Archeparchy Delegates, Led by Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Participate in XXIII Congress of Ukrainians in America
On October 11–13, 2024, the 23 rd Congress of Ukrainians of America gathered in the North Penn Valley region, just outside Philadelphia. The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia was represented by Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Outreach Director Marta Rubel, along with Fr. Yuriy Koslovskyi and Fr. Volodymyr Radko.
Archbishop Borys participated in a panel discussion titled “The Future & Legacy of the Ukrainian American Community,” moderated by former Svoboda editor-in-chief Irene Jarosewich. The panel featured prominent voices, including Reverend Roman Kapran, President of the Ukrainian Baptist Convention in the USA, HUCUS Foundation CEO Oleksii Prokopenko, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Philadelphia Iryna Mazur, and Adrian Kebuz of the Ukrainian American Youth Civics and Public Policy Club.
In his address, Archbishop Borys expressed gratitude for the community’s efforts in supporting Ukraine, particularly during the ongoing war. “It is important to be grateful to God, to one another, and to appreciate all the gifts we have. After all, the one who is grateful is truly rich,” he remarked. The Archbishop also touched on the history and current challenges of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, specifically the declining number of believers. He outlined his strategy for addressing this issue, emphasizing the importance of focusing on quality: “We must strive for quality. We need to set high standards, analyze the situation, and not shy away from difficult questions,” he noted. The Church, he stressed, should be a place of meaning, life, and truth.
One of the key moments of the Congress was the presentation of the prestigious Shevchenko Freedom Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Ukrainian American community. Among this year’s awardees was Metropolitan Borys Gudziak.
The Congress concluded with a morning liturgy at the Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church in Lansdale. Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak and UCCA National Executive Board Member and President/CEO of the Providence Association of Ukrainian Catholics in America, the Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Ihor Midzak, were among the concelebrants, with responses sung by UCCA’s Director of Communications, Andrij Dobriansky.
In his homily, Metropolitan Borys reflected on the parable of the sower, focusing on the need for inner and outer peace. “This parable, this image, this metaphor,” he said, “is alive because God’s Word is always alive, speaking quietly to us today at this Congress, where delegates have gathered from across the U. S. and other countries. The Lord gently calls: ‘Calm your heart, so My Word can take root in good soil. The path won’t be easy, but I promise — it will bring fruit.’”
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