How the charitable Caritas-Spes mission was established.
From 1988 when we got a real possibility to go abroad and see the life of other people and Church we paid our attention
to Church activities especially to “Caritas”. After one of such journeys to Poland where the great progress was made by
the Catholic Church f. Juriy Nagornyi got blessings from bishop Domin who was the president of “Caritas” in Poland
(now he is deceased). As a good and full of optimism priest f. Juriy Nagornyi began to organize “Caritas” in Ukraine.
With great difficulties he managed to register in 1990 the public organization “Love and mercy”. That organization
was neither ecclesiastica nor religious because the structure of the Catholic Church in Ukraine wasn’t renewed yet.
The Church was renewed only in 1991 with nomination of bishops. There were no bishops n Ukraine for more than 80 years.
Regestration of the organization “Love and mercy” gave the opportunity to open way for the first humanitarian assistance
that actively began to come to Ukraine and was portioned out by this organizaton. A lot of various assistance: clothes,
medicine and medical equipment were received. It is known that in those days there was no opportunity to control
everything with the help of one organization. That’s why we couldn’t be sure that all the assistance was given only
to the poor people. Another great problem was envy of the other structures. A strong desire to work or exactly to divide
had not only public servises but also some sly and dexterous people even criminals.
Having seen it philanthropists from abroad who were too trustful from the beginning lessened amounts of their assistance.
And legislative authority being satiated by communist mentality and ability to forbid built “more and more perfect” legislative
system “ everything for the human’s weal” in order to prevent dispensaton of humanitarian aid. Episcopate of Roman Catholic
church in Ukraine understood the situaton that was created around “Caritas” but couldn’t really counteract it because had
urgent problems in building up of the church structures which were almost ruined during Soviet regime. The first attempt
to do something centralized was made in 1992 when bishop of Zhytomyr Parish Jan Purvinskui was appointed the head of
the “Caritas” Roman Catholic church. Decisions to register “Caritas” as religious organizations subordinated to bishops
were taken. But then everything was left undecided. During that time in spite of all difficulties and problems haritative
activity developed on the basis of the parochial “Caritas” under the control of deans and f. Juriy Nagornui leaded
the whole “Caritas” and did his best to develop this activity cooperating with “Caritas” from Austria, France,
Netherlands and others.
Situation in Ukraine became more corruptible thus that each time when the aid came the drivers from abroad promised
not to come to Ukraine themselvs and and to tell it to the others. All because of bribery, demandings, corruption
starting from customs officers on the frontiers and on every state traffic warden post to the bureaucratic
formalities in the municipal government.
Since 1995 re-registration of all offices of “Caritas” from public institutions into religious has began.
So the new structure that was under control of the church was craeted. This process was completely finished only in 1996.
Then Religious “Caritas-Spes” Mission of Roman-Catholic Church was officially registered. In 1996 legislation of
Ukraine made it almost impossible to receive humanitarian aid from abroad. Activity of improvement of children’s
health abroad and in Ukraine decreased again because of legislative difficulties. Only some small groups of the
children who had suffered from the damage at the Chornobyl APP could be sent abroad or to the health resorts
in Ukraine to improve their health. Thanks to the offerings of various people, mostly from abroad, such as “Caritas”
in Germany, Austria, France and catholic organization Renovabis our activity has grown. Results of Chornobyl damage
made us specialize in improvement of children’s health. In 1996 about 230 children improved their health,
in 1997 – 700 children, in 1999 – 1800. the children had a rest in haritative camps in Jablunycia (Ivano-Frankivsk region),
Poninci (Khmelnitski region), Zarichany (not far from Zhytomyr), Oleksandrivka (Zhytomyr region) and Vorzel (Kyiv region).
Apart from these newly-built “Caritas-Spes” recreation centers more than 30 regional “Caritas” centers that actively organize
assistance for the poor by creation of charitable dining rooms and social centrs were created.
return
President of the Caritas-Spes Ukraine – bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradyuk.
He was born on 23 June 1956 in Kornachivka village (Khmelnycky region). After graduation from the Higher Theological College
he was consecrated in 1984 and sent to Polonne (Khmelnycki region). Here he had been working as a priest for 10 years.
During his studies in the Higher Theological College he entered the Franciscan Order. On 6 January Pope Joan Paul ²²
consecrated him as a bishop and appointed as a bishop-helper of the Kyiv- Zhytomyr diocese. At the conference
of bishops which was held on May 1995 he was appointed head of the Caritas-Spes in Ukraine. He became director
of the Caritas-Spes Ukraine in 1996 after the legal registration of the Caritas-Spes as a charitable foundation.
return
Secretary general of Caritas-Spes Ukraine – p. Viktor Symon.
|
He was born on 2 December 1968 in Zhytomyr region. He graduated from Zhytomyr pedagogical institute in 1993 and worked
as a German teacher for two years. 1n 1995 entered the Higher Theological College (Vorzel). He was consecrated in 2002
and was nominated to Zhytomyr. In August 2005 f. Victor was appointed Secretary general of the Caritas-Spes Ukraine.
|
Director of the Caritas-Spes Lviv Archdiocese – p. Jan Nikel.
|
He was born on 23 September 1962 in Ilkovychi (Poland). Got universal and music education. In 1981 he entered
theological department of the Higher Theological College in Krakow and got master’s degree in theology.
He was consecrated on 17 May 1987 and began his work as a priest in the same year in Poland. Since 1991 he has been
transferred to Ukraine and appointed to the parish in Stryi, Zhydachev, Skole and Brozdovci. In 2003 f. Jan was appointed
manager of the Caritas-Spes Lviv Archdiocese.
|
Director of the Caritas-Spes Kamianec-Podilska Diocese – p. Pavel Goncharuk.
|
He was born on 16 January 1978 in Kornachivka village (Khmelnyki region). He entered the Higher Theological
College in Gorodok village (Khmelnyki region) in 1995. He was consecrated in 2002. in February 2004 he manager
of the Caritas-Spes Kamianec-Podilska diocese.
|
Director of the Caritas-Spes Lutsk Diocese – p. Roman Burnyk
|
He was born on 27 December 1962 in Zalissa Cortkivsky district (Ternopil region). He entered theological
department of Lublin Catholic University in 1990 and was consecrated on 16 January 1996. F. Burnyk has been
appointed manager of the Religious Mission “Caritas-Spes” Lutsk diocese of the Roman-Catholic Church.
|
Director of the Caritas-Spes Kharkiv-Zaporizhia diocese – p. Zdislav Zayonc.
|
He was born on 24 September 1962 in Ponatova (Poland). On 13 December 1986 he graduated from the Higher Theological College
of the Catholic University in Lublin. Began his work as a priest in Ukraine 1997. Since April he has been transferred to
Berdiansk and appointed manager of the Religious Mission “Caritas-Spes” Kharkiv-Zaporizhia diocese
of the Roman-Catholic Church. F. Zdislav is a dean of the parish of the Birth of St. Mary in Berdiansk at the same time.
|
Director of the Caritas-Spes Simferopol Diocese – p. Mykola Guzal.
|
|
He was born on 8 February 1964 in Stasuky village (Vinnyca district). In 1987 he graduated from
the Higher Theological College in Riga. After that he was consecrated and appointed to Zhmerenka (Vinnyca district).
In 1995 he was consecrated dean to Bar town Vinnyca district. Since 1 October he has been appointed manager of the Caritas-Spes Odesa.
|
Director of the Caritas-Spes Kyiv- Zhytomyr diocese – Victor Pjura.
|
He was born in 1959 in Selynci village Zhytomyr region. Has been working in the charitable mission “Caritas-Spes” since 1994.
He receives and distributes humanitarian aid among people who are in need in Zhytomyr region and diocese. Since 1995
he has been appointed manager of the Caritas-Spes Kyiv-Zhytomyr diocese.
|
Director of the Caritas-Spes Mukachevo Diocese – Fedir Feger.
|
He was born in 1979 in Khust Zakarpathian region. Since 1998 till 2003 he was studying and practicing
in the economic institute (Hungary). Since September 2003 had been working as a reviewer of the Mukachevo diocese
of the Roman-Catholic Church. And since 1 September 2004 has been working as a manager of Zakarpathian Regional Charitable Fund
“Caritas of St. Martin” which is the diocese center of the Roman-Catholic Church in Zakarpathia region.
|
return
