Lviv to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit

Lviv – The celebration program was developed in a joint effort of the Lviv City Council’s Department of Social Policy, the local representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic churches, and civic organizations. Events in conjunction with the anniversary of the visit of John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) will occur throughout the year, with most events held in April-May and in June 23 through 27. Lviv will develop an Internet version of the atlas “Sacred Lviv Religious Institutions on the City’s Map,” special pilgrimage tours, and a map of the inner city’s religious institutions.

The Day’s reporter was told by the council’s head of youth, family and sports department Natalia Fedorovych that the anniversary events will include various local history quests revolving around the city’s sights. Scheduled events include discussions in youth clubs, races, artistic quests in the inner city, workshops in drawing on glass and making knitted dolls. The effort will be joined by the department of education; it will conduct lessons in religious studies, host meetings between schoolchildren and the clergy, organize children’s Christian-oriented school camps, and hold a creative competition among pupils. Additionally, Lviv plans to place on billboards the photos of John Paul II with his quotes.

The churches will very actively participate in the events, with Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic priests meeting with young people, hosting themed evenings, organizing a photo exhibition, and presenting John Paul II’s personal secretary Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki’s book He Liked Tuesdays Best. On May 1, The Day of the beatification of John Paul II, the Resurrection Theater will present the street play Job, scripted by Karol Wojtyla.