“We Have a Great Future,” Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at a Meeting with Children in Brazil
On February 21, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, together with members of the Permanent Synod, Metropolitan Volodymyr Kovbych of Curitiba and Bishop Myron Mazur of the Eparchy of Prudentópolis, met with children from the Saturday and catechetical school of the Eparchy of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Prudentópolis, Brazil. During the meeting, they discussed catechesis, family, the war in Ukraine, and vocation. They also prayed for Ukrainian children and for Ukraine’s victory.
At the beginning of the meeting, the children warmly welcomed the clergy and thanked them for the opportunity to speak with them. They expressed their unity in prayer for Ukrainian children who are suffering from the cruelty of war and asked that words of support, prayer, and love be conveyed to their peers. The children also assured the clergy that they would pray for the Head of the Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, for the bishops and priests, and for Ukraine’s victory, “which we have never seen, but hear so much about and love dearly.”
Representatives of the Eparchy of Prudentópolis then explained how catechesis is organized. Classes are held every Saturday and are attended by children from the city, the cathedral parish, and surrounding communities. The catechists are mostly lay women who use the printed materials Let the Children Come to Me, published with the support of the eparchial catechetical commission. These manuals are distributed to children aged seven and older and are used in their instruction.
Each year, with the support of Bishop Myron Mazur, materials are also prepared for meetings with families, since every child has a father, mother, brother, or sister. It is therefore important that catechesis embrace the entire family and help them grow together in faith.
These family gatherings take place monthly and this year are united under the central theme of “Family.” As not all parishes have halls large enough to accommodate many children, the gatherings are held in schools, in the sisters’ residence, or at the cathedral.
The meeting continued with personal conversations with the children. At the outset, His Beatitude emphasized that every person is called to grow in their relationship with the Lord and to rediscover Him each day. This is why catechism classes are so important. He outlined three steps for spiritual growth:
“The Lord has revealed Himself to us. He did not want to remain an unknown or distant God, did He? Therefore, we know much about Him. Yet we must remain curious and seek to discover Him every day. We must read the Holy Scriptures and the Catechism, pray, and strengthen our relationship with Him. And thirdly, we must partake of the Eucharist, because He is truly present there. He will help you to know yourselves more and more.”
Many of the children’s questions concerned Ukraine — its history, the formation of the state, and how Ukrainian children are living today.
In response, the Head of the Church expressed gratitude for their remembrance of children in Ukraine and noted that not all of them have the opportunity to study, as many schools have been destroyed and air raid sirens frequently interrupt lessons, forcing students to take shelter. He shared the story of a five-year-old boy from Kyiv who, when asked, “Are you cold?” replied, “Yes, very cold. But if I endure the cold, Ukraine will win.”
“Therefore, pray for the children in Ukraine who are suffering now,” the Patriarch urged.
When asked whether Ukrainian children feel sad or lonely, His Beatitude emphasized that Christians believe in God who took upon Himself all human suffering, and therefore no one is alone in their pain:
“If you suffer, if I suffer, we are not alone. Jesus is with us in our suffering. God never abandons us. If someone is wounded because a bomb has fallen, Jesus suffers in the bodies of those children. If someone is forced to leave their home and does not know where to go, Jesus walks with them. In the same way, Jesus accompanied your grandparents when they came to Brazil — He came here with them.”
Some of the questions were more personal, including how the Primate discerned his vocation to the priesthood. In response, His Beatitude noted that it is not an easy path. It involves doubts, searching, and trust in God:
“Jesus said, ‘He who seeks finds.’ On this path of searching and questioning, do not be afraid to ask for advice. Wise people will guide you and help you find the right way.”
In conclusion, His Beatitude thanked the children for their sincerity, openness, and the joyful atmosphere of the meeting, summarizing:
“During this meeting, we felt the love and light of Christ. Looking at you, we cannot say that we have no future for our children. It is a great future!”
The UGCC Department for Information
