica”; and leaders of Ukrainian associations in Portugal.
After the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Stepan Sus met with young people. This was followed by the Stations of the Cross. At its conclusion, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in Portugal led a Moleben to the Most Holy Mother of God and imparted his blessing to all the pilgrims.
The UGCC Department for Information
