Hundreds gathered at St. Sofia in Rome on Sunday, May 29th to celebrate and honor all mothers on their special day. After Matins, a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Most Reverend Dionysio Lachovicz, Apostolic Visitator for Ukrainian Catholics in Italy and Spain, and con-celebrated by numerous clergy asking for blessings for all mothers – living and those who have passed into eternity. In his homily Most Rev. Dionysio focused on the theme “Gift Your Mother with Happiness”.

The choir from the parish of Saints Serhiy and Bacchus in Rome sang the responses. Afterwards all participants had an opportunity to pray before a copy of the Icon of Mary the Door of Mercy. The original icon was imported by Pope Francis for the opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
The rest of the day was filled with a variety of activities, from an opening of an art display of works by Oleksander Ovalhy, accompanied by a performance of Oksana Litvysenko string quartet from the Collegium Vusicum Lviv, to a children’s concert, which included many talented groups from Italy and the winners of the International Comtemporary Religious Festival “Song of the Heart”, which is held in Lviv. Throughout the day participants had an opportunity to purchase various Ukrainian crafts and items and enjoy delicious foods prepared by many groups and organized by the Youth Group from Saints Serhiy and Bacchus Parish. Sisters Lydia Anna Sawka, OSBM and Anastasia Stulkivska, OSBM from the Generalate were glad to have and to pray with the participants and to mingle with the people throughout the day.