Fraternal visit to the Graeco-Byzantine Rite Foundation of All Franciscan Saints in Ukraine

On October 14-16 2016, the General Minister of the Order of Friars Minor, Br. Michael A. Perry, OFM, along with the General Definitor for Slavic Conference, Br. Ivan Sesar, OFM, made a fraternal visit to the Graeco-Byzantine rite Foundation of All Franciscans Saints in the Ukraine, accompanied by Br. Antonin Brzakalik, OFM, Minister of the Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Poland, on which the Foundation depends, and Br. Dmitri Zeglin, OFM, Provincial Vicar. The Foundation has about 20 friars. Members of the Foundation, from Zoloczew, Uzhorod, and Nizny Bystry, gathered at the Tarnopil Community. The meeting of the brothers of the Foundation was honored by the presence of auxiliary bishop of Mukaczew, our brother Nil Luszczak. The day of October 15 was devoted to the fraternal gathering during which Br. Jan Kanty Piechota, OFM, President of the Foundation, presented the friars and their commitments in the Entity. Afterwards there was a celebration of the Eucharist. That same day there was a visit of the local churches of Tarnopil and meeting with members of the Secular Franciscan Order. On 16 October, during the liturgy in the Church of San Pietro Apostolo, the General Minister presided at the investiture of Damian Czamarnyk, whose father and brother are Greek-Byzantine rite priests. The celebration ended with the blessing of the Assembly by the General Minister. [gallery link="file" ids="11667,11668,11669,11670,11672,11674"]