Ukrainian Liturgy to be celebrated in Liverpool cathedral for peace in Ukraine and God’s blessing on host city of Eurovision
A Ukrainian Rite Catholic Solemn Liturgy is to be celebrated at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral this Sunday, 30th April, at 3.00 pm. The Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski, the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London will preside at the Pontifical Divine Liturgy and the Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, will concelebrate along with other clergy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Roman Catholic Church.
The Eparchial Bishop is responsible for the pastoral care of Ukrainian, Belarusian and Slovakian Eastern Catholics in Great Britain as well as being Apostolic Visitor for Ukrainian Catholics resident in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the Liturgy will form part of a visit to Ukrainians in Liverpool.
The liturgy will be offered for peace with justice in Ukraine and around the world, and for God’s blessing of the host city ahead of the major events related to the Eurovision Song Contest. Civic and Religious leaders will be invited to this unique time of prayer for Ukraine and Eurovision in Liverpool. It is also a ‘thank you’ for the generosity and ongoing work of the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s #liverpool4ukraine campaign and for the solidarity of the people of Liverpool.
The Liturgy will be in the Byzantine Rite and as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church Catholic parishioners are welcome to attend and receive Holy Communion if they wish.
Meanwhile, volunteers from The Archdiocese of Liverpool are set to leave for the Ukrainian border next week to deliver essential aid as part of the #Liverpool4Ukraine appeal.
Three vans, driven by six volunteers will be making the six-day journey during the week of Eurovision to further strengthen the links between the city and Ukraine.
Among the drivers are Martin Miller, chief operating officer at the archdiocese, office manager Sharne Kelso, Antony McLoughlin whose wife Helen works for the archdiocese along with three volunteers from Greenmount Projects who have supported the appeal since the beginning.
The vans, which will leave early in the morning on Saturday 6h May, will be carrying dried food and building tools which will be delivered directly to Bishop Gregory Komar, from the Ukrainian diocese of Sambir-Drohobych, who will take the goods for distribution in the Lviv region of western Ukraine. Bishop Gregory is the auxiliary bishop of the diocese and has a close association with the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Martin Miller said: “The archdiocese’s first trip to Ukraine was over a year ago back in March 2022. It is heartbreaking that the war is ongoing and there is still need for us to do this, but the personal approach of delivering the aid it directly to Bishop Gregory is so important for them which is why we are continuing to make this journey.
“We decided for the fifth trip to be on the same week as Eurovision as we wanted to further strengthen the links between Liverpool and Ukraine.”
The #Liverpool4Ukraine appeal would not be possible without donations from the public. Donations are still welcome and more details of how to donate can be found here: https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/donate
Courtesy Peter Heneghan
Press Officer – Archdiocese of Liverpool
St Margaret Clitherow Centre
Croxteth Drive, Liverpool, L17 1AA