Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Presents Award for Long-Standing Service to Roma Hayda, Activist in the Patriarchal Movement
On the Feast of Pentecost, June 8, Archbishop and Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia presented the Metropolitan Award for Distinguished Service to Mrs. Roma Hayda, a leader in the lay movement of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. She led the Patriarchal Society during the periods 1989–1993 and 2007–2010, and was the initiator of the revival of the Obnova Society in Ukraine.
It was announced by the Communications Office of the Philadelphia Archeparchy.
The award ceremony took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia and recognized “her lifetime Christian service in the United States, Ukraine, and worldwide—as a professional, community leader, public intellectual, wife, and mother—who for decades has personally exemplified and inspired the vocation of laypeople, especially women, in the life of the Church.”
This award marks the final chapter in a series of recognitions for active laypeople, which began last summer with the presentation of the award to Mykola Haliv, editor of Patriarchate magazine. In the fall of 2024, recipients also included the couple Leonid and Iryna Rudnytsky and researcher and publicist Andriy Sorokovsky.
“Today we celebrate the gift that Mrs. Roma Hayda is to our Church. She exemplifies how someone who embraces the gifts of the Holy Spirit can be transformed. Mrs. Roma did not shy away from challenges—she moved forward,” said Metropolitan Borys.
Born in 1937 in Pidhaitsi to a priest’s family, Roma Hayda moved to the United States with her family at the age of 14. She earned a degree in art from Fairfield University (Connecticut) and worked as a graphic designer. Since the 1970s, she has been deeply involved in both community and church service. Among her most notable contributions were her leadership of the Ukrainian Patriarchal Society over three terms and her pivotal role in restoring the Society of Ukrainian Catholic Students Obnova in Ukraine.
“She is the image of a woman, a wife, a mother who raised wonderful sons—one of whom became a priest. (Fr. Pavlo Hayda tragically died at age 42.) Thank you for being an example of prayer, hard work, and family life, and for your writings,” added the metropolitan. He also acknowledged Roma’s late husband, Igor Hayda, and expressed gratitude for the family’s support of various initiatives, including the Ukrainian Catholic University.
After receiving the award, Mrs. Hayda addressed those gathered in the cathedral, reflecting on her involvement in church initiatives. She encouraged everyone to explore and preserve their identity, emphasizing that she spoke not as an academic but from personal experience gained during the patriarchal movement. “I am grateful to the Metropolitan for his recognition and trust in allowing me to share my experience. In faith, there is hope,” she concluded.
Background
Metropolitan Borys Gudziak established the Award for Long Service in 2022. It is presented to clergy, consecrated persons, and laypeople for outstanding and selfless service. The first recipient was Monsignor Ronald Popivchak, long-time rector of the Ukrainian Catholic parish of Sts. Peter and Paul in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. In 2023, the award was given to three women’s monastic congregations of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia: the Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great; the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate (Province of the Immaculate Conception in the United States); and the Missionary Sisters of the Protection of Mother of God—for their devoted and fruitful service in education.
The UGCC Department for Information
