“Where War Divides, God Unites”: UGCC Priest on Ministering to Ukrainians in Dublin

“War brings division. The devil always divides, while God unites. Here in Dublin, in our community, we strive to stay together.” These words from Fr. Vasyl Kornytsky, a priest serving Ukrainians in Dublin, Ireland, reflect the mission of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in supporting its faithful who were forced to flee abroad due to the war.

In an interview with the UGCC Information Department, Fr. Vasyl noted that the Ukrainian community in Dublin has grown significantly over the past three years as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “I will never forget serving the Holy Liturgy in early March and seeing the number of parishioners multiply. I could hardly believe it myself,” he recalled.

Creating a welcoming environment where people feel loved and cared for became the priest’s primary mission. “I saw fear in their eyes… At that moment, my responsibility as a priest was to help them feel loved, valued, and cared for—to reassure them that they were not abandoned by God, that He remained present in their lives,” Fr. Vasyl said.

According to him, prayer and community are essential in overcoming hardships. “Our community in Dublin is united in prayer for Ukraine: for the soldiers, for the prisoners, for those living under occupation. We constantly pray for peace and victory for Ukraine,” he emphasized.

Fr. Vasyl also highlighted the need for the UGCC community in Ireland to provide a sense of security.

“War always divides and separates. Many people left their families behind in Ukraine and arrived here with their children,” he said. “The devil always divides, while God unites. Here in Dublin, we strive to stay together. There are many things that unite us—pain, war, grief. But above all, we are united in sincere prayer for Ukraine. At every Holy Liturgy, we pray for our soldiers, for those in captivity, and for those under occupation. We pray for peace and victory for Ukraine.”