On August 31, the Feast of the Placement of the Honorable Belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an important event took place at the Mission of the Nativity of Christ UGCC in Portland. During this celebration, children in the community received their First Confession and, for the first time in the mission’s history, received their First Holy Communion. It was a day of great joy as the children welcomed Christ into their hearts through the Holy Eucharist.
During the same celebration, the children were blessed for the beginning of the new school year. Father Liubomyr Mandziuk, the mission’s administrator, sprinkled them with holy water, asking the Lord to grant them wisdom, strength, and abundant blessings for successful learning.
This event became a sign of God’s love and living presence among the Ukrainian community in Portland, which, despite being far from their homeland, preserves their faith, traditions, and raises the youth in the spirit of the Gospel.