“Home Outside the Home”: UGCC Opens First Modular Town for IDPs in Lviv Oblast
A modular town designed for 32 people—10 families—was opened in Bryukhovychi, a village in the Lviv Hromada, on Friday, July 12, 2024. The opening ceremony was attended by UGCC clergy, representatives of the Knights of Columbus, local authorities, and IDPs. The modular town is located on a plot of land owned by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 60 people from different regions of Ukraine, primarily from occupied areas, have found refuge in the shelter provided by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Bryukhovychi.
Through the cooperation of the Charitable Foundation of the Patriarchal Curia “Wise Cause” and the financial support of the Knights of Columbus, a modular town was constructed on the Church’s property for IDPs. This new town will house families who have suffered from Russian military aggression, lost their homes, or cannot return home due to the occupation.
Fr. Lubomyr Yavorsky, the patriarchal economist and initiator of the modular town project by Wise Cause, expressed the Church’s love and commitment to each resident of the shelter. “At the beginning of the war, when Wise Cause was founded, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, emphasized that the Church should always be close to its people. When we accepted the first people, His Beatitude realized we needed to expand our capacity to accommodate more individuals. The war continues, and people are still losing their homes,” said Fr. Lubomyr.
He thanked God and the Knights of Columbus for their financial support, stating, “Every endeavor needs God’s blessing. First, we sought His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s blessing to start this project, and now we seek God’s blessing for its continuation and for the residents to feel God’s love.” He then invited everyone to join in the Rite of Blessing of the house.
Mr. Simon Chishek, a representative of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, attended the consecration and opening of the town. He assured Ukrainians that they are not alone in this war and expressed hope that these modular houses will give people confidence and serve as their home away from home. “You are not alone in your challenges. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes—this is my main message to you today,” emphasized Mr. Chishek.
“We are here to meet the families who will live in these houses. We understand that you have endured a lot. We cannot remain indifferent in the face of suffering. Many of you have lost your homes and property, and have faced many moments of uncertainty due to the war. We hope these houses will provide you with stability, a place you can call home—a home where you can invite friends, where your children can do their homework, a home outside your home,” said Mr. Chishek.
Ms. Khrystyna Zamula, the deputy head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, thanked the benefactors and the UGCC for their efforts in providing housing from inception to completion. “I thank the UGCC for sheltering these people on its property. We are not only talking about houses but also continuous moral and spiritual support for the people who are here,” said Ms. Zamula.
Ms. Valentyna, a resident from the occupied Kherson region who has lived in the shelter for two years, expressed her gratitude for the kindness, compassion, support, and understanding she received. “When His Beatitude Sviatoslav consecrated the house on December 6, I had just arrived and was crying all the time. Now, my state of mind is much better. I met people here who understand and support us in everything. In this shelter, people help us with everything. We are provided with qualified medical care, medicines, and legal protection. All conditions are created here for us to live comfortably,” said Ms. Valentyna.
As previously reported, the Head of the UGCC consecrated accommodation for IDPs in Bryukhovychi on December 6, 2022.
The UGCC Department for Information
Photo by Ihor Ivanovych
