Phoenixville Ukrainian Community Prays For Peace In Their Homeland

PHOENIXVILLE , PA —It’s been nearly a year since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 and the war continues to escalate.

At home, the Phoenixville community is still forging ahead supporting Ukraine with fundraisers and prayers. Members of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Phoenixville are collecting donations.

Vera. M. Andryczyk, a member of the church, said she and her husband, Roman, own a condominium in Lviv, Ukraine and have not been able to get there. Russian missles striked in Lviv Thursday, leaving most of the city without power.

The Andrycsyks have family and friends in Ukraine and they are extremely concerned that everyone is safe, and praying for the war to end.

Roman Andryczyk,a U.S. Army retired colonel, said Thursday the power is out in Lviv, where his relatives live.
He is thankful the U.S. is helping but would also like to see a definite plan to provide the military with the type of weapons they need.

“We have to get very serious,” he said.

Roman said the Ukraine Army needs more than one Patriot battery missile.

At the same, the members of the church are collecting donations and selling T-shirts.

They are saying special prayers for peace at the weekly Mass.

Vera Andryczyk said the church community is so thankful for all of the support for the United States government.

“The Ukrainian people ask us to relay a heartfelt thank-you,” she said. “There are sirens going off there all the time. The resilience is admirable. People in Ukraine are living their daily lives. They are going to school and working.”

They are grateful for President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, she said.

“We cannot afford to lose,” she said. “We are thankful for President Biden and President Zelensky. We have to hold Russia accountable.”

Vera Andryczyk said the community will continue its support and send funds to Ukraine.
The church is located at 302 Fairview St.. Phoenixville.

Information is available here and at 610-933-7801.