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Dear Reverend Clergy, Religious, Seminarians and Faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in USA,
We, the Bishops of the four eparchies of our Ukrainian Catholic Church, desire to foster the common spiritual bond and unity we enjoy amidst ourselves, with the entire Ukrainian Catholic Church worldwide and also ecumenically with our brothers and sisters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We recall the decision of the Synod of Ukrainian Catholic Bishops made in 1997 which established the official text for “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” for use throughout the Ukrainian Catholic Church worldwide. It reads as follows:
“Отче наш, що єси на небесах, нехай святиться ім’я твоє, нехай прийде царство твоє, нехай буде воля твоя, як на небі, так і на землі. Хліб наш насущний дай нам сьогодні, і прости нам провини наші, як і ми прощаємо винуватцям нашим; і не введи нас у спокусу, але визволи нас від лукавого”.
“Богородице Діво, радуйся, благодатна Маріє, Господь з тобою. Благословенна ти між жінками і благословенний плід лона твого, бо ти породила Христа Спаса, Ізбавителя душ наших”.
All of our parishes are instructed to fully adhere to the use of the official text in all Ukrainian liturgical services and when the faithful gather in common prayers. Choir Directors and choir members of Ukrainian choirs praying the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” are also asked to refrain from using other translations and to use only the official text. Please participate in fostering spiritual unity as Ukrainians. Facilitating full participation in prayers common to all Ukrainians is needed and involves all of us.
We thank you for your anticipated cooperation in fostering a strong spiritual bond amidst Ukrainians in USA and beyond. We pray for all that we may enthusiastically seek and foster unity as Ukrainians.
God bless you!
+Stefan Soroka(author)
Metropolitan-Archbishop of Philadelphia
+Richard Seminack
Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago
+Paul Chomnycky, OSBM
Eparch of Stamford
+John Bura
Apostolic Administrator
of St. Josaphat in Parma