Western Pennsylvania diocese invites Ukrainian refugees to visit — and permanently stay

There are also Ukrainian clergy available in western Pennsylvania to minister to immigrants, such as Ukrainian native Father Oleh Seremchuk, who is pastor of two Byzantine Catholic churches in western Pennsylvania and is involved in the Greensburg initiative.

The archdiocese advertised the program through its social media platforms as well as through its newspaper, The Way, and word of mouth. Greensburg is the only diocese that has specifically reached out to offer a home to Ukrainian refugees, the archbishop believes, although individual employers have reached out to the archdiocese seeking to help. The immigrants’ most immediate needs are housing, work, and learning the English language, Rubel noted.

1,000 square miles

Westmoreland encompasses 1,000 square miles and is home to 354,663 people. Its county seat is Greensburg, a 40-minute drive from downtown Pittsburgh. Not only could a relocation help a Ukrainian family, General Carbide CEO Mona Pappafava believes, but it could also prove beneficial to the local economy in Westmoreland.

“The labor shortage in this area is no secret. We are excited about the opportunity, even on a small scale, to have an influx of potential candidates,” she observed.

Jim Smith of the Economic Growth Connection, a nonprofit economic development corporation, also believes that Ukrainian immigrants, despite having no experience working in the U.S., would be beneficial to the local economy.

“I’ve had employers tell me that they are ready and willing to hire individuals who may not necessarily have all the requisite skills but are willing to be trained,” he explained. “Having more diverse channels and a wider reach for recruiting talent is a responsive strategy and one we will hope will work.”

Archbishop Gudziak expressed his gratitude to Bishop Kulick for organizing the program and noted that the bishop is of a Slovak background and regularly travels to Eastern Europe.  

“Bishop Kulick not only has a warm heart but [also] a good understanding of the region, and his leadership in this innovative humanitarian effort is one guarantee that it will be in the spirit of Jesus, the spirit of the Gospel, and for the good of the people of God,” the archbishop said.