The world spiritual father of the Ukrainian Catholic Church concluded his historic pastoral visitation to the United States and the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia by leading the clergy, religious and faithful in prayer during a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the golden domed Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Nov. 15.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, considered the patriarch of the church by Ukrainian Catholics, was the main celebrant at the Divine Liturgy honoring consecrated life. His Grace Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States; His Excellency Most Reverend Bishop John Bura, Auxiliary Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia; His Excellency Most Rev. Basil H. Losten, Bishop Emeritus Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford; His Excellency Most Rev. Bishop John McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and clergy from the Philadelphia Archeparchy were also celebrants during the Divine Liturgy.During his homily, based upon the Gospel reading from St. Luke which includes the parable of the good Samaritan, Patriarch Sviatoslav reminded the faithful that God himself becomes not only our neighbor, but he is with us, within us.Continuing, he said love is the divine motion of us to God and God to us, the God we must love with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.In honoring consecrated life, Patriarch Sviatoslav cited the life of the Venerable Servant of God Andrew Sheptytsky, who was declared heroic by Pope Francis July 16. He called him the real image of the Good Shepherd, representing divine love in service and love for his people. Metropolitan Sheptytsky was the "unique Catholic hierarch in Europe who raised his voice, who defended and saved many Jews from the Holocaust at the time of World War II. … Today, we venerate him as the one who led the renewal of monastic life in our church."He also honored the memory of Blessed Sister Josaphata Hordashevska, SSMI, who founded the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. Blessed Sister Josaphata, was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on June 27, 2001, during his visit to Ukraine."To the assembled religious men and religious women in consecrated life who renewed their vows during the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Sviatoslav said, "On behalf of the entire Ukrainian Catholic Church I come to express our gratitude to you, brothers and sisters in Christ, who gave all your heart, and your soul, all your strength and all your mind to service and love for God. Thank you for your service to the church, especially here in the United States. … And I call upon everyone here present to please learn how to love God and neighbor from our sisters here present."Newly installed mosaics of Venerable Andrew Sheptytsky and Blessed Sister Josaphata, designed by iconographer Chrystyna Dochwat were blessed by His Beatitude Sviatoslav at the end of the Divine Liturgy.After Metropolitan Stefan Soroka thanked Patriarch Sviatoslav on behalf of all the clergy, religious and faithful for his pastoral visit and inspirational message, His Beatitude presented a special medallion commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Venerable Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky to iconographer Chrystyna Dochwat for her life's work in designing liturgical appointments and church iconography that are found not only in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Philadelphia but in churches throughout the world.After the recessional, the congregation carrying lit candles gathered outside on the cathedral grounds where Patriarch Sviatoslav blessed a new bell tower which houses the "Stefan" bell from the original cathedral which was cast in 1919 in Baltimore. Then the candlelight prayer vigil for Ukraine, with the congregation reciting Venerable Andrew Sheptytsky's prayer for Ukraine concluded the services.Over 1,200 faithful from parishes in eastern Pennsylvania; New Jersey; Delaware; Washington, D.C.; and Virginia attended the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was broadcast live over the EWTN television network.Patriarch Sviatoslav began this most recent visit to the United States by participating in the dedication and blessing of the U.S. National Holodomor-Famine Monument in Washington, D.C., which commemorates the forced starvation of 5-7 million Ukrainians in 1932-33 during the genocide orchestrated by Josyf Stalin and the Soviet Union with the man-made famine. This monument, authorized by Congress in 2006 and approved by the National Park Service is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C.On Nov. 8, he celebrated a special Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington, D.C., remembering the victims of the 1932-33 Holodomor.While in Washington, D.C., he and other religious leaders from Ukraine met at the White House with representatives of President Obama, asking for desperately needed humanitarian aid and support the victims of the war in Ukraine and held a press conference at the National Press Club.He also had an opportunity to visit with students and teachers in several of the parish schools in the Philadelphia Archeparchy.In Pennsylvania, he met with students and teachers at St. Nicholas parish school in Minersville, and also visited the following churches in the South Anthracite Deanery: Transfiguration of our Lord, Shamokin; SS. Peter and Paul, Mount Carmel; Assumption BVM, Centralia; St. Michael, Shenandoah; St. John the Baptist, Maizeville; and St. Michael, Frackville.In New Jersey, he visited with students and teachers at Assumption BVM parish school In Perth Amboy, and St. Nicholas parish school in Passaic. He also had an opportunity to visit the newly constructed churches of St. Stephen in Toms River and St. John the Baptist in Whippany.