First “Healing the Wounds of War” Course for the Wives of UGCC Priests Concludes
The first “Healing the Wounds of War” course for priests’ wives has concluded at the Patriarchal House in Lviv. It was organized by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Commission on Pastoral Health Care and the Institute of Mental Health at the Ukrainian Catholic University. From July 28–30, 33 participants from various eparchies and exarchates of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church deepened their understanding of psychological recovery, emotional resilience, and spiritual support for people affected by the war.
The training was attended by the wives of priests from the Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Kyiv Metropolias, as well as the Stryi, Sambir-Drohobych, Kolomyia, Buchach, and Sokal-Zhovkva Eparchies, and the Donetsk and Odesa Exarchates.
According to Sister Yustyna Holubets, head of the UGCC Commission on Pastoral Health Care, the first group was assembled through open registration, and given the level of interest, they plan to hold several more such courses.
“We adapted the program, which had been previously attended by priests, for their wives: we added more topics related to emotional intelligence, self-awareness, inner renewal, and art therapy. We also slightly modified the format of some lectures and practical sessions,” says Sr. Yustyna.
Over the course of three days, the participants explored such topics such as mental health, emotional resilience, recognizing emotions, and coping with traumatic experiences. Daily Divine Liturgies and communal prayer were an important part of the program.
Course participant Maria Mrochkovska says that every lecture and every practical session provided real tools for helping people during wartime. She adds that interacting with other participants, who shared their life stories and experiences, was particularly valuable.
“Today, the role of a priest’s wife requires great resilience. The course gave us an understanding of how to maintain inner peace, cope with difficulties, and offer support to others. We very much hope that this is just the beginning and that the course will continue,” says Maria Mrochkovska.
Mrs. Iryna Hulych adds that the three days of the course also became a space for mutual support, spiritual renewal, and strengthening them in their vocation to stand alongside their priest husbands.
“For us, the wives, these were not just days of study. It was a time when the Lord healed our hearts through the people He placed beside us. We are returning to our families, parishes, and ministries different from how we arrived here. We are returning stronger, more at peace, and more conscious of ourselves and of those whom the Lord has entrusted to our care,” shares Iryna Hulych.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church launched the “Healing the Wounds of War” educational program in 2023 as the Church’s response to the repercussions of full-scale war.
It was initially designed as a mandatory certification course for priests, implemented by the UGCC Commission on Pastoral Health Care in cooperation with the Institute of Mental Health at the Ukrainian Catholic University. The program combines theological, pastoral, and psychological aspects, helping priests better support people who have been traumatized by war. It was later adapted for priests’ wives as well, with the addition of topics on emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and practices for personal healing.
The UGCC Department for InformationPhoto credit: Sofia Dobryanska
