Help to Complete a Pastoral Center in Ukraine

In the year 2000, the then-Bishop of Mukatshevo invited the Franciscan Capuchins to come to Uzhhorod, Ukraine to assume the pastoral ministry in a post-Soviet township with some 15,000 inhabitants. There was no shortage of problems – unemployment, broken families, young people without future prospects, and a high crime rate. The Capuchin Fathers rolled up their sleeves and set to work.

Currently, there are three Capuchin Fathers of the Eastern rite, who live in the center that was funded for them by our benefactors at the time. This has now become a spiritual center for many of the people of the township and its surrounding area – an importance that has grown still greater since the arrival of internal refugees from the war-torn areas of the country, who are now striving to rebuild their lives here.

Uzhhorod is fortunate in being situated in the extreme west of Ukraine, in the Carpathian mountains close to the border with Slovakia, where, for now, things are still peaceful.

But there is one major problem in that there is nowhere near enough space for the many activities and initiatives the Franciscans have introduced over the course of time – for example, the children‘s and youth work, the prayer groups, the catechetical sessions, and the many other activities and Bible groups. As always, the main focus is on the Christian upbringing of the many children and young people who have not learned this from their own families. And given the growing need for trauma counseling as a result of the war, they are planning to work together with psychologists to provide support for those suffering grief and trauma. The parents will also be helped and supported by trained specialists. But needless to say, appropriate spaces are needed for all these varied activities.

Thanks to your generous support, we have been able to provide $116,315 for the construction of a pastoral center, and the work is now well advanced. However, they still need another $46,527. Will you help us so that they can finally complete this vital facility?

438-04-19