Hearteningly, Fr. Roman Ostrovsky, the rector of the Kyiv Three Saints Seminary, has heard multiple Ukrainian soldiers express an interest in the consecrated life once the war with Russia comes to an end.

“They have an intention, an idea to serve God at the end of the war,” said Ostrovsky during a Feb. 25 webinar hosted by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Canada. “We received this request, but we hope that the war will be over by the victory of Ukraine. And after that, we will have many soldiers who would like to become (like) Christ.”

But now, as the conflict rages on, over four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the present focus remains standing in prayerful solidarity with the soldiers risking their lives and continuing to serve a people at risk of devastation each day.  

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Ostrovsky shed light on yet another difficult winter in the Ukrainian capital city.

“This winter in Ukraine has been incredibly harsh,” said Ostrovsky, “with an average temperature of minus 25 degrees. This would be manageable if it were not for Russia's attack on critical infrastructure, which led to power outages, lack of heating and the constant fear of prison.

“Our seminary is no exception,” continued Ostrovsky. “We have basic days with no electricity for 24-26 hours straight. This takes a toll on the psychological, moral and even spiritual state of our seminarians. No one is ever truly prepared for such conditions. Despite the darkness, our classes continue by candlelight or battery power.”

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Anastasiia Hryniuk, CNEWA’s Ukraine coordinator, also provided an update on the non-profit’s aid efforts. They support recovery programs for veterans and the elderly, particularly through medical and psychological rehabilitation. The travel care program for kids helps orphans and displaced children who lost their parents during the war.

CNEWA also supports the work of Ostrovsky and the local religious community in providing clergy formation to serve people affected by the war.

“Our formation now includes essential survival and relief skills such as first aid, practical medicine, including the proper use of food kits, as well as mind safety awareness to identify exposure hazards,” said Ostrovsky. “We are preparing these people not only for physical exercise but also for a silent professional response to their communities.”

When asked by moderator Dr. Adriana Bara, the national director of CNEWA Canada, what core message Ostrovsky would convey to the dozens of individuals who signed up for the webinar, the seminary rector emphasized that people have not lost sight of God’s presence.

“Our greatest hope today is found neither in the weapons of soldiers so desperately needed, nor in the political alliances and geopolitical manoeuvres that remain particularly important,” said Ostrovsky. “Our hope springs from a deep conviction, we believe, that God lives in Ukraine today.

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“He is there in the bomb shelter,” he said. “He is being born in old maternity wards targeted by drones and missiles. He is recovering in military hospitals. He is being tortured in Russian prisons. It is our Lord who grants ordinary Ukrainians their wisdom and strength to endure, helping us to hope even where the surrounding darkness becomes unbearably thick. He helps us find joy every morning we wake up alive and gives us the grace to continue praying for our family and our nation.”

To learn more about CNEWA Canada’s work in Ukraine, visit cnewa.org/ca/.