Relic Of Ukraine’s Patron Saint On Display At Bloomfield Church

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — St. Valentine Church in Bloomfield is inviting the public to “pray for the Ukrainian people” before its relic of St. Josaphat, the patron saint of Ukraine, which is on display in the parish’s rectory chapel.

According to the Archdiocese of Newark, people who want to pray for peace can visit the relic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, and between 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Visitors are welcome to take photos of the relic, but touching is prohibited. Guests can also pray before relics of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. Andrew Bobola, which are in the same chapel, church leaders added.

According to the archdiocese:

“St. Josaphat was born John Kuncevic around 1580 in what is now Ukraine, according to Franciscan Media. During his life, the patron saint was successful in convincing Eastern Orthodox Christians to accept their Church’s union with the Roman Catholic Church, which caused him to make many enemies. St. Josaphat was killed in 1623 after an angry mob attacked him and threw his body into a river. But he continued making a difference even in death, with his martyrdom inspiring numerous dissidents — including his own murderers, according to Milwaukee’s Basilica of St. Josephat — to become Eastern Catholics. Catholics traditionally pray to St. Josaphat for Christian unity, according to Aleteia, though many are now seeking his intercession for peace during the ongoing Ukraine War.”

In addition to praying before the St. Josaphat relic, Catholic residents throughout the archdiocese have been supporting the Ukrainian people in other ways, archdiocese spokespeople noted.

According to church leaders, Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange will hold a prayer service for peace in Ukraine on March 29 in conjunction with Maplewood’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Holy Ascension.

Several archdiocesan parishes are also initiating collections for charities that provide aid to Ukrainians, and have raised more than $20,000 to date.

In addition, the Archdiocese of Newark joined Pope Francis’s Act of Consecration, "entrusting Ukraine and Russia to the Blessed Virgin Mary" on March 25.

• See related article: NJ Cardinal On Ukraine-Russia: 'Reject War As Political Solution'

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