Praise be Jesus Christ.  It is with great pleasure that I announce the establishment of the Eastern Catholic Spirituality Center, which will be a major spiritual complex in the heart of the eparchy (diocese). Through the generosity of individuals and the providence of God, over one hundred and fifty acres of land in Conyers, Georgia have been purchased and/or leased. The Center will be a complex consisting of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church, a spirituality center/parish hall, a cemetery, and a gift store. The site will be used for retreats, conferences, and seminars.

On May 2, 1995, Pope John Paul II promulgated his Apostolic Letter Orientale Lumen - The Light of the East, calling all members of the Catholic Church to an increased awareness of the rich spiritual traditions of the Eastern Catholic Churches.  The Holy Father began this letter with these words:

"The light of the East has illumined the universal Church, from the moment when "a rising sun" appeared above us (Lk 1:78): Jesus Christ, our Lord whom all Christians invoke as the Redeemer of man and the hope of the world.

The purpose of the Center will be to promote, teach, and study the philosophy, theology, devotions, and liturgies of the Eastern Churches within the Catholic Church.  I am establishing the Center in response to the Holy Father's Apostolic Letter, "Oriental Lumen", The Light of the East. In the preface of this document, Pope John Paul II states:

"That light inspired my predecessor Pope Leo XIII to write the Apostolic Letter "Orientalium Dignitas" in which he sought to safeguard the significance of the Eastern traditions for the whole Church.

"On the centenary of that event and of the initiatives the Pontiff intended at that time as an aid to restoring unity with all the Christians of the East, I wish to send to the Catholic Church a similar appeal, which has been enriched by the knowledge and interchange which has taken place over the past century.

"Since in fact, we believe that the venerable and ancient tradition of the Eastern Churches is an integral part of the heritage of Christ's Church, the first need for Catholics is to be familiar with that tradition, so as to be nourished by it and to encourage the process of unity in the best way possible for each.  …The members of the Catholic Church of the Latin tradition must also be fully acquainted with this treasure and thus feel, with the pope, a passionate longing that the full manifestation of the Church's catholicity be restored to the Church and to the world…"

"Since, in fact, we believe that the venerable and ancient tradition of the Eastern Churches is an integral part of the heritage of Christ's Church, the first need for Catholics is to be familiar with that tradition, so as to be nourished by it and to encourage the process of unity in the best way possible for each.

"Our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters are very conscious of being the living bearers of this tradition, together with our Orthodox brothers and sisters. The members of the Catholic Church of the Latin tradition must also be fully acquainted with this treasure and thus feel, with the Pope, a passionate longing that the full manifestation of the Church's catholicity be restored to the Church and to the world, expressed not by a single tradition, and still less by one community in opposition to the other; and that we too may all be granted a full taste of the divinely revealed and undivided heritage of the universal Church which is preserved and grows in the life of the Churches of the East as in those of the West."

We are currently developing our implementation strategy. Please keep the Center in your prayers. I will keep you apprised of our activities in Georgia. May God continue to bless you and your families.

Yours in Christ,
Robert A. Moskal, Bishop of St. Josaphat's Ukrainian
Catholic Diocese in Parma, Ohio