Caritas-Spes Ukraine

Caritas-Spes, which means "Love" and "Hope° in Latin, ia a relief, developement., and social service organization of the Catholic Church in Ukraine. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ukraine in May 1995, and was later registrated by the State Committee on religious issues in September 1996. Caritas-Spes Ukraine has been a member of Caritas Internationalis as well as Caritas Europe since 1999. Oficially known as Caritas-Spes Religious Mission of Roman Catholic Church, today it has founded over 30 centers in 12 regions of Ukraine. 

The Mission

The mission of Caritas-Spes is to provide for the dignity of each human person in accordance with the social teaching of the Catholic Church. Caritas fights poverty, exclusion, intolerance and discrimination regardless of creed, race, or ethnicity. more importantly,Caritas helps those in spiritual need, by providing hope, charity and manifesting God's love for all. 

The History

Caritas-Spes Ukraine was initially established thanks to the vision and dedication of one Catholic priest. While visiting Poland in 1988, Father Juriy Nagornyi became aware of Caritas and the good works it performed for orphans and the sick as well as the poor and needy.  Father Yuriy approached the President of Caritas Poland, Bishop Domin, and received permission to establish Caritas in Ukraine. Despite many difficulties, Father succesfully established Caritas-Spes Ukraine as a secular organization in 1990 and, thanks to the change in the political climate, he was succesfull in establishing it as a religious organization in1995.

Caritas was the first organization to offer humanitarian assistance after Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Caritas received several contributions, including clothing, medicine, and equipment, from international benefactors to assist the poor. Unfortunately, Caritas was unable to ensure that all assistance went only to the poor. Another problem Caritas faced was the corruption of the Ukrainian government, which worked to prevent the dispensation of humanitarian aid. Seeing the abuse of their aid, many international benefactors lessened their support. The Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine recognized the situation of Caritas but was unable to help. The Church was preoccupied restoring the Catholic Church in Ukraine, which was destroyed during the Soviet regime.

The first attempt of the Church to help Caritas was made in 1992. Bishop Jan Purvinskui of Zhytomyr was appointed head of the Caritas organization. Plans to register Caritas as a religious organization under the authority of Catholic bishops were initiated. However, many difficulties and problems arose, and everything was left undecided. During this time, Father Juriy Nagornui did his best to lead Caritas and he developed connections with the Caritas organizations in Austria, France, and the Netherlands.

In 1995, Caritas' registration was finally changed from being a public organization to a religious mission. And so, a new structure of Caritas was created under the control of the Catholic Church, and was finished in 1996. At last the Religious Mission Caritas-Spes of the Roman Catholic Church was officially completed.

Caritas-Spes has done much work to help people in Ukraine. Thanks to the donations of various sponsors, mostly from abroad, such as Germany, Austria, France, and the Catholic organization Renovabis, Caritas' activity has grown. After the Chernobyl APP, Caritas funded assistance for children who had suffered, either by sending them to health resorts in Ukraine or to hospitals abroad. Caritas specializes in the improvement of children's health, and in 1996 about 230 children improved their health, in 1997 - 700, in 1999 - 1800. Caritas-Spes has established several new children's recreation centers in Ukraine including centers in Jablunycia (Ivano-Frankivsk region), Berdiansk (Zapoirizzya region), Zarichany (not far from Zhytomyr), Oleksandrivka (Zhytomyr region) and Vorzel (Kyiv region). Caritas also has more than 30 regional centers that actively organize assistance for the poor through soup kitchen and social centers. Caritas-Spes relies on generous donations to continue in its great work.