A local community initiative entitled “Christmas Candle” or “Різдвяна свічка”, was established in 2012 on behalf of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of New Westminster under the direction of Dana Koren Lupynis with the support of Eparchial Chancellor Fr. Yuriy Vyshnevskyy. The goal of this appeal is to raise funds for underprivileged and orphaned children in Ukraine. This program is part of a larger global appeal sponsored by Caritas Ukraine, which is the official charitable organization of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Caritas is an organization that is supported and endorsed by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk and established under the direction of Most Rev Ken Nowakowski, Bishop of the New Westminster Eparchy. The organization has developed a global support system and works throughout Ukraine to provide basic necessities and medical care to these children.
This project has become an annual Eparchial appeal, with support from all of the Ukrainian Catholic Parishes in British Columbia, as well as several other Provinces and parts of the United States. Since the start of the appeal, we have successfully raised over $20,000, with 100% of the proceeds being sent to Caritas Ukraine. Last year’s money raised was used to provide children with speech therapy, allowing them to function and communicate normally in society. This year’s focus is to support a Hospice in Ivano-Frankivsk that houses orphans, and provides basic necessities, education and life skills to help them integrate into society.
This appeal will again take place for the month of December and we encourage everyone to remember these children during the Christmas season with a voluntary donation. Donations can be made at any Ukrainian Catholic Parish in BC or mailed to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster. All donations over $20 are eligible to receive a tax receipt if requested and cheques can be made out to “Eparchy of New Westminster” with Christmas Candle Project in the Memo. If you wish to purchase candles, they are also available at all the Ukrainian Catholic Parishes in BC for a minimum donation of $5 per candle.
We thank you for your past support and generosity and ask that you again consider supporting this ongoing appeal as part of your Christmas tradition.
For more information, please contacted the coordinator Dana Koren Lupynis or Natalia Lupynis at nweparchy.christmascandle@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook at Caritas “Christmas Candle/Різдвяна свічка” Campaign, sponsored by NWEparchy.
Contact: 502 Fifth Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 2S6 tel: 604.524.8824 fax: 604.521.8015