The Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in the Salt Lake Valley will gather for a Divine Liturgy to celebrate the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God on Oct. 4. The service is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, located at 5714 Holladay Blvd. in Salt Lake City.
The Byzantine Divine Liturgy will be conducted primarily in Ukrainian, though select portions will be in English to accommodate visitors. Father Pavlo Popov, a visiting priest from Chicago, will perform a marriage ceremony for a local Ukrainian couple and offer the Sacrament of Confession prior to the service.
Following the liturgy, if weather permits, the community will gather on the monastery lawn for spiritual reflections from Father Popov and a potluck dessert. Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs and favorite treats, while tea and coffee will be provided. The event is open to the entire public, including Catholics and Ukrainians of any religion.
Because Ukrainian Greek Catholics lack a dedicated parish in Utah, the local Carmelite monastery serves as the site for these worship occasions. Nazar Bil, who is arranging the event, noted that these gatherings allow the faithful to worship together in their native language.
Myroslava Maksymtsiv, Bil's wife, stated that praying in their native language is very pleasant and important while being far from home. She expressed gratitude to the Carmelite nuns for their hospitality and support in allowing the community to pray together at the monastery.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the United States is organized under the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolia of Philadelphia and is in full communion with the Pope. The upcoming service was facilitated by Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk of the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas of Chicago, which covers Western states including Utah.
Nazar Bil and Myroslava Maksymtsiv, who attend St. John the Baptist Parish in Draper, noted that while many local Ukrainians gather for social holidays, services like this are rare opportunities for the Catholic members of the community to worship together. Bil reported that the community has grown manyfold since the war in Ukraine began in 2022 and expressed hope for a permanent Ukrainian Catholic parish in Utah in the future.
Nazar Bil invited all people to join the prayers for peace in Ukraine during the upcoming service or at future masses.
