Former St. Peter’s parishioner Ivan Kauffman, who died in Philadelphia in 2015, gave the parish a link to Ukraine and Russia with this 1985 trip. On the journey, Ivan also visited St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Odessa, Ukraine. When he returned from the trip, Ivan spoke in the church hall about how warmly the people of St. Peter’s in Odessa had received the group and especially him, a parishioner at another church dedicated to St. Peter.

^{St. Peter the Apostle church in Odessa, Ukraine.}

Ivan was an adult convert from the Mennonite tradition. A poet and author, his work focused on peace, social justice, and ecumenical dialogue, especially the Mennonite-Catholic dialogue. He wrote a syndicated column called “Making Peace” and was the author of several books. During his time at St. Peter’s, Ivan chaired the Social Concerns Committee and served as president of the Parish Council. He also helped the committee organize annual prayer services at St. Peter’s for World Day of Peace (Jan. 1) from 1983 through 1990.

            And, following publication of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Peace Pastoral in 1983, Ivan and the Social Concerns Committee organized a panel discussion titled “The Bishops Pastoral Letter: What Will It Mean?” Five nationally-known Catholics debated the likely impact of the controversial letter on American defense policy on May 10, 1983, in the church. The discussion was televised live on C-SPAN. That event will be featured in a future Bicentennial column.

            Let’s continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and Russia, and especially remember the people of St. Peter the Apostle in Odessa.