The Melbourne Plast community had the honour of welcoming His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, together with the Permanent Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, including fellow plastun Bishop Borys Gudziak. Led by ст.пл. Андрій Бернук, Melbourne plastuny greeted the delegation upon their arrival, marking a moment of deep significance for our community.
This visit was especially historic for Melbourne, as plastuny from across Australia participated in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Beatitude and the Permanent Synod, alongside Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli and Cardinal Mykola Bychok. With His Beatitude visiting Australia for the first time in 11 years, the Liturgy became a powerful moment of collective prayer, particularly for peace in Ukraine.
As part of the welcome, Plast Australia was honoured to present a gift to Bishop Borys Gudziak, recognising his ongoing humanitarian leadership and unwavering support for Ukraine.
The visit also brought together community leaders for a dedicated humanitarian-aid fundraiser, joined by Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Tam Ara, Kateryna Argyrou, and representatives of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO). Their presence underscored the shared commitment to supporting Ukraine during this pivotal time.
