REPORTER WO large vans loaded news
papers from the warehouse opposite the London Ukrainian Church at Saffron Hill, last
Saturday night. Then two hundred people with their priest
came out of the church into the narrow 12 ft. street, and pre pared for the solemn entry in memory of the Resurrection of
Our Lord.
For last Saturday was the Easter Vigil for Eastern Rite Catholics in England. The harmonised chanting in the street lasted 10 minutes; the candles were held high; a man in a car tried to get through; he was in a nervous hurry, and he jumped out of the car to plead with the Ukrainians. "My boy is queer. I'm going for the doctor," he explained.
The way was made clear for him, and when the two-hour service was over I asked Fr. Maluga, the Ukrainian Vicar General, who had officiated, about the proposed Ukrainian cathedral. The Saffron Hill church, a sorry looking building which is surrounded by City warehouses, is unsuitable, and remote from where his London people live.
Fr. Maluga confirmed that plans are well advanced, but that he was naturally leaving it to his Exarch, Cardinal Godfrey, to make the announcement. The Cardinal will make his first Visitation at a solemn function to be held at Saffron Hill on Sunday, May 24, at 10 a.m.
At the conclusion of Saturday's Vigil service in the brilliantly-lit church, Ukrainians brought hampers containing eggs, cheese, chipolatas, and other "Easter foods" to the foot of a temporary altar before the sanctuary screen, where they were solemnly blessed by Fr. Malaga.
Prior to the Vigil, a richly embroidered cloth representing the Burial of Our Lord, which had been exposed for veneration since Good Friday, was borne three times in procession around the tiny church, Fr. Maluga following with the Blessed Sacrament.