Psychological Training for Priests in Ukraine

Whereas in the early days of the war, the emphasis was on direct material support for refugee families, who desperately needed to be housed, fed, and given medical care, it is now increasingly shifting to the need for psychological and spiritual support for the many people who have suffered deep emotional trauma as a result of the frightful things they have experienced. About 80 percent of the Ukrainian people have suffered some form of trauma, according to Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. 

Often, it is the priests who are the first and sometimes the only ones such people can turn to for help. But for those who are deeply traumatized, these priests need further psychological training in order to have the necessary tools to effectively help. Besides, the priests themselves are equally exposed to the burdens and horrors of the war, and so they also need support, if they are not to become spiritually burned out. They needed to be able to respond with true empathy for the suffering victims, but at the same time, they also need to be able to safeguard their own psychological well-being.  

Greek Catholic Bishop Maksym Ryabukha of Donetsk describes himself as “a bishop on wheels.” He is “constantly visiting the parishes to reach the people in their homes. In this way, I can see human life in all its depth.” He continues, “The psychological stress of the war is causing many children, for example, to lose the capacity to read, write, or even speak. We need professionally trained people who can help these young people regain their psychological health. We need to learn how we can help them. Many people are struggling to go on living a normal life, but they are inwardly blocked. And so we are organizing psychological training sessions for priests and for other people working in the parishes.” 

Working in collaboration with a center for psychological health, a training program in psychotherapy is being developed to enable these priests not only to more effectively help other people, both during and after the war, but also to look after their own psychological health.  

This is a three-year program that includes lectures and practical instruction. At the same time, the participants are offered ongoing spiritual and psychological support by experienced priests and psychologists. In this way, the priests involved can take advantage of supervision and individual counseling.  

We are offering $34,609 so that the 25 participants can complete the three-year training course. It will directly or indirectly benefit thousands of individuals. Will you join us in helping them?  

438-08-49