Civic responsibility and role of the Church

On October 2, as part of the 7th ESW the round table "Civil Liability in Times of Social Transformation" was held. The round table focused on the responsibility of politicians, the role of the Church in times of crisis, the influence of the civil sector, and cooperation between the Church and the military. Professor Antonina Kolodii, Ph.D., head of the Department of Political Science and Philosophy of the Lviv Regional Institute of Public Administration of the National Academy of Public Administration under the President of Ukraine, affirmed that the Maidan in 2014 disproved the idea that Ukraine has a weak civil society, that Ukrainians are passive and detached.

Zenoviy Svereda, Doctor of Social Economics, lecturer at the Pontifical Gregorian University, talked about what crisis" means, the concept of "the state" and its main tasks, and the Church and its social mission.

Mychailo Cherenkov, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at UCU, associate editor of "Theological Portal," the portal Religion in Ukraine," and the magazine "Theological Reflections," drew attention to the uniting of Christians due to difficult times.

Father Stepan Sus, pastor of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, encouraged attempts to unite people around common values, to build the society that we want to see in our nation with one’s own efforts.

About the life of social organizations in Lviv

During the 7th ESW a visit was organized to social organizations of Lviv: Lviv Geriatric Home (71, Medova pechera Str.) and a home for orphans, Protection Family House (19 Kryvchytska Road Str.), on October 1.

Participating in the visit were social workers, many students, and Bernard Chevenez, General Secretary of the Social Weeks of France. The purpose of this visit was to demonstrate the practice of social work. The elderly and people with some degree of disability live in the Geriatric Home. The territory of the home has two buildings: one for residents (two persons per room, medical room, kitchen, etc.); the other has a library, assembly hall, pool and gym. "Once there lived up to 600 people, now 70," says Deputy Director, Hanna Ivanivna Kotyk.

In the Protection Family House guests were met by Fr. Mychailo: "Our orphanage is for boys from 6 to 23 years, until the children gain education and settle down. Now it is home to 52 children. They live in little groups by age categories, each with its own living room, kitchen, bathroom. The orphans go to normal schools and it helps them to adapt socially."

Photo Exhibit "Charity through the Prism of the Lens" opens

As part of the 7th Ecumenical Social Week, a traveling photo exhibit "Charity through the Prism of the Lens" opened on October 1 at UCU. The photo exhibit was opened by a representative of the Ukrainian Charity Forum, Yaryna Homtsiv. "I hope that when viewing the photos you will see how you can take part in social assistance or just get aesthetic pleasure," she said. The exhibit features the 40 best works, which were chosen from 550 photos, participating in the 4th All-Ukrainian Photo Contest "Charity through the Prism of the Lens."

The photos that constitute the exhibit reflect diverse manifestations of good deeds. The works are intended to show the public how easy it is to help others. Special attention is paid to the care of disadvantaged people: orphans, the seriously ill, persons with disabilities and special needs, and older people.

Prospects for civil society in Ukraine

On October 1 the round table "The Formation of a Socially Responsible Society: The European Experience, Ukrainian prospects" was held at UCU.

Olha Rudnieva, director of the Anti-AIDS Foundation, described the experience of Ukraine's first private charitable foundation. The best cures for AIDS are belief and trust. As there is less stigmatization of patients with HIV/AIDS and greater belief in society that people can overcome their illness, Ukraine will overcome the epidemic sooner.

Michelle Dormal, of the L'Arche Community (France), shared the experience of work in this community. In her view, society should be open to work with people with special needs, because in such an interaction the community changes, and ordinary individualistic society becomes a responsible one.

Father Taras Mylian, director of the CF Foundation, spoke about his experience of social service, about how the church can serve society not only with prayer, not only in the spiritual sphere, but also in society.

Bernard Chevenez, General Secretary of the Social Weeks of France, noted that a paradigm of individualism is prevalent now in the world which promotes broad freedoms but ignores duties to the community.

Celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies

On September 30 a gala dinner to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies was held. At UCU the joy of this event was shared not only with the IES staff but also with friends and long-term partners of the institute. There were words of gratitude and admiration for projects that have been implemented over the years.

"Ten years ago, in 2004, Father Borys Gudziak suggested creating the Institute of Ecumenical Studies. For me, personally, it was an existential moment. I remember the atmosphere of friendship at the Ukrainian Catholic University, the dynamics of this institution. It influenced me and encouraged me to head the Institute." The founding director of the IES, Dr. Antoine Arjakovsky, shares his memories Father Ihor Boiko in his welcoming speech noted the importance of the Master's Program in Ecumenical Studies. "The students who came to these lectures were motivated. In their eyes was a desire to learn and know. I still have a close relationship with some of them. What you are doing at the IES is changing society for the better," said Fr. Ihor Boiko. During the dinner, guests shared their memories of activities of the institute. At the end, Rev. Dr. Iwan Dacko summarized the activities of the IES and thanked the staff, friends, partners and founders, thanks to whom the institute can continue to implement unique projects and programs.