UGKTs PRIEST SUBSTITUTES FOR ABSENT CATHOLIC PRIEST IN "DPR CAPITAL"
Religiia v Ukraine, 30 December 2014
On 24 December, Christmas Eve according to the Gregorian calendar, priest Mikhail Zaverchuk, rector of the UGKTs church of St Nicholas the Miracle-worker, gave the sacraments of confession and communion to several Roman Catholics who are now living in Donetsk, Religiia v Ukraine reports, referring to the UGKTs website.
"On the eve of Catholic Christmas, Roman Catholics telephoned me so that I would come to them, because in that part of the city there is now no priest. Their faithful wanted to make confession and communion before the holiday," the priest explained. "I served them the sacraments and gave them Christmas greetings, wishing them happy holidays. May the baby Jesus bring them peace in their hearts."
Recently there was officially a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Donetsk, but thus far he has not been able to reach the distant regions of the city. Therefore, at the request of the Roman Catholics themselves, Father Mikhail has tried to arrange a worshipful Christmas for them, providing the sacraments.
"Thus far there still has been no Roman Catholic priest in Donetsk and Roman Catholics often turn to me with their needs. Usually this involved the consecration of a house or apartment or confession and communion for the sick. However recently they managed to get the consent of local authorities that a Roman Catholic priest could return to the city," Fr Mikhail commented on events in the city that is controlled by pro-Russian militants. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 December 2014)
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