Gala Evening in Support of the Educational Initiative of the St. Gabriel Institute
On June 4, 2025, in the heart of the U. S. capital — Washington, D. C. — the first graduating class of the Communication and Church Diplomacy Program of the St. Gabriel Institute celebrated their commencement at St. Josaphat Seminary.
The St. Gabriel Institute is a unique educational initiative launched in June 2024 at the request and with the blessing of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Its creation was coordinated by the UGCC Department of External Relations, in partnership with the Ukrainian Catholic University and the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. This is the first program of its kind in the world, dedicated to training in Church diplomacy and communications on a global level. The Institute’s mission is to form a new generation of Church representatives ready to respond to contemporary challenges and serve as the Church’s voice on the global stage.
The graduation took place in a warm, intimate atmosphere with the participation of Archbishop and Metropolitan Borys Gudziak the Institute’s founder and close friends of the community. Reflecting the spirit of communal life over the past five months, the event began with an evening prayer service, after which the Metropolitan presented each student with a certificate of program completion. The formal portion included remarks from the Metropolitan and a closing address by the Institute’s director, Rev. Iouri Koslovskii. The evening concluded with a communal meal. A few days earlier, on May 31, 2025, the academic year concluded with a festive Gala Fundraiser organized by the students. The event brought together over 120 guests from diplomatic, academic, and ecclesial circles to celebrate the completion of the Institute’s inaugural academic program and to raise funds in support of the next student cohort. During the Gala, students in the final stages of their internship in Washington shared their experiences, achievements, and reflections. The evening began with a blessing and the traditional breaking of bread led by Metropolitan Borys. Rev. Iouri Koslovskii, welcomed guests with opening remarks. A short reflection and toast were delivered by Rev. Dr. Martin Chomiv. Mariya Lupiy, a student at the Institute, shared her personal reflections and presented a summary of the cohort’s second-semester accomplishments. A highlight of the evening was the address by Her Excellency Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, who emphasized the significance of the initiative for Ukraine’s cultural and spiritual diplomacy. She noted:
“The students of this Institute are already leaders and messengers. They do not speak to comfort but to awaken us all around. Today, more than ever, we need such voices messengers of truth, followers of St. Gabriel, and the St. Gabriels of today. We need this program to grow, and for its graduates to become ambassadors all over the world.”
Danylo Kolasa expressed gratitude to the guests on behalf of the students. In his address, Archbishop Borys Gudziak shared the story of how the Institute was founded and spoke about the daily life of the student community. He emphasized:
“I want the students to live what they represent. I hope they will be ambassadors of fellowship, unity, and love.”
As part of the fundraising segment, guests participated in both a silent and live auction, along with a special donation appeal. All proceeds will go toward supporting the next cohort of St. Gabriel Institute students, who begin their studies in June 2025. The Gala was not only a ceremonial conclusion to the first year of the program; it became a vivid testament to the unity of purpose shared by Ukrainian youth, the Church, and the international community in shaping a new generation of spiritual leaders.
