Tetiana Stawnych, head of Caritas Ukraine, speaks to Vatican News about the recent Russian attack on Ternopil, the important of Pope Leo’s Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te, and Caritas’ work on the frontlines.
By Svitlana Dukhovych
Members of the Representative Council of Caritas Internationalis, the Catholic Church’s charitable arm, met with Pope Leo in the Vatican on Friday.
Among them was Tetiana Stawnych, head of Caritas Ukraine, and a US citizen who chose to move to the country as an adult.
Stawnych spoke to Vatican News’ Svitlana Dukhovych about her personal story, and Caritas’ work on the Ukrainian frontline. The following is a transcript of that interview.
Vatican News: What was your impression of Caritas Internationalis’ meeting with Pope Leo?
Tetiana Stawnych: The meeting with Pope Leo was a moving moment for all of us, because it was the first time we’d met with the new Pope.
There were two particular aspects to it, I think. One was this sense of community, that we belong together, to something larger than the sum of our parts and even something larger than just Caritas – we belong to the larger Catholic community, which is a powerful place to be, a place of comfort.
At the same time, there’s this amazing attention to the individual. At the end of each meeting, the Pope takes time to meet every single person, to shake their hand. Everyone’s allowed to say a few words to him.
Q: You gave the Pope a copy of your Ukrainian translation of his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te. On November 10, Caritas Ukraine organized a presentation of this translation in Kyiv. Why was it important for you to complete this translation in such a short time?
A: We made a decision early on when the Exhortation came out that we wanted to include it into our program of formation for Caritas staff. So we had an informal translation done, and we immediately organised an event for our staff with the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, where we discussed “Dilexi te”.
I think that what was really valuable for us in “Dilexi te” was this intentional focus on seeing the other in need. This intentional return to seeing Christ present in the one who’s in need. And that is a call of our faith.
Q: On the night of November 18–19, there was a massive Russian attack on the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil. As of November 22, 32 people have died and dozens have been injured. How does Caritas react to these kind of tragedies?
A: In Ternopil our Caritas was one of the first organisations to arrive at the site of the attack. They were able to immediately provide something warm to drink, some warm food, other basic needs. At the same time, they also offered a place where people could come to stay for a while to shelter, until they could figure out their next steps.
When you have an attack of that nature, of course, the building itself that’s attacked is destroyed, but then the windows and doors of the surrounding buildings are often blown out too due to the blast. So it’s so important to be able to provide people with shelter and a place to stay, psychologists, and of course access to a priest.
Q: You were born in a Ukrainian family in the USA. When did you decide to move to Ukraine, and why did you decide to stay?
A: I made the decision, I think, in about 1986. I believe that each of us has something that God has put in our hearts – a particular vocation. I’ve always had this love for Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, and I am always full when I’m in Ukraine, when I’m around Ukrainians.
Q: Aren’t you afraid?
A: Of course, you can be afraid when there are explosions and bombings happening, when you don’t know when the heat will be turned on, or when there’s no light. But there’s something bigger that keeps you going, and I think that peace that’s in your heart – that call, that vocation that God has put there – carries you through the difficulties and through the fear.
Q: When you used to live in the USA, you knew Ukrainians and Ukraine. Did you discover anything new when you started living in Ukraine, or now, during the war?
A: I think one of the most beautiful things I discovered in Ukraine was the sense of community – the sense of love and solidarity that really shows itself, especially when there is a crisis. It just reveals itself. I think it’s always there. You know, not perfectly – we’re all human.
There’s a beauty in Ukraine, and I’m not the only one who sees it. I know when other people come from abroad and spend a longer time in Ukraine, they also see it. It’s a piece of what it means to be human, which was somehow preserved here in a special way. This sense of togetherness, sense of solidarity, is present in a strong way, I think, in Ukraine.
Q: What would be your message to Catholics, or to just people of goodwill, across the world?
And what do Ukrainians need to maintain hope?
A: So the first thing I’d like to say is thank you for all the prayers and all the support that’s been given so far.
Then I would say, both in Ukraine and abroad, it’s been a long, protracted crisis and we’re all tired. But if we want to build hope, we will build that hope by acting. And that action can be done in different ways. Pray, and then, as you pray, let God speak to your heart and show you: Is there something you can do to make a difference? There are many organizations, many faith communities that are working to help people in Ukraine, and getting involved in one of those is a great way to make the connection and activate your faith in the way that the Pope encourages us in “Dilexi te”.
The above transcript has been lightly edited for reasons of style and brevity.
