Ukrainian-American community's spiritual needs continue to go unheeded

Within hours following the devastating attack on New York City, churches and social institutions started fulfilling their roles as community leaders by embracing those in need. Many have been actively working on relief efforts such as fund raising for the Red Cross and other charities, planning and executing food and clothing drives, organizing food deliveries for the rescue workers, steering volunteers to join the relief effort. Other have simply opened their doors to provide a quiet place for prayer and contemplation to their congregations or passers-by.

In stark contrast to these city-wide support and outreach efforts, the largest New York area Ukrainian Catholic Church, St. George, has closed its doors to the spiritual needs of the East Village community. Although regularly scheduled morning services have been taking place every day, the Church gates have been pulled shut all other times. They were closed even on Friday, Septmember 14, the designated day of rememberance and prayer. At 7pm that evening when New Yorkers and Americans all over the country attended candlelight vigils, non-denominational prayer services and masses in their preferred houses of worship, St. George Church was closed.

One parishioner who chose to remain unidentified said that it "seems as if the church is only interested in being open when they know the collection plates will be filled by the congregation. The only problem with that is, that the money won't be used as disaster relief for the victims of the attack on New York."