A group of approximately a dozen pilgrims recently retraced the steps of Ukrainian immigrants by walking a challenging 14 miles from McAdoo to Shenandoah. This pilgrimage, which took place on November 22, 2025, honored the legacy of Ukrainian families who emigrated to the United States to work in coal mines and maintain their cultural and spiritual traditions.
Among the walkers was Christine Harasymczuk, a retired IBM sales executive, who expressed a deep emotional connection to the journey. As she walked past the site of the old St. Nicholas colliery, she reflected on her grandparents, Dmytro and Matrona Capitula, who would make a similar trek to attend services at St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church before the establishment of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in 1925. “It touches my heart,” Harasymczuk shared. “They were so deeply steeped in their faith, they walked this road to church in all kinds of weather.”
The group began their pilgrimage at 8 a.m., receiving a blessing from Archpriest Mark Fesniak, who is the pastor of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Minersville. After setting out from McAdoo, the walkers took a break for lunch at Delano Fire Co. No. 1 before continuing their journey towards Mahanoy City.
Vladimir Holoviak, a 23-year-old from Hazleton, led the final segment of the walk, carrying a Ukrainian flag as the group made their way along Route 54 toward Shenandoah. The pilgrimage was initially organized a decade ago to honor the devout Ukrainian immigrants who sought a new life in America. However, since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the focus has shifted to raising awareness about the ongoing suffering of the Ukrainian people.
According to various reports, the conflict has resulted in approximately 46,000 deaths and 380,000 injuries among Ukrainians since the fighting began. Paula Holoviak, one of the event organizers and a political science teacher at Kutztown University, emphasized the importance of the walk in light of current events.
The walk also serves a humanitarian purpose. Joseph Krushinsky, a consultant from Tamaqua, noted that the event helps raise funds for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia’s humanitarian initiatives. The archeparchy’s Healing of Wounds Fund has raised $7.2 million for food assistance, medical care, and support for displaced persons and refugees, as detailed on their official website.
As the group completed their journey, they were greeted by Rev. Bohdan Vasyliv at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church around 2 p.m. The day concluded with a brief service in the Ukrainian Catholic tradition. With heads bowed and palms raised, the pilgrims received blessings with a crucifix containing a spiritual relic, marking the significance of their shared faith and history.
This pilgrimage not only serves as a remembrance of the past but also highlights the enduring strength and resilience of the Ukrainian community, both locally and abroad.
