On 5-7 October 2018, Director of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Mission in Ukraine Serhiy Kasyanchuk participated in and addressed the II Forum of Migrants of Central and Western Europe organized by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) on the theme: “Children and youth in the establishment of a new Ukrainian diaspora in Europe. Challenges and opportunities for the Church.”
The Forum examined in depth the roles of the school and church, spiritual guidance for youth and children, and the development of a youth movement in the diaspora.
Participating in the event were representatives of the UGCC clergy, the governing authorities of Ukraine, and community organizations from Europe, including, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head of the UGCC; Bishop Yosyf (Milan), Head of Pastoral Care for Migrants in the UGCC; Bishop Borys Gudziak, Eparchy of St. Volodymyr the Great in Paris; representatives of the Vatican, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, Lviv Polytechnic International Institute for Education, Cultural and Diaspora Relations, as well as youth organizations such as the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) and Plast.
Individual participants included Ukrainians residing in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Great Britain, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Estonia, Latvia and Moldova.
“Today’s children and youth will eventually become the foundation of the Ukrainian community in Europe and as such, it is critical to nurture in their consciousness and soul the Ukrainian language along with spiritual and Christian values, and provide the proper orientation, instill a dedication to their homeland, and expand their knowledge of its history, traditions and culture,” stated Director of the UWC Mission in Ukraine Serhiy Kasyanchuk.
In the photo from left: S. Kasyanchuk, hieromonk Y. Boyko and Bishop Yosyf (Milan)
