Ticket of Hope Sponsorship Program
“Become Missionaries with the Mother of God” – Bishop Bryan Bayda to “Ticket of Hope” Participants
On August 2nd, in Rome, Bishop Bryan Bayda, the head of the Patriarchal Commission for Youth Affairs of the UGCC (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church), celebrated the Divine Liturgy for participants of the charitable initiative “Ticket of Hope”—young pilgrims from the eastern and central regions of Ukraine who, thanks to the generous support of the faithful, had the opportunity to come to the Eternal City.
In his sermon, Bishop Bryan invited the young people to a deeper encounter with Christ through the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos (Mother of God), whom he called the Mother of the Church and of every Christian.
“Catholic youth look to the Church as a mother, to gaze upon her as one gazes upon the merciful icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help. They wait to hear from the Church the holy words that she spoke to Juan Diego as Our Lady of Guadalupe: ‘Am I not here, I, who have the honor of being your mother? Are you not in my shadow and under my protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything else?'” the hierarch emphasized.
He stressed that the Church, as a mother, opens the way to a living encounter with Christ, especially through relationships and the Sacraments.
“Speak with our true Mother, the Theotokos Mary, because it is through the Church that She offers you her Son, Jesus, in the Eucharist and in other Sacraments, particularly in confession. Allow Her to get to know you, and then listen as She shares her heart with you,” the hierarch urged.
Bishop Bryan also invited the young people not to be afraid to open themselves to the Most Holy Theotokos and to allow Her to accompany their lives. “Look into Her eyes and allow Her to seek your heart. She is the most tender. Without a single word, she will listen to your heart and every emotion, situation, joy, or pain. She knows everything about your fears, struggles, and how doing God’s will brings unspeakable joy,” he said.
Addressing the participants of the “Ticket of Hope” initiative, the bishop emphasized that the calling of every Christian is to share the experience of encountering Christ: “With the Mother of God, be missionary-disciples! Share your encounter with Christ with others and discover your dignity. This is true glorification of God.”
Finally, he reassured the young people of the closeness of the Most Holy Theotokos, saying that “She wants you to know: you are not alone. She whispers in the silence: ‘Come and see. Meet My Son and rise up!'”
It is worth noting that the Divine Liturgy led by Bishop Bryan Bayda was another spiritual event for the “Ticket of Hope” participants as part of the Jubilee of Youth in Rome.
Thanks to the “Ticket of Hope” charitable initiative, which was initiated by the head of the Patriarchal Commission for Youth Affairs, more than 100 young people from the Kyiv Metropolia of the UGCC were able to go on this pilgrimage. Parish and youth communities from Canada and the United States of America joined in financially supporting the Ukrainian pilgrims, giving them a “Ticket of Hope” that covers all travel and living expenses.
UGCC Information Department
What is the Ticket of Hope?
The Ticket of Hope initiative provides an opportunity to sponsor Ukrainian youth and young adults living near the front lines of the war in Ukraine to attend the Jubilee Year pilgrimage to Rome.
What is the cost of the Jubilee Year pilgrimage?
Each sponsorship covers the full cost of the pilgrimage – $750 CAD ($500 USD, €490 EUR 2025-03-25) per youth, which includes travel expenses, accommodations, and program costs. Please note that income tax receipts will not be provided.
During the duration of the fundraiser, all donations will be deposited directly into the Ukrainian Credit Union bank account in Canada called “Campaign Ticket of Hope”. At the end of the fundraiser, all funds will be sent to the St. Sophia Ukrainian Catholic Church bank account in Rome (Chiesa di S.Sofia). This is the main site for the jubilee Year pilgrimage in Rome.
Who are the pilgrims receiving your gift?
One-hundred youth and young people from eastern, central, and southern Ukraine who live near the front lines of the war will be the recipients of your generous donation. You can find more information about each pilgrim below.
What is the impact of your donation?
Your donation helps a young person from Ukraine share the hope of Jesus Christ with people in Rome and beyond. Specifically, your support empowers them to grow in faith, find healing, and bring renewal to others.
The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on young people. Your donation will provide vital support to the pilgrims in the following ways:
- PERSONAL REASONS : The personal mental and spiritual health of each person can be addressed. They long for a short break from air sirens that interrupt a peaceful sleep, from adjusting to life with no heat, constant interruptions in life with no electricity.Personally, they want to meet Jesus Christ in others from around the world and this meeting in a peaceful environment for even one week is a concrete step toward HOPE.
- WITNESS and ACCOMPANIMENT : Their witness of spiritual strength during 3 years (actually 11 years since the invasion in Crimea) is invaluable to other young adults from around the world.To accompany each other during this war helps those in Ukraine and millions of people elsewhere in the world as a tangible sign of communion, solidarity, and participation in the Trinity.
- A CHANGE OF HEART AND DISPOSITION : A change of heart and disposition is a result of meeting Jesus in Prayer, through reading Scripture, and meeting Him face to face in each other.On February 1, 2025, an online meeting took place as a foreshadowing of the summer meeting in Rome for youth from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church with each other as well as with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.All of us are called to meet HOPE incarnate, who is the person of Jesus Christ.
How long does the “Ticket of Hope” Sponsorship Program run?
We will accept your gifts from April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
When does the Jubilee Year pilgrimage take place?
From July 28, 2025 till August 3, 2025
Dacko, Ljubica
Fedorowich, John and Sophia
Mothers in Prayer of Sacramento
Nativity of the Holy Mother of God
Smysnuik, Gerry
Ukrainian Catholic Men’s Club (Holy Ghost Ukrainian Church – Sydney, Nova Scotia
Yanishevsky, Rt. Rev. Volodymyr
Zelyk, Lesia
We are especially grateful to our campaign team as a part of the Patriarchal Commission of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) for Youth Affairs; and partners including the Ukrainian Credit Union for their leadership and support. To see highlights from the youth pilgrimage, visit @pkusm.ugcc on Instagram or at https://dyvensvit.org/ where photos and updates from the journey are archived.
Thank you for offering hope! Your generosity has made a lasting impact!