Project Buszcze is an effort to rebuild the Church of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Buszcze, Western Ukraine, diocese of Lvov.
The Parish was established in 1399. The prior three wooden churches were burned down during the invasions of Tatars, Turks and Mongols. This church of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built of stone in the gothic/baroque style in 1624 – 1638A.D. on the spot where previous churches were located. It is architecturally significant because it was also a fortress/citadel to protect people from invasion of enemies. It is of current and lasting spiritual importance in the region because the nearest Roman Catholic church is far away. This church was in constant use from 1638 to April 1944 until it was burned down during WWII. After WWII, the Communists used it as storage for chemicals and fertilizers for state farm.
This church has enormous historical importance because the great Polish King Jan Sobieski, savior of Europe on Sep. 12, 1683, once prayed in this church in 1667, before the battle of Podhajce. It has long been a place of pilgrimage, and it is the oldest shrine dedicated to Our Lady in diocese of Lvov.
It would be a crime to abandon it or allow it to deteriorate further.
We have already raised funds to build a new roof, which was completed in 2014. In order to restore this magnificent church (it will be long term), it will need repairs to the walls, ceiling, arches, new plaster inside and outside, a new floor, windows, altar, tabernacle, side altars (shrines), frescoes, and furniture.
The initial effort to restore it to being a functional church building is estimated to cost more than 1 million dollars. This project has the complete support of the local ordinary, Metropolitan Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki (he was one of private secretaries of St. Pope John Paul II) of the Archdiocese of Lvov. Donations to the project are tax-deductible and can be made using the PayPal button on this website.
If you would like to help please write check for:
HELP FOR THE UKRAINIAN CHURCH and mail to:
BUSZCZE PROJECT
3418 E. 18th Street
OAKLAND, CA 94601
USA
In check memo please write: Buszcze project.
Phone: 510-536-0721 Email address: projectbuszcze@yahoo.com
