First Lady Praises Ukrainian Catholic University on First Visit

By Mariana Karapinka and Oksana Shkodzinska

Lviv – Ukrainian First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko made her first visit to the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) on September 13. The brief stop was part of her visit to Lviv for the 2007 All-Ukraine Publishers’ Forum. As head of the advisory council to the Ukraine 3000 International Charity Fund, Mrs. Yushchenko was particularly interested to hear about social projects at UCU and said that her fund will work together with UCU.

Mrs. Yushchenko was given a brief tour of the university’s new building housing the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology, whose opening ceremony and blessing was a year ago. The building is part of the Theological Centre complex, which includes the premises of Holy Spirit Seminary. UCU Rector Rev. Borys Gudziak, Ph. D., then recounted the history of the establishment and development of the university for Mrs. Yushchenko. He also shared plans for the future. In particular, he showed her a model for the construction of a new campus near Lviv’s Stryiskyi Park. The site was blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Ukraine in 2001 and a cross was ceremonially placed on the territory in May of this year.

As part of her visit, Mrs. Yushchenko also met various UCU students, including those studying in the Department of Social Pedagogy, members of the Student Charity Centre, and the seminarian who heads the seminary’s charity organization. The students presented social projects they carry out in addition to their regular studies, in particular, helping children in orphanages and shelters.

UCU’s Department of Social Pedagogy, opened in 2006, prepares professionals to work at shelters for children, special schools for physically and mentally disabled children, geriatric buildings, and other institutions.

Mrs. Yushchenko explained that Ukraine 3000 plans to introduce programs in charitable activities in Ukrainian schools and also create a similar course for universities, especially for faculties of economics and business. “So we would very much like to work together with your students and teachers, who can help us to develop this course,” she said. “It is especially important that children start to learn to do good from childhood, so that in time this will become a good habit.”

Mrs. Yushchenko highly praised the achievements and prospects of the Ukrainian Catholic University. She acknowledged the significant role that the UCU played in the Ukrainian government recognizing theology as an academic discipline. In the name of her fund and her family, she promised support and help to the university in further matters regarding this recognition and the recognition of advanced degrees in the field by the government. “I know how difficult it was to revive the Lviv Theological Academy [now the UCU], how difficult to create such a university,” said Mrs. Yushchenko. “For a long time I have wanted to see your work, to meet your teachers and students. You do wonderful things. It is very important that our people have access to knowledge about God. I thank you for starting this effort.”

At the end of the visit, Mrs. Yushchenko made the first contribution, 25,000 hryvni, to UCU’s fund for higher studies, created to mark the 60^th Birthday of Fr. Iwan Dacko, President of UCU’s Institute of Ecumenical Studies and one of the initiators to establish the university in Ukraine. She also gave a digital media projector to UCU and a copy of the book History of the Ukrainian Cossacks.

“President Victor Yushchenko in various ways shows his attention to the development of UCU. In particular, he supported UCU’s initiative regarding the recognition of theology in Ukraine [by the Ministry of Education],” said Rev. Gudziak. “Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko, who is known for her dedicated work in the social sphere, is also interested in our institution, inasmuch as UCU prepares pastors and laypeople for work in various social projects. Among the initiatives of our students, it’s worth mentioning the Christmas Eve Supper for the homeless in Lviv and ministry to the poor, orphans, and the disabled. Mrs. Yushchenko knows about these activities of our students and so she expressed a desire to get better acquainted with the university and its students.”

Further information about the UCU in English and Ukrainian is available from the university’s website at www.ucu.edu.ua or contact the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, 2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; tel.: 773-235-8462; e-mail, ucef@ucef.org; website, www.ucef.org. The telephone number of the UCEF in Canada is (416) 239-2495.