The UGCC’s Social Ministry in Wartime Was Presented at the Synod of Bishops
The Bishops of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC were introduced to the social activities of the Church during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The report was presented by Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, head of the UGCC Department of Social Service, Mrs. Tetyana Stavnycha, president of Caritas Ukraine, and Fr. Theodosius Gren, O. S. B. M, Protosyncellus of the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy.
Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets spoke on the theme of the UGCC Department of Social Service report, “Response of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the needs of war victims through social service.” The information featured the categories of people affected by the war: internally displaced persons, people who remained in the war zone, and military families needing help, support, and attention from the Church. It was also explained how the Church had already responded and continues addressing the challenges caused by the war.
According to the bishop, the department is also taking a long-term view, so preparations for this year’s winter have already begun.
Ms. Tetiana Stawnychy, President of Caritas of Ukraine, was the next speaker.
“Caritas, as part of the Church, is one of the main institutions that possesses the ability to respond over a long period. We have a developed systematic and effective approach. In 2022, we helped a vast number of beneficiaries. It became feasible because we scaled up our structures. The number of local Caritas organizations we cooperate with has increased from 20 to 44 branches, and we have also added 500 parish emergency response hubs,” she said.
The interviewee further spoke about how the first response was quite urgent. They helped people with transit, brought necessary items to the areas under shelling and constant threat. Later, Caritas workers gradually switched to more comprehensive humanitarian aid. These were no longer convenience food packages with a short shelf life, but food packages for three to four weeks.
Among the completed projects of the Caritas team, Ms. Stawnychy mentioned hygiene kits, psychosocial counseling through crisis centers, child-friendly spaces where children could recover from traumatic events, work with parish centers and volunteers to build social cohesion, dialogue between different groups in the community, and assistance to people with renovations in the de-occupied territories of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
“At this meeting with the bishops, it was essential to outline the current pressing needs, identify vulnerable categories of people who need our attention, and outline our steps for the future,” the speaker summarized.
Fr. Theodosius Gren, O. S. B. M, Protosyncellus of the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy, concluded the presentation of social ministry. Father specified eleven centers of psychological help aiming at helping people with traumas. He also mentioned a considerable cargo sent to Ukraine from the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy, which is more than 430 trucks.
“We purchased over 50 ambulances and over 60 vehicles for the military. We also supported hospitals and clinics through our Anti-Crisis Center that needed very specialized medicines and equipment during the full-scale invasion to save the lives of our defenders. We have bought 405 thousand euros worth of medication for one of the hospitals in Khmelnytsky region,” the Protosyncellus of the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy shared with the Synodal fathers.
Fr. Theodosius shared his plans for the future. These are two projects that have just started. “By this we mean a rehabilitation and spiritual center that we would like to open in the Apostolic Exarchate, probably somewhere near Rome, for those who suffered from the war and need spiritual recovery,” the father said. According to the speaker, the second project would be to assist women with young children. “We are thinking about organizing a Center for Children and Youth, and we would like to do it in Rome, where there is the largest number of Ukrainian refugees. This center will allow mothers to work on Saturdays. Meanwhile, we will take care of their children.”
Press service of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC
