Bishop Bryan: “Ticket of Hope” is a chance for young Ukrainians in difficulty

At the initiative of the head of the Patriarchal Youth Commission of the UGCC, Bishop Bryan Bayda, and with the support of the bishops of the United States and Canada, the Ticket of Hope campaign was implemented  to support Ukrainian youth from the eastern, central and southern regions of Ukraine to participate in the events of the  Jubilee Year in Rome. We spoke with Bishop Bryan at to learn more about this opportunity.

Bishop, could you please tell us how the idea of the “Ticket of Hope” originated? Who was the initiator of this project?

Indeed, in truth, the Holy Spirit initiated this project for our Hope is in the Lord. The best that I can recall is that during an online meeting with the organizers for the pilgrimage I was thinking of a retreat that I had preached recently in November of 2024 in Ukraine in Zazdrist. I was impressed with how the students on this retreat were overwhelmed by even a short period of time away from the dangers of living on or near the front in the Odessa region. Freedom from day-to-day concerns help any person reorient their perspective on life. This is much more the case for people experiencing war first hand.

The thought came to me that a retreat was offering them a perspective away from their life of missile threats and rushing to bombshelters. They recounted to me the simple basic things in life I was taking for granted such as no power or electricity interruptions, hot cooked food, availability of water, etc.  As the retreat continued the young teenagers were beginning to realize all that they were spiritually and emotionally enduring only after they recalled a different “normality” they had forgotten 11 years ago since the invasion in Crimea. 

Finally, the idea came to me that tens of thousands of others like them would probably appreciate such an opportunity, that is, to temporarily gain this perspective on their lives. To be realistic, I imagined at least 100 young people might regain their appreciation of what life was like for them before the war.  All they needed was to be given the chance. 

In truth, I was accompanying them but in many ways they were accompanying me in my relationship and journey with Jesus. It was a Emmaus moment.*

Why this particular name — “Ticket of Hope”? What meaning do you personally attach to this phrase?

HOPE

Awareness is a precious gift. Hope comes from an awareness of what is real. I am growing closer to God and I will do so for eternity. I am not in heaven but I can taste it already knowing God’s love for me.  

For instance, every trip a person takes, long or short, involves an awareness of being on a physical journey with a destination in mind. That destination could be physical such as the store, or to school or to a place of work. It is also emotional and spiritual journey such as a disposition of knowing your friend really accepts you, knowing your spouse truly loves you or understanding your parent forgives you. 

In the greater context of having a relationship with Jesus Christ, everyone of us is on a journey. As we journey you might say we live in hope of a closer relationship with Jesus, a relationship with the Father through Jesus. Every person strives to have a closer relationship with Jesus, whether they are aware of it or not. To realize this is to live with hope. To be hopeless is to think this will never happen or worse, that one is utterly alone.  

Let’s consider an example taken from the solar system we find ourselves in. The fact is that there is a gravitational relationship between the earth and the sun, like it or not. The earth is drawn closer to the sun but it is also drawn to many other planets and stars and the earth constantly tries to escape its orbit. People on the earth are aware of this or perhaps they are not aware. They might forget about this gravity or appreciated it. They might forget momentarily about their relationship with God but this relationship of love is forever. 

In this manner we can speak of hope. The destination is a closer relationship to Jesus as the one who reveals the Father to us. Pilgrimage helps us remember that we are in a relationship of love, that we are constantly on a journey to realizing the great love of the Father for each of us despite all of the distractions in life that draw us away from the truth.  

TICKET

The ‘ticket of hope’ then, is a chance to physically travel away from Ukraine, travel to Rome, getting perspective for a short period of time of being out of the routine life in Ukraine of war and being aware that they are not alone in Ukraine. Witnessing to others in Rome helps with this awareness. Then traveling back to Ukraine to witness to many in Ukraine of the spiritual support that exists from around the world. It is a ticket that is both physical and spiritual in nature. It physically allows people to accompany each other.

Each sponsorship covers the full cost of the pilgrimage at approximately $750 CAD, approximately $500 USD or €490 EUR per youth, which includes travel expenses, accommodations, and program costs.

What does this initiative mean to you personally? Why is it especially important today, during the time of war?

I traveled to Ukraine four times in 2024. I became a bit more aware of how war can be a serious distraction to the relationship people have with Jesus Christ because of the devastation, anger, death and serious attack on awareness of our relationship with Jesus. Yet at the same time, it can also serve to intensify this relationship with Jesus as people are called to serve each other through acts of kindness and charity. 

If I might use another example, consider forming a clay jar. The potter applies some pressure to shape and form the clay jar. The jar will not hold the shape if the potter does not apply enough pressure. However, too much pressure will collapse the jar and destroy it. The relationship of love is similar. It is meant to give life but the relationship experiences pressure and is tested from time to time. It might strengthen the jar and then again too much pressure can crush the jar.

In your opinion, why should the Church be an active participant in such social projects?

ACCOMPANIMENT

The relationship everyone has with the Father through Jesus is never a solitary relationship or journey. We all accompany each other. To have a relationship with Jesus is to have a relationship with the Father and every other person created. Being a member of a family helps us understand this. We know the Church is the Body of Christ. If one relationship in your life matters, then every relationship anyone in your family might have matters. This is basically the nature of the Body of Christ of which we are all members. In scripture Jesus uses the wonderful example of a vine and its branches. What ever happens to the smallest part of the vine affects the entire vine in some way. 

The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on young people. A donation toward this project provides vital support to the pilgrims in the following ways:

•          PERSONAL REASONS: The personal mental and spiritual health of each person can be addressed. They long for a short break from air sirens that interrupt a peaceful sleep, from adjusting to life with no heat, constant interruptions in life with no electricity. Personally, they want to meet Jesus Christ in others from around the world and this meeting in a peaceful environment for even one week is a concrete step toward HOPE.

•          WITNESS and ACCOMPANIMENT: Their witness of spiritual strength during 3 years (actually 11 years since the invasion in Crimea) is invaluable to other young adults from around the world. To accompany each other during this war helps those in Ukraine and millions of people elsewhere in the world as a tangible sign of communion, solidarity, and participation in the Trinity.

•          A CHANGE OF HEART AND DISPOSITION: A change of heart and disposition is a result of meeting Jesus in Prayer, through reading Scripture, and meeting Him face to face in each other. On February 1, 2025, an online meeting took place as a foreshadowing of the summer meeting in Rome for youth from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church with each other as well as with the Holy Father. All of us are called to meet HOPE incarnate, who is the person of Jesus Christ.

Who can receive a “Ticket of Hope”? Are there any specific criteria or conditions for participating in the program?

The question of who is most in need is difficult to answer.  The front is particularly dangerous for many Ukrainians when missiles can change lives in just seconds. Yet as we know, missiles can land anywhere in Ukraine so we wanted to select those that are not restricted by age or health from leaving Ukraine for a short period of time but didn’t have the financial means to do so. Consequently, our organizing team in Ukraine chose roughly 20 people from five different eparchies and areas that have experienced very intense hardships.

Who is currently supporting this initiative? What role do communities, donors, and volunteers play?

The information went out about the project by word as well as online. The Credit Union in Toronto offered to handle the financial logistics for which we are very grateful for their security and trust. Other bishops, clergy, religious, lay organizations and lay families all played a role in passing on the news about this project. It enjoyed a broad exposure on many levels.

 What challenges have arisen in the implementation of the project? What are the biggest obstacles you face?

Perhaps the largest challenge has been to trust in God. This is often the challenge many face in their personal lives or carrying out larger charitable projects. But there is definitely a deep concern for those who can give hope to others in a financial way with a gift of $5 or $500. This becomes a gift of hope to a person in Ukraine, the hope of witnessing to other young adults in Rome that will gather from around the world about their Hope in Jesus Christ when the future looks so bleak. Once people realize they can trust in God with small things, then many things can be accomplished. Jesus multiplied the fish and loaves of bread. At first the apostles doubted this might amount to much. However, the Holy Spirit moves the hearts of people and this project is a tangible sign that people around the world have hope. Their gifts give hope to others so that they can continue to accompany one another. This is a gift of dignity and a gift of hope for each other.