The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is responsible for the genocide in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. By decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Independent Special Operations Center “North” will be named in honour of the “Heroes of the UPA.” The granting of this name was justified as an effort to “restore the historical traditions of the national army.” The Ukrainian authorities’ promotion of the cult of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army must provoke opposition from all those who remember the activities of this formation. Founded in 1942, the UPA was based on the ideological foundation of the so-called “Decalogue of the Ukrainian Nationalist” from 1929, which includes, among others, the following statement: “You will not hesitate to commit even the greatest crime if the good of the cause demands it.” This was a prophetic announcement of the genocide committed against Poles in the years 1943–1945 in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. The Volhynia Massacre was a method of building an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian state, one devoid of the minorities inhabiting those lands, mainly Poles and Jews. “With the beginning of military operations for independence,” declared one of the program documents of the OUN faction led by Stepan Bandera, “the question of national minorities must be resolved at all costs. To resolve this issue, representatives of national minorities, enemies of the people, must be eliminated.” Organised attacks on Polish villages began in February 1943 and continued until 1945. The peak of the UPA atrocities came on Sunday, July 11, 1943, when thousands of inhabitants were massacred in nearly 100 Polish villages in Volhynia. In the following months, the genocide carried out by the UPA in Volhynia also spread to Eastern Galicia, the Chełm region, and the Rzeszów region. “You observe the methods of operation in Volhynia - do the same in your own area. You will prevail. [...] The OUN-UPA must have authority among the masses. The masses must believe in you and follow you. If someone does not wish to believe in the UPA, in you, and in the leadership, they must feel the hard and vengeful punishing hand,” stated an appeal addressed to UPA members in the Chełm region in the spring of 1944. Polish historians estimate that approximately 120,000 Poles - including women, the elderly, and children - were killed at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists. Victims also included Ukrainians who warned their Polish neighbours of the approaching danger. 🔎To learn more about the Volhynia Massacre, we recommend viewing our website: volhyniamassacre.eu/

Los Reyes, durante su visita a Paiporta (Valencia) esta mañana.

Let us #PrayTogether that women and men religious, and seminarians, grow in their own vocational journey through human, pastoral, spiritual, and community formation, which leads them to be credible witnesses of the Gospel. #PrayerIntention #ClickToPray

We are very pleased to announce that His Grace, Archbishop Bernard, has accepted Douglas Grantham and Filip Gronkiewicz as seminarians for @RCBirmingham, beginning formation this autumn. Please keep them and all our seminarians in your prayers. 📷L-R: Filip, His Grace & Douglas

Hard to think it’s been a year already … A lifetime of theological distilled into his final words, "Jesus, I love you." Do spare a prayer for Pope Benedict on his first anniversary. God be good to him.

As many prepare Nativity scenes in their homes ahead of Christmas, #PopeFrancis says it is not enough for Christians to see the Nativity as "something nice" "Before the mystery of the Incarnation of the word, before the birth of Jesus, one needs a religious attitude of wonder."

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—from “The Creed: Professing the Faith through the Ages” at bit.ly/3CdlfYM

Contemplative women are the voice of the Church as she ceaselessly praises, thanks, implores, and intercedes for all humanity. Their prayer makes them co-workers of God. May we show our gratitude and tangible support for them. #ProOrantibus

God does not call those who feel capable, but those He calls, He makes capable. #WYD #Lisboa2023 #Lisbon2023 vatican.va/content/francesco…

At the moment of adoration, we are all equal, kneeling before the Sacrament of Love. — Benedict XVI

Let us imitate the Holy Family - remember that the family is sacred!