Social ministry is an activity aimed at addressing social issues and promoting social justice. It encompasses the full spectrum of social engagement, including volunteer assistance, charitable work, and organized forms of social services provided to individuals and groups in need to support their holistic development. The foundation and driving force of the Church’s social ministry is religious faith, reflecting the diaconal nature of the Church. It is an integral part of the Church’s threefold mission: proclaiming the Good News (Kerygma), sanctifying (Liturgy), and serving (Diakonia).
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) has developed a comprehensive approach to social ministry. As outlined in the Synod of Bishops’ strategy “The Vibrant Parish – a Place to Encounter the Living Christ”: “The parish level should serve as the foundation upon which the ministry to one’s neighbour is built and carried out. Only then can we consider ourselves living Christians when our parishes become places where care for orphans is provided, advocacy for widows is practiced, the poor are assisted, and suffering is shared with the sick.”
In 2016, the UGCC approved the Social Ministry Strategy, specifically designed to foster the development of social ministry at the community level. Caritas, the nationwide network of charitable organizations established by the UGCC, has adopted and actively implements this strategy through its projects and programs.
The development of social ministry within UGCC parishes is a program aimed at strengthening the social cohesion of civil society at the local community level. This is achieved by activating and enhancing the capacity of parish communities in Ukraine to engage in social ministry.
Stages of Project Development
The development of social ministry in UGCC parishes is a project by Caritas Ukraine, initiated in 2017, encompassing all eparchies and exarchates of the UGCC in Ukraine. It includes several key stages:
- Pilot Project
Focused on developing a methodology to activate social ministry at the community level, the primary outcome was the creation and dissemination of the Parish Social Ministry Guidebook: “Serve One Another in Love”. This guide serves as a practical tool for eparchial animators, parish priests, and others.
2. Project: Increasing Social Responsibility of Parishes and Their Engagement in Local Community Life (2017–2020)
- Engaged 375 local communities and parishes
- Established 14 eparchial teams now capable of mentoring over 300 parish volunteer teams and initiatives
- Organized three national social ministry forums: “Community Social Ministry,” “Family Social Ministry,” and “Individual Social Ministry,” with over 450 participants
3. Project: Strengthening Local Self-Organization and Social Cohesion in Eastern Ukraine (2018–2021)
- Created six Centers for Social Cohesion in eastern Ukraine
- Held 428 open community cohesion events
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4. Interim Short-Term Project: Social Cohesion and Responsibility for Social Challenges in Local Communities (January–August 2022)
- Engaged 48 local communities and parishes
- Conducted four Volunteer Schools, featuring 20 training sessions
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5. Project: Developing Social Ministry for Community Cohesion to Support IDPs and Vulnerable Groups at the Parish Level (September 2022–February 2024)
Engaged 108 local communities and parishes through mentorship, visits, team building, participation in training programs, and opportunities to apply for mini-grants- Held 10 Volunteer Schools, including 90 training sessions (total participants: 2,109)
- Conducted 20 Social Ministry Schools (total participants: 524)
- Supported 79 parish projects with mini-grants
- Organized 10 Eparchial Social Ministry Forums and one National Forum (total participants: 1,107)
The full-scale invasion in 2022 triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as of August 2022, 6,975,000 individuals were internally displaced within Ukraine. Many IDPs relocated to western and northern regions, including Kyiv, where the project’s activities were primarily concentrated.
A significant proportion of the displaced belonged to vulnerable groups, including children aged 5–17, infants, elderly individuals over 60, persons with disabilities, those with chronic illnesses, at-risk youth, and others. Notably, women made up 70% of the displaced population, emphasizing the gendered nature of displacement and the specific needs arising from this dynamic.
The structures of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) responded promptly to the needs of those affected by the war. UGCC parishes, in cooperation with local Caritas organizations, became key players in providing humanitarian aid. By June 26, 2022, Caritas had supported 1,579,530 IDPs, highlighting the vital role of church and parish communities in humanitarian response. These communities often served as the first point of contact for families in crisis, particularly in areas with limited state social services.
Goals and Objectives
The overarching goal of the project is to strengthen self-help and cohesion within civil society at the level of parish communities in Ukraine.
Key objectives of the project:
Priorities of social ministry:
This project reflects a deep understanding of contemporary social challenges and aims to identify solutions that will benefit parish communities in the long term. Through education and the development of local initiatives, it is designed to adapt to the needs of communities, particularly in the context of war and the forced displacement of people.
Areas of Activity
The project focuses on the following key areas:
The aim is to provide parish volunteers and activists with the necessary skills and tools for effective social ministry. Key initiatives include:
- Social and Educational Volunteer Academy: A training program for parish volunteers.
- School of Social Ministry: A program for parish teams focusing on management basics, fundraising, and strategic planning.
- Consultative and mentoring support.
- Formational retreats for parish teams.
- Facilitation sessions with parish teams, such as “Vision for Our Parish’s Development.”
Active involvement of parish members in planning and implementing social ministry projects fosters responsibility, team building, and encourages local activists to take on leadership roles. Activities include:
- Strengthening social ministry through formational and educational visits, parish support, and resource provision from local diocesan Caritas organizations.
Supporting strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and innovation implementation. This includes:
- Practical support for parish initiatives through mini-grant competitions.
- Organizing local social ministry forums as platforms to address the social needs of communities.
- Launching the School of Social Entrepreneurship in the new phase, aimed at developing sustainable social initiatives.
Stages of Organizing Social Ministry
These tasks require not substantial material resources but rather goodwill and the willingness to devote time and effort to helping others. This ministry is grounded in faith, as Apostle Paul teaches:
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
Beneficiaries
The project aims to enhance the capacity of parish priests and activists who carry out social projects within their communities. This development is supported through training programs and assistance for local projects in the format of parish teams, which include:
Geographic Coverage
The project operates in the following regions: Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Drohobych, Stryi, Zhovkva, Ternopil, Buchach, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomyia, Chernivtsi, and Volyn.
Quantitative Results:
Qualitative Results:
Partners
Special thanks to the project donors: KZE, RENOVABIS, and CNEWA.
Testimonials
Testimonials from parish priests about participating in the project:
“This project helped me realize that parishioners actively engage when there is a practical initiative. For them, it is important not only to attend liturgies and sermons but also to take an active part in practical activities.”
“Thanks to this project, I finally felt that my parishioners are a reliable support and are ready to share responsibility for the life of the parish.”
Testimonials from parish volunteers about participating in “SOVA” (Social-Educational Volunteer Academy):
“The practical modules of the program were incredibly valuable. The sessions featured trainers with hands-on experience working with various target audiences. We returned to our parishes and immediately began applying what we learned.”
“During the volunteer schools, we learned about different practices and activities organized by Caritas in our eparchy. As a result, we began implementing similar initiatives in our parishes, such as the ‘Christmas Candle’ and ‘School Backpack’ campaigns.”
Testimonials from parish teams about participating in the mini-grant competition:
“This was our first experience. It was very challenging to administer and correctly prepare all the documents. However, we gained invaluable experience and now know how grants are managed, allowing us to apply to other donors.”
“This is our first grant story. We often didn’t approach other donors because we lacked grant management experience. Caritas’ support will enable us to attract funds from other donors in the future.”
“We received a smaller amount than we initially budgeted for, but during the School of Social Ministry, we gained fundraising knowledge and skills, and we were able to secure the needed amount from other sources.”
Testimonials from local managers about working with parishes in the project:
“The projects have become more substantive. In previous years, projects often focused on a single event or one-time action. Now, the projects are more meaningful, involving the creation of facilities, infrastructure development, and even entrepreneurial initiatives receiving support.”
“The program worked like a domino effect. Less active parishes or skeptically inclined priests saw others succeed, gain various types of support, and then started showing interest in creating projects and involving volunteers in their own parishes.”
Testimonials about the Local Social Ministry Forums:
“The forums provided an invaluable opportunity for current participants to interact with participants from previous iterations of the program in the same eparchies. This continuity fostered a sense of belonging to the Caritas community network, allowing new parishes to build on the wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated by their predecessors. Such interaction not only enriched the learning environment but also strengthened the social ministry network between different parishes.”
“The parish is a very significant place where many large projects for global change originate. In various cities and villages, the priest is a key figure with authority and trust among the people. The social ministry development project helps priests and active laity communicate the importance of social ministry, cohesion, development, and self-reliance. As a community, we can accomplish so much. Step by step, we grow together thanks to the project.” – Olena Karnaukh, Project Manager, Caritas Ukraine.
Examples Of Parish Initiatives
Project “Yak Bdzhola” (Like a Bee): A space for volunteering, service, and social entrepreneurship
Parish of St. Nicholas in the village of Medvezha, Drohobych District, Lviv Region; Sambir-Drohobych Diocese of the UGCC
Project idea:
The Church of St. Nicholas used many paraffin candles during services, causing an unpleasant smell and discomfort for worshippers. The parish decided to switch to beeswax candles. Initially, these were purchased from the Univ Dormition Lavra of the Studite Rite, but eventually, the parish began making its own candles with the help of children. This offered children additional social interaction and a sense of contributing to something meaningful. The initiative generates 50,000–60,000 UAH annually, a substantial amount for a relatively small community. Grant support from the Sambir-Drohobych Diocese’s Caritas helps expand the initiative to produce table candles.
Implementation process:
The wax is sourced from local apiaries in Medvezha, a village known for its beekeeping traditions. Parish youth are involved in candle-making, and the candles are sold during services. With plans to scale up, the community aims to distribute candles to neighboring parishes. The project also includes workshops for children from other communities, teaching them how to make candles. For children, this activity fosters creativity and engagement, with candles crafted into shapes like flowers, animals, and crowns.
Project “Chysto-ta” (Spotless): A social laundry
Parish of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Terebovlia, Ternopil District, Ternopil Region; Ternopil-Zboriv Archdiocese of the UGCC
Project idea:
Volunteers from the Parish of the Descent of the Holy Spirit attended all training sessions of the social and educational volunteer academy “SOVA,” organized by Caritas Ternopil. Inspired by the acquired knowledge, the parish community decided to establish a social laundry. The grant funding offered by Caritas Ternopil perfectly matched the project’s needs.
Implementation process:
A facility for the project was already available. The grant required the parish community to cover 10% of the costs, which funded water and sewage connections, while the rest was covered by grant funds. Today, Terebovlia residents actively use the social laundry. Eight parish volunteers manage the project. Vulnerable individuals can bring laundry every Tuesday and Thursday. For people with limited mobility, volunteers pick up and deliver clean laundry. The service is offered to 40 families free of charge, while others contribute a small donation to cover utility and detergent costs. The project plans to evolve into a social enterprise.
Project “Caritas Dobry Koziatyn”: A development space for teenagers
Parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Koziatyn, Khmilnyk District, Vinnytsia Region; Kyiv Archdiocese of the UGCC
Project idea:
The parish dreamed of uniting local youth, which became possible through the idea of a couple of volunteers from Kharkiv who relocated to Koziatyn during the full-scale invasion. They proposed creating a library, which later became the core of a youth space. The main goal of “Caritas Dobry Koziatyn” is to provide teenagers with a place where they can engage in activities they enjoy at any time. The project fosters a sense of community and connection, even among introverted children.
Implementation process:
The library was launched through announcements on Facebook and Instagram, drawing attention from local bloggers who encouraged residents to donate books. By late 2023, the library’s collection had grown to 988 books. Volunteers from various regions, including Lyman, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Koziatyn, joined to support teenagers. Weekly, 50 children visit the space, which operates in two rooms (one owned and one rented). Youth involvement has extended to social service initiatives, such as outreach to nearby communities.
Project “Sontse v Sertsі” (Sun in the Heart): A studio for psychological and educational support
Parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Zhuravno, Stryi District, Lviv Region; Stryi Diocese of the UGCC
Project idea:
This initiative addresses the needs of 196 vulnerable individuals in Zhuravno (adults and children with disabilities, internally displaced persons, children of servicemen, and others). These groups require psychological support and assistance with social integration. “Sun in the Heart” serves as a platform for mental, emotional, cultural, and educational development. Its mission is not only to provide help but also to raise public awareness of the needs of these individuals, fostering community unity.
Implementation process:
The initiative began in collaboration with the Caritas Stryi Diocese. Local partners, including the NGO “Zhuravno – Forward!” and the Youth Center, contributed to developing an annual activity plan, acquiring equipment and psychological games, and forming a team of 11 permanent volunteers and psychologists. Initial sessions were held in late 2023, with plans to involve all 196 individuals from vulnerable groups in the future.
Social Contribution
The “Development of Social Ministry for Community Cohesion to Support IDPs and Vulnerable Groups at the Parish Level” project (2022–2024) has significantly strengthened parish communities by enhancing their resilience and establishing sustainable social ministry to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups.
Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis
This initiative served as a timely response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the full-scale invasion, which displaced nearly 7 million people. Among those needing support were children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—predominantly women.
The introduction of the UGCC Social Ministry Strategy in 2016 institutionalized social assistance approaches, ensuring standardized and more effective aid delivery to vulnerable groups.
Sustainable Community Development
The project advanced community sustainability by fostering the integration of IDPs and strengthening social cohesion. Beyond supporting existing initiatives, it activated new volunteer communities, increasing the social impact of parishes and their readiness to serve. The creation and reinforcement of volunteer groups within parishes have expanded opportunities for active participation in assisting those in need, amplifying the overall social impact.