'We stand together': Ambridge church raising funds for Ukrainian refugees
AMBRIDGE — The Rev. Michael Polosky’s grandparents met in America more than a century ago after emigrating from Ukraine, losing touch with family in eastern Europe as they started a family in their new home.
“For whatever reason, they never kept in touch with their family in Ukraine,” the longtime Ambridge pastor told parishioners during a Sunday morning service at SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church.
“Not one letter, not one phone call, not one visit...I don’t know the dozens and dozens and dozens of cousins that I must have in Ukraine, but it’s a very somber thought for me to know that I have family there.”
More: Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board removes Russian vodka from state shelves
Polosky has served at SS. Peter and Paul at 404 Sixth St. in Ambridge for more than two decades. He, alongside the Rev. Walter Wysochansky, dedicated this weekend's liturgies to peace in Ukraine as Russia’s full-scale military invasion intensifies.
The church is now open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for personal prayer, they said, and the parish is collecting donations for refugees in neighboring countries who need food, shelter and clothing.
“We stand together with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine,” Polosky said.
Checks mailed or delivered to the church will be forwarded to Bishop Bohdan John Danylo of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, he said, who will send the money to a bishop in Poland for distribution.
“Many of you have family (in Ukraine), many, perhaps, are in contact with them,” Polosky said. “What some of you may not know is the center of our Ukrainian Catholic Church worldwide is in Kyiv. That’s where our Major Archbishop Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), the No. 1 leader of our church, is.”
Polosky told churchgoers Sunday that Shevchuk remains safe in Ukraine’s capital city, but he and many others “are in harm’s way.”
More: Live updates on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
At least 368,000 Ukrainians have fled their country to escape the warfare since Thursday, the United Nations refugee agency estimates, while countless more remain in Kyiv and beyond to resist the raids. State, local and national leaders have publicly condemned Russia’s attack, with President Joe Biden calling it “unprovoked and unjustified.”
More: She fled Ukraine days before attacks. Now, she worries for those left behind
"My great grandparents came from eastern Ukraine, I believe, for work in Pennsylvania and never looked back," said Alexis Rubin, of Harmony Township. "I have friends whose immediate family is there now trying to find a safe place. It's horrifying."
Pennsylvania is home to the second-largest number of Ukrainian Americans nationwide, many of whom have lived in Beaver County communities like Ambridge, Harmony Township and Baden for generations.
“It’s very painful to witness what’s going on in our country Ukraine,” said Wysochansky, whose parents emigrated from Ukraine. “I consider myself very close...that’s my homeland.”
In trying to make sense of the week’s brutality and bloodshed, he said his only solace was his faith and the conviction that something good would emerge from the conflict.
Wysochansky urged parishioners to pray for both Ukrainian soldiers, misled Russian soldiers, refugees and those wounded or killed in battle.
“Do something, if you can, in some particular way to help the refugees,” he said. “Pray that Vladimir Putin will experience some kind of inspiration – in some mysterious way – to stop the war.”
Anyone interested in donating to the effort can make checks payable to “Saints Peter and Paul Church" and write "Ukraine" on the memo line.
Chrissy Suttles covers business, energy and environment for the Beaver County Times and the USAToday Network. Contact her at csuttles@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ChrissySuttles.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County church raising funds for Ukrainian refugees
