This day is being marked in places far removed from celebration: on the front lines, in bomb shelters, in hospitals, in shelters for the displaced, and in cemeteries where the names of those who gave their lives for Ukraine are remembered.
In a recent message, The Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, emphasized that for Christians, Independence Day is first and foremost a celebration of gratitude to God for the gift of freedom.
Independence Day is more than just a political event. It is also a day of prayer and gratitude to God for the gift of freedom.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk
“For us, Christians, Independence Day is more than just a political event. It is also a day of prayer and gratitude to God for the gift of freedom and the gift of being able to be ourselves. That is why we celebrate this day in prayer, united under the Ukrainian Council of Churches,” said His Beatitude Shevchuk.
Freedom of faith is an important part of independence. The Ukrainian Catholic Church has been walking alongside communities in times of joy and standing with them in moments of suffering. Through its parishes, clergy, and religious communities, the Church continues to serve people where the need is greatest.
CNEWA is part of this mission.
During a recent visit to Ukraine, Anastasiia Hryniuk, Ukraine Program Officer with CNEWA Canada, had the opportunity to witness this mission on the ground. Across the country, the Church continues to step forward when a crisis strikes, reaching those who need help most.
Children and people living with disabilities often face some of the greatest uncertainties in times of war. They are among those who are most dependent on others for safety, care, and support, making the role of institutions and communities that protect them especially important.
In Chortkiv, the Dim Myloserdia (House of Mercy), under the care of the Buchach Eparchy, provides a place of safety and care for children and adults with disabilities. Here, rehabilitation is accompanied by something equally important: patience, love, dignity, and daily support.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the House of Mercy has also opened its doors to hundreds of people displaced by the fighting, offering them shelter and a safe place to stay when they had nowhere else to turn.
“Where else are they going to go?” asked a priest from the Buchach Eparchy.
The question is simple, but it captures something essential about the Church’s response to the war. When people have nowhere else to go, the doors are opened. When someone is vulnerable, someone steps forward to care for them. The House of Mercy is one example of how the Church continues to respond not only with words, but with a place to sleep, a helping hand, rehabilitation, compassion, and the dignity every person deserves.
Help CNEWA continue the mission and support the Ukrainian Catholic Church.