PUTTING LOGIC AT THE SERVICE OF THE FAITH TO ‘RE-EVANGELIZE THE BAPTIZED’ www.SaintGabriel-International.com PO Box 1393, Conyngham, PA 18219 Tel. (570) 788 5400 After foreseeing the tragedy of World the Russian Orthodox Church has been War II and the worldwide expansion of controlled by the Kremlin. Russia’s errors (Communism and schism) Our Lady of Fatima promised They have imposed a non-negotiable that a period of peace would be condition on the Vatican for the granted to the world. “ecumenical dialogue” to continue: The Holy See must not grant the The conversion of that same Russia was Patriarchate to the heroic Catholic a prerequisite for world peace. Ukrainians who have been oppressed for decades for their On the contrary, the oppression and Conversion not only from atheism, but fidelity to the Apostolic See. martyrdom of millions of our Ukrainian also from schism. Of course, the fall of brethren was virtually cast into oblivion the Soviet Empire could not bring We regret to acknowledge with great for the sake of “ecumenical dialogue” about that much-awaited concern that His Eminence Cardinal with Kremlin-controlled churchmen, conversion, because true world Kasper appears to have given in to that such as the Orthodox “Patriarch” of peace will not come through unjust demand. Moscow. mere political means. Divine Grace is necessary. We believe this course of action will not In an issue of ‘Church and Life’ (the produce the results desired by the Ukrainian newspaper in Australia, 22 Unfortunately, in our overwhelming majority of Ukrainian August 2004, page 2), a poll carried out continued diplomatic efforts Catholics, let alone meet the among Catholics in Ukraine revealed with Orthodox Christians in requirements of Natural Justice. that 70% of the faithful believe that Russia, we Catholics seem “Little attention should be paid to more concerned with dialogue The Ukrainian Catholic Rite is the opinions of other churches, the instead of conversion already the largest Eastern Rite of Moscow Patriarchate in particular, the Universal Church. They have given concerning the recognition of the On behalf of the Vatican, millions of martyrs to Christ because of [Ukrainian Catholic] Cardinal Walter Kasper holds their refusal to sever their sacred ties Patriarchate.” an “ecumenical dialogue” with with the See of Peter. the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by its Unfortunately, the Vatican policy of “Patriarch”, Kirill, himself a détente with Moscow, promoted by the faithful servant of the Holy See’s diplomats since the days of Kremlin. Pope Paul VI, has not produced any Since the days of Stalin positive results. written by A major step toward the conversion of Russia and authentic world peace.
Transcript
PUTTING LOGIC AT THE SERVICEOF THE FAITH TO
‘RE-EVANGELIZE THE BAPTIZED’
www.SaintGabriel-International.comPO Box 1393, Conyngham, PA 18219 Tel. (570) 788 5400
After foreseeing the tragedy of World the Russian Orthodox Church has been War II and the worldwide expansion of controlled by the Kremlin.Russia’s errors (Communism and schism) Our Lady of Fatima promised They have imposed a non-negotiable that a period of peace would be condition on the Vatican for the granted to the world. “ecumenical dialogue” to continue:
The Holy See must not grant the The conversion of that same Russia was Patriarchate to the heroic Catholic a prerequisite for world peace. Ukrainians who have been
oppressed for decades for their On the contrary, the oppression and Conversion not only from atheism, but fidelity to the Apostolic See. martyrdom of millions of our Ukrainian also from schism. Of course, the fall of brethren was virtually cast into oblivion the Soviet Empire could not bring We regret to acknowledge with great for the sake of “ecumenical dialogue” about that much-awaited concern that His Eminence Cardinal with Kremlin-controlled churchmen, conversion, because true world Kasper appears to have given in to that such as the Orthodox “Patriarch” of peace will not come through unjust demand.Moscow.mere political means. Divine
Grace is necessary. We believe this course of action will not In an issue of ‘Church and Life’ (the produce the results desired by the Ukrainian newspaper in Australia, 22 Unfortunately, in our overwhelming majority of Ukrainian August 2004, page 2), a poll carried out continued diplomatic efforts Catholics, let alone meet the among Catholics in Ukraine revealed with Orthodox Christians in requirements of Natural Justice.that 70% of the faithful believe that Russia, we Catholics seem
“Little attention should be paid to more concerned with dialogue The Ukrainian Catholic Rite is the opinions of other churches, the instead of conversion already the largest Eastern Rite of Moscow Patriarchate in particular, the Universal Church. They have given concerning the recognition of the On behalf of the Vatican, millions of martyrs to Christ because of [Ukrainian Catholic] Cardinal Walter Kasper holds their refusal to sever their sacred ties Patriarchate.”an “ecumenical dialogue” with with the See of Peter.
the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by its Unfortunately, the Vatican policy of “Patriarch”, Kirill, himself a détente with Moscow, promoted by the faithful servant of the Holy See’s diplomats since the days of Kremlin. Pope Paul VI, has not produced any Since the days of Stalin positive results.
written by
A major step toward the conversion of Russia and authentic world peace.A major step toward the conversion of Russia and authentic world peace.
We agree both joyfully and wholeheartedly with them. The Ukrainian Catholic Patriarch is an internal matter in the Catholic Church, which should not concern non-Catholic Churches. Just as we do not interfere in their internal questions, they should do the same in our regard, and leave our internal affairs alone.
Once Ukrainian Catholics have their Patriarch, they will be greatly encouraged to work towards the unification of all Ukrainians, Catholic and Orthodox, into one single Rite, Byzantine in liturgy and spirituality but faithful to the Apostolic See, free from the influence of the Orthodox “Patriarch” of Moscow.
Ukrainian Patriarchate would be a powerful contribution toward the restoration of union between the Christian East and Rome, thus making a reality of Pope John Paul II’s wish: ‘Ut unum sint’ between East and West.
In recent years the Holy See has offered apologies to various peoples for many alleged wrongs committed by Catholics in centuries past. We believe that the time has now come that a well-deserved apology be offered to our Ukrainian brethren, who have suffered so much and so long for maintaining their fidelity to the Apostolic See.
Justice demands that we acknowledge them. But the Church in the West has remained largely silent to their plight.
The granting of the Patriarchate to our Ukrainian brethren will certainly be a visible sign of the Church’s sincere contrition.
Please join us in a worldwide effort of prayer and action to beg the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to establish the Patriarchate for the Catholic Ukrainian Rite.
We sincerely believe that this is the first step toward the securing of the conversion of Russia and of world peace we all desire, in terms of Our Lady of Fatima’s wishes.
referring to the alleged ‘conversion’ from Communism to liberal Capitalism.
The corruption that reigns supreme in Russia today is no improvement in the country's life. Conversion is primarily a spiritual reality, not a socio-economic reality. When Russians will abandon atheism and
An historical celebration took place in schism on a national scale and
the Church: the 410th anniversary of become full members of the Catholic
the re-union between the Bishops of Church, then true Conversion will
the Metropolia of Kievan Rus' and the have taken place as Our Lady wanted.
Apostolic See.
Conversion will come from within Russia, not from without. Since Russia received her Christianity from Ukraine, the establishment of the Catholic Ukrainian Patriarchate may
Faithful to the See of Peter, the play a major historical role in Our Lady's Peace Plan for the world.
There are three churches in Ukraine: - Catholic (Faithful to Rome, a
Church of Martyrs) - Orthodox Subservient to Moscow - Orthodox Independent. The following year, the union was
solemnly proclaimed at Brest-Litovsk. The unification of the three Ukrainian The Ukrainian Catholic Rite shone churches will exercise a powerful once again as a bright star in the effect on the Orthodox people of universe of the Catholic Church.Russia.
Pope Clement VIII issued the Blessed Vasyl was Apostolic Constitution ‘Magnus himself an apostle of Dominus et Laudabilis Nimis’ the reunion of announcing the union to the whole Orthodox Christians Church. In the Apostolic Letter with Rome, and he ‘Benedictus sit Pastor’ he informed the confirmed the real Bishops of the Metropolia that the re-possibility of Russia's union had taken place.conversion in his autobiography:The Ukrainian Catholics paid a hefty
price for their conversion: they “There were many villages
suffered centuries of persecution that invited me to come to
under the Czars’ vain attempt to force them because they wanted them to join the Russian Orthodox to be united with the Catholic Church... In Church. Under Soviet Communism, many Orthodox parishes in Volyn’, where
the entire populace wanted to belong to the the persecution worsened, as the Catholic Church – e.g., Tutovichi, in the Russia Orthodox Church became "a district of Sarn – the police used to restrict docile tool of godless Soviet rule", as me, used to inflict punishment on the
Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky put it.people. There were many such parishes – almost all of them. Obviously, the struggle
In Fatima, Our Lady made it against union with the Catholic Church – is abundantly clear that world peace a struggle against God.” (p.34-35). would come only after the Conversion of Russia. Obviously, She was not
The hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin were of course among the greatest enemies of the reunion.
We wrote to Pope John Paul II, asking him to make good use of that celebration to grant the Patriarchate to our heroic Ukrainian brethren.
Our letter was sent to the Secretariat of State in the Vatican and a copy to the Apostolic Nunciature in Canberra, the Australian capital city.
Now we repeat our filial request to His Holiness Benedict XVI.
Raymond & Theresa de SouzaDirector and Foundress SGC-I
“Raymond is a very good speaker and a stern defender of the Faith as passed down to us by Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles. He and his family are treasure to have in any parish.”
Rev. Fr. Wolodymyr Kalinecki Parish Administrator, Ukrainian parish of St John the Baptist, Perth, WA, Australia
"O Lord God, You are praised by the
whole world for the marvelous works of
Your saints. I thank You for the grace
You gave to Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky
to be a faithful witness to You unto the
point of death.
“Through his intercession I ask for the
following favour - that the Holy Father
Benedict XVI grant the Patriarchate to
the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church –
for Your Name is glorified forever.
“Amen.”
Will you join us in this prayer effort to bring about authentic Unity in the Truth
between East and West?
Will you join us in this prayer effort to bring about authentic Unity in the Truth
between East and West?
"In view of everything that has been said here, the picture of our days is very clear: We are in the supreme movements of a fight that we would call mortal if one of the contenders were not immortal – the Catholic Church.
As children of the Church and fighters in Her battles, it is natural for us filially to consecrate this initiative to Our Lady.
The Immaculate Virgin is She who has crushed the head of the serpent. The universal and omnipotent mediation of the Mother of God is the greatest reason for our hope, and, at Fatima, She has already given us the certitude of victory, when She announced that in the end, “My Immaculate Heart will triumph!”
