Obtaining basic secondary education is a humanitarian challenge in Ukraine today: Head of the UGCC
I can still see a boy named Dima, whom I met in Nizhyn. In the 3 rd grade, he could neither read nor write. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have dropped out of the education system. This is one of the challenges to which we must respond today. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, emphasized this at a panel discussion on the cooperation of the UGCC, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and Caritas Ukraine on humanitarian challenges generated by the war. The debate was held on July 26 as part of the annual Caritas Ukraine Partners Meeting.
Love saves
The Primate noted that during the Revolution of Dignity, one could see the slogan “Indifference kills.” However, during the last 500 days of the full-scale war, we have experienced another saying — “Love saves,” Caritas saves lives.
It is not enough to save a person from a bomb and get them to a safe place. They need to be taken from one community of love to another. “People realized that in places where is Caritas Ukraine, where there is a community of believers, there is a community of love that saves,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. He added that people who have experienced love can share it with others. He emphasized that it is important not just to do good but to do it efficiently and professionally.
Отець і Глава УГКЦ Блаженніший Святослав
The Head and Father of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav
“For 500 days, no one in Ukraine has died of hunger and cold — this is a victory on the humanitarian front. We have done everything to prevent the humanitarian crisis from turning into a humanitarian catastrophe,” said the Archbishop.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that Ukraine is facing new challenges today, which were reviewed by the bishops of the UGCC at a meeting of the Synod of Bishops in May. These include food security, secondary education, and more.
The Head of the UGCC thanked Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis Alistair Dutton and all people of goodwill from worldwide for their support, without which the social ministry of the Church in Ukraine would not have been feasible.
Pastoral care for healing the wounds of war
“We, as a Church,” the Primate said, “are trying to direct all our resources to a specific goal, which we have outlined in the pastoral strategy ‘Healing the Wounds of War.’” The Patriarch noted that in September, the UGCC, with the assistance of the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, will begin a 10-day retraining program for clergy to minister in the conditions of war trauma. ‘A priest is neither a psychologist nor a rehabilitation therapist, but he should always be able to provide first aid with counseling.’
Генеральний секретар Карітас Інтернаціоналіс Алістер Даттон
Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis
According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the wound healing program should become a nationwide project, likely headed by the First Lady of Ukraine. Still, the state will not be able to accomplish this without collaboration with the Church. “Caritas and the Church are an integral part of civil society. Where the state structure fails, the network of church communities gives its shoulder. In healing war wounds, we, as the Church, want to learn how to play our role properly,” said the Patriarch.
Посол Канади в Україні Лариса Ґаладза
Larisa Galadza, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine
His Beatitude Sviatoslav spoke about the invincibility points set up by both the state and the Church throughout Ukraine in winter. Now the UGCC is turning them into centers for healing war wounds.
To speak on behalf of tormented people
The war we are going through is a hybrid war. Russia turns everything it gets into a weapon, even food. However, information is a powerful weapon. “Nowadays, many people claim the right to speak on behalf of the anguished Ukrainian people. The truth about our pain is often distorted,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
“We, who serve and are close to people, have a unique right to be the voice of those who have no voice or are deprived of it. Caritas Ukraine must be the voice of the people it serves before the powerful,” said the Patriarch, “We must speak the truth and evoke feelings in the hearts of people worldwide.” He then called on the participants to fight on the information front.
The UGCC Department for Information
