«Згідно з дослідженням, проведеним упродовж 2008-2009 років групою науковців за сприяння Міжнародного благодійного фонду «Карітас України», за роки незалежності в пошуках «кращого життя» за межі країни виїхало біля 5 мільйонів українців. Other studies in terms of its reach down 7 million people. The latest data - State Institute of Statistics. According to information made public by him over the last three years have gone from Ukraine about 1,5 million people. Of these, more than 60% up came from the western regions of Ukraine ", - The following information in its report published Bishop Joseph (Мілян), Head of Pastoral Missionary Department of the UGCC. The speech was delivered on the second day of the Synod of Bishops when considering the theme "Migration". As you know, This is the main topic at this year's Synod.
"When we take into account, Greek Catholics in Western Ukraine (especially Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Lviv) constitute the majority, and all Ukrainian Greek Catholics in the world is over 5 million, we can assume with good reason, that 1/3 all the faithful of the UGCC is in exile ", - Said the speaker.
"But very few statistics meaning, When not realize, that these numbers are real people, their soul and body, These people occupy a position in society and, finally, are children of Christ's Church and in need of support ", - Said Bishop Joseph, Speaking about the relevance of migration for the Church.
The Chairman of the Pastoral Missionary Department, This spiritual and social ministry of the Church is not an easy task. "On the one hand the Church must help people to fight all forms of social injustice, which led to a massive exodus of people, on the other - remember those, who are looking for a piece of bread in a foreign country, Christ's call: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness… And all that you added »», - He explained.
Bishop Joseph stressed, that the phenomenon of migration, "Prompts us to build a living Church, that such, which is the basis people, scattered around the world, but identified as heirs of Kievan Christianity ". Because until now, "Truncated dushpastirstvo zoseredzhuvalosya in humans, who came to the Temple ". "This is a positive challenge for the UGCC, so as Ukrainian migration movement and encourages allow us to prove himself not only as a Church sui iuris (sui iuris), but the Eastern Catholic Church, that is steadily moving towards patriarchy ", - Said on this Head of Pastoral Missionary Department of the UGCC.
Department of Information Church