Our Church begins the Decade of Mission 2026, a special time of prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal leading us from the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord to the Feast of Pentecost.
This year, the Decade of Mission is dedicated to the Ukrainian family, which continues to suffer deeply from the consequences of war, separation, pain, and uncertainty. Throughout these days, we will pray for the preservation and renewal of our families, so that our homes may become true “domestic churches,” filled with God’s peace and love.
This initiative has been especially blessed and encouraged by
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski,
who invited all faithful of the Eparchy to unite in daily prayer and reflection during these Mission Days.
Bishop Michael especially encourages all faithful to:
• take part in this spiritual journey,
• gather together in family prayer,
• reflect on the Word of God,
• and share these materials with relatives, friends, and fellow parishioners.
Each day until Pentecost, a different priest of our Eparchy will guide us through a daily reflection, prayer service, or Moleben connected to the Gospel reading of the day.
We will also send daily messages and video reflections throughout the Decade of Mission.
📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:
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Thursday, May 14 — Feast of the Ascension
“Peace Be With You: Hope for the Ukrainian Family”
Luke 24:36–53
Reflection by Fr. Mykhailo Ozorovych
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May this Decade of Mission become a blessed time of healing, reconciliation, and renewal for our families, our parish, our Church, and Ukraine.
May the Holy Spirit renew our families, strengthen our faith, and fill our hearts with God’s peace.
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Thursday, May 14 (Feast of the Ascension)
“Peace Be With You: Hope for the Ukrainian Family”
Luke 24:36–53 — Fr. Mykhailo Ozorovych
On this day of the Ascension of the Lord, the Gospel tells us how the risen Christ stands among His disciples and says to them: “Peace be with you!” This is not merely an ordinary greeting. In the biblical sense, peace (shalom) means fullness of life, reconciliation with God, and inner wholeness. At that moment, however, the disciples are filled with fear, confusion, and guilt after the Passion of Christ. Therefore, Jesus first seeks to embrace them with His peace.
It is important to note that Christ brings this peace with the wounds in His hands and feet. He does not hide the marks of His suffering after the Resurrection, although He could have appeared without them. The Lord keeps them as a sign that true peace is always connected with sacrifice. Thus, the peace Christ brings is not the absence of difficulties or pain, but the fruit of love that has passed through the Cross and proved stronger than death.
These words resonate deeply today, as in the fifth year of full-scale war the Ukrainian people bear the heavy burden of loss, pain, and uncertainty. These wounds have especially affected the Ukrainian family. Sadly, we are witnessing one of the highest divorce rates since Ukraine’s independence, and a demographic crisis of alarming proportions, with deaths nearly three times exceeding births. War not only takes lives—it exhausts relationships and destroys family bonds.
That is why the theme of the family is central in the life of our Church today. This was evident in last year’s Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome, whose main theme was “Pastoral Care of Families in Time of War.” Today, one of the most important tasks for both the Church and our nation is the preservation of the Ukrainian family. Our families, marked by many wounds, need the Church’s support more than ever to receive the peace with which Christ came to His disciples.
In time of war, it is especially important that our families are not left alone with their pain, crises, and fears. The Church is called to be present—to support, to listen, to heal, to help restore unity, and to teach that love which is not destroyed even in the midst of trials. For this reason, this year’s Decade of Mission is dedicated to family life. From today until the Feast of Pentecost, we will reflect day by day on passages from the Gospel of John in the light of married and family life. Together we will seek answers to important questions: how to preserve love in times of trial, how to learn unity, forgiveness, sacrifice, and mutual support, and how to build a family centered on God.
May this time become an opportunity not only for deeper reflection, but also for the renewal of our family relationships, shared prayer, and the rediscovery of God’s beautiful plan for marriage and family. For it is through strong, loving, and faithful families that the Lord will build a bright future for the Church and for Ukraine.
Missionary Tasks:
1. Personal level:
Commit during the Decade of Mission to attend the principal services of your parish in order to properly prepare for the Feast of Pentecost.
2. Parish level:
Propose to your parish priest a concrete form of support for families: a common prayer gathering or a small support group for couples experiencing difficulties.3. Missionary level:
This week, take a concrete step toward a family or person experiencing crisis or who