Members of AUCS “Obnova” visited Counsil of Europe in Strasbourg
01.03.2012
European Coordination JECI-MIEC invited all national member organozations for the Study Session “Empowering Students in Human Rights through Integral Education”, which was taking place in the European Youth Centre, Strasbourg, France. The Study Session gathered 35 students from different national movements in Europe. On the first day we listened to the presentations by the members of JECI-MIEC and members from other external organizations. After that we visited “exhibitions” of each movements in a “museum” which every organization had. 
Next day we discussed the field of Integral Education. The goal of Integral Education is the holistic formation of the person, so that he/she can contribute with their knowledge and skills to the common good of society. After that we had the Multicultural Evening where we learned a lot of interesting things about different counrties and also we presented Ukraine.
In the next few days we had different workshops related to Human Rights, such as: evolution of Human Rights; discrimination; education as a Human Right; Human Rights and human dignity; Human Rights, religious freedom and interreligious dialogue. Also we visited Counsil of Europe main building. Besides discussions about Human Rights we were divided into groups in order to deepen our understanding of documents on Human rights and be able to explain their contents to others.
Later, we had practical tasks to identify the violated (in our case) rigts and concrete articles of the conventions and to propose possible actions from the NGOs. Then we wrote the right violtion that was most important for us and had great discussions about this right.
After all this Session we gained a lot of knowledge, a lot of new friends and our motto — “All different, all equal”.
The Great Fast
28.02.2012
The Great Fast (Lent) is not a modern invention. It is a treasure of our ancestors. It is as ancient as mankind. The Great Fast means not only to restrain in eating, but to avoid sin. Fasting benefits us physically. Let us journey on a spiritual fast.
Let the MIND fast from vain thoughts;
Let the MEMORY fast from bad recollections and desires;
Let the EYES fast from bad sites;
Let the EARS fast from bad songs and defamatory gossip;
Let the TONGUE fast from prejudging, untruth, flattery, slander and any other empty and foul words;
Let the HANDS fast from beating and stealing;
Let the FEET fast from going to bad places.
Turn from evil and do good!
Explanation: The name Great Fast is the term used by all Eastern Christian traditions, which in the Western tradition is called Lent.
The Day of the Sick
27.02.2012
On February 2, 2012, members of the Ukrainian Catholic Students Assosiation “Obnova” and other youth Christian organizations of Ternopil joined action dedicated to the World Day of the Sick. This day was instituted on May 13, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. In his apostolic letter “Salvifici Doloris” the Pope wrote that annual celebration of the World Day of the Sick is aimed at helping the workers of numerous catholic medical organizations, believers and the whole society to understand the necessity of taking care of the sick and disabled people and to facilitate their suffering.
Members of “Obnova”, Fr. Yaroslav Ivanytskyy, chaplain of Ternopil Regional Communal Clinical Hospital, and seminarians of the Yosyp Slipyy Higher Theological Seminary visited the patients of Ternopil’s hospitals, singing carolls and saying words of support they gave out small rolls, handed out small icons and prayed for the recovery of the sick.
This was a good possibility to offer one’s attention, time and heart to the sick who are in need of support. In fact, we should see the image of Christ in every man and help the people in need. The youth should participate in actions like this. This way they will contribute to the development of society and prove they wish to help others and to please God.
Members of “Obnova”, Fr. Yaroslav Ivanytskyy, chaplain of Ternopil Regional Communal Clinical Hospital, and seminarians of the Yosyp Slipyy Higher Theological Seminary visited the patients of Ternopil’s hospitals, singing carolls and saying words of support they gave out small rolls, handed out small icons and prayed for the recovery of the sick.
This was a good possibility to offer one’s attention, time and heart to the sick who are in need of support. In fact, we should see the image of Christ in every man and help the people in need. The youth should participate in actions like this. This way they will contribute to the development of society and prove they wish to help others and to please God.
Krіstina Yurchak, Nadiya Yanush
Christ is our Easter
27.02.2012
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father
except through Me”.(John 14:6)
No one comes to the Father
except through Me”.(John 14:6)
On February 7, 2012, the Ukrainian Catholic Students Assosiation “Obnova” and Fr. Ivan Sichkaryk, D.T., had a meeting aimed at discussing and promoting a better understanding of catechism of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church “Christ is our Easter”.
Easter is a transition from death to life. Jesus calls us to unite with Him in this Easter joy as well as in His passions and resurrection during the Holy Liturgy.
At the beginning of the meeting it was said that Lord came to this Earth to show us the path of the Truth.
Through catechism Jesus teaches us how we should behave and live our lives. The icons used to illustrate it are also important; it is through them that the Lord looks at us and asks if we are ready to follow Him in spite of the difficulties and obstacles of life.
Much attention was paid to the Holy Bible, which is unique in the way that in it everyone can find his own way of salvation and the words with which God speaks to his heart.
Fr. Ivan Sichkaryk also presented the Catholic People’s Catechism (1913) by Franz Spirago, which was used by the clergy and the laity in the clandestine times.
The meeting was meant to help everyone understand the huge role of catechism in choosing the way of life, feel the love and presence of God in our life, as well as the importance of people around us who help us to meet Christ. God gives everyone the desire to live and be happy. That is why we should change our life to be able to give the light of love to the people around us.
Krіstina Yurchak, Nadiya Yanush
Easter is a transition from death to life. Jesus calls us to unite with Him in this Easter joy as well as in His passions and resurrection during the Holy Liturgy.
At the beginning of the meeting it was said that Lord came to this Earth to show us the path of the Truth.
Through catechism Jesus teaches us how we should behave and live our lives. The icons used to illustrate it are also important; it is through them that the Lord looks at us and asks if we are ready to follow Him in spite of the difficulties and obstacles of life.
Much attention was paid to the Holy Bible, which is unique in the way that in it everyone can find his own way of salvation and the words with which God speaks to his heart.
Fr. Ivan Sichkaryk also presented the Catholic People’s Catechism (1913) by Franz Spirago, which was used by the clergy and the laity in the clandestine times.
The meeting was meant to help everyone understand the huge role of catechism in choosing the way of life, feel the love and presence of God in our life, as well as the importance of people around us who help us to meet Christ. God gives everyone the desire to live and be happy. That is why we should change our life to be able to give the light of love to the people around us.
Krіstina Yurchak, Nadiya Yanush
Kruty... we remember
01.02.2012
…Light winter sun shine into our eyes. FREEDOM! Sweet word only after 24 hours in warm cell, with simple, but delicious food. Not in fear and not on the bare floor but with adherents…How they were waiting for FREEDOM! Those who were imprisoned for 10,25 years. Those who did not wait at all!!!
28th of January. 9:30. In the Museum of Political Prisoners organizers gathered to discuss the details of the event and finish everything concerning organization. With laughter and enthusiasm you can also feel uncertainty – how to stay here for 24 hours? You can feel depressing atmosphere of silent walls already on the stairs. Here, most recently lived, suffered and was killed innocent people.
11:00 Meeting. Registration. We leave cell phones and all things in a separate cell. Prayer in the chapel. Introduction of "commandant," Mr. Chairman of CYM Volodymyr Kulchytskuy, academic staff of the museum, Mr. Igor Oleschuk, Mr. Orest Savka. Announcement of the program. We disperse different cells. We are eleven girls. Spacious room. Its enough place for us. Its hard to imagine, but once here stayed sixty people. We have just camping mat, Bible, rosary, pen and notebook. The words of “commandant”: ”Think how happy we are to be born now a day and not at the time when this room was really a prison”.Acquaintance. We are choosing the “head”. She will be a “voice , connection between outside world and our cell. Just letters are helping to have the contact between us and neighboring "boys" cell. Telling the truth, the warm and nice words of friends are making us to feel courage and their support.
12:00. Silence. We didnt not notice how the time passed in prayers and contemplation.
13:00. Lunch. The "commandant" is opening a small window and gives over ingenuous
food - noodles and bread. We pray carols. Stone walls echoing ringing girls' voices. Another way to communicate with our neighbors - the song! Just the thought jumping into our minds "we can sing ... and they, prisoners maybe didn’t have such a simple luxury?" After the lunch we heard strong boys' voices. In such a way they were greeting us-“sisters”. Pleasantly…
14:00. The planned meeting with the city Mayor Sergiy Nadal .All congregated in the girls' cell. TV cameramen, photographers, journalists ...
Some of the media had already a personal experience from the "24 hours". It's nice that the Mayor personally knows, what does it mean to stay in the cell for 24 hours, because two consecutive years participated in the "24 hours". We had an unconstrained conversation about the current state of the city, the role of youth in the life of Ternopil. Then - a gift for each participant - a book about Stepan Bandera.
15:30 - 17:00. Director of Ternopil distric museum of political prisoners, Mr. Volodymyr Birchak tells us about the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. Dry historical facts complements with interesting stories about unknown heroes. There is pride that I belong to the nation where so many people were going to fight for the idea.
17:00. Conversation with the Priest Vasyl Oprysko.Thoughts concerning Sunday story about Zacchaeus. Rise above the earth to see God. To see signs of the times in each moment, each event. To know what we are living for. Not to judge anyone. We do not live in those conditions, do not know how it was in the past. Confession. And again a thought: "We have a chance to confess. And they? They could only dream about it ...
18:50. A walk. We move in a circle. Pinching frost. Under the supervision. How much we needed this special and fresh air! Fresh, not stagnant ..."
19:00. Dinner. Long-awaited dinner! Oatmeal, tea and bread. De-li-cious!
20:30 Silence. If desired - in the punishment cell. In solitude. Face to face with the past.
The first 15 minutes you can feel light coolness. Later began to grab the chill. For a while it became really cold. Just an hour passed. And for them years passed. Sometimes with water on the floor till the ankle. Is it possible to feel all this and not to go crazy?
21:30. Watching the movie"Krytu". Younger then we are...Young people ... somebody's children. Someone's love ...
Singing with a guitar. Favourite and still unknown songs. Songs of Kupchynskiy, Lepkiy, Sukhiy, an unknown author. Girls and boys voices merge. It makes us to feel united .
23:00. Akathist to the Archangel Michael. To warrior of the Heaven. And they were in the Army of Light. And we are Warriors ... Do not forget about it!
23:30. We are going to sleep. Tired feet bring us to the place of rest. Dust everywhere. In the throat, lungs, eyes, on the clothes ... does not matter ... to sleep ... piercing light of the bulb at the corridor is coming through the space at the door and dazzling the eyes. At every turn you are waking up because of this light. Morning coming soon…
29th of January 7:00. "Waking up!" Loud voice of "commandant" makes us to get up. Washing ourselves in turn.
8:00. Breakfast. Tea with black bread and two little cookies.
9:00. Silence. Again punishment cell. We remember the picture of the victims of this torture cell. Among the skulls - one with a long black braid ... Young girl... still full of hope, love and aspirations ... It could be any of us. Thank you, Lord, that I am alive.
10:00. Give over the candell, share experiences. We are out of words. Just the feeling that something deep in your soul is born and growing. Responsibility? Readiness? We are talking about our wishes. We want to feel greater sense of physical conditions. However, aware that such event has to touch our souls.
11:00. Common Liturgy with the Priest Oleg Kharyshyn. For the repose of those who died. At the room, which reproduces the hiding places. Again, the thought - how it was to serve God in those days? How many clerics were risking their lives, went into the woods to be with the rebels? How many died? How many gave their lives so that we can now pray in our churches, with our language? Do we remember this? Do we appreciate this? Or maybe we are just complaining?
... January frost pinches the face. Fresh rough air fills every cell of the body. Is it the smell of Freedom? It is the smell of LIFE. So there is 29th of January today. After 94 years of the Battle under Kruty...
Olena Bidovanets
28th of January. 9:30. In the Museum of Political Prisoners organizers gathered to discuss the details of the event and finish everything concerning organization. With laughter and enthusiasm you can also feel uncertainty – how to stay here for 24 hours? You can feel depressing atmosphere of silent walls already on the stairs. Here, most recently lived, suffered and was killed innocent people.
11:00 Meeting. Registration. We leave cell phones and all things in a separate cell. Prayer in the chapel. Introduction of "commandant," Mr. Chairman of CYM Volodymyr Kulchytskuy, academic staff of the museum, Mr. Igor Oleschuk, Mr. Orest Savka. Announcement of the program. We disperse different cells. We are eleven girls. Spacious room. Its enough place for us. Its hard to imagine, but once here stayed sixty people. We have just camping mat, Bible, rosary, pen and notebook. The words of “commandant”: ”Think how happy we are to be born now a day and not at the time when this room was really a prison”.Acquaintance. We are choosing the “head”. She will be a “voice , connection between outside world and our cell. Just letters are helping to have the contact between us and neighboring "boys" cell. Telling the truth, the warm and nice words of friends are making us to feel courage and their support.
12:00. Silence. We didnt not notice how the time passed in prayers and contemplation.
13:00. Lunch. The "commandant" is opening a small window and gives over ingenuous
food - noodles and bread. We pray carols. Stone walls echoing ringing girls' voices. Another way to communicate with our neighbors - the song! Just the thought jumping into our minds "we can sing ... and they, prisoners maybe didn’t have such a simple luxury?" After the lunch we heard strong boys' voices. In such a way they were greeting us-“sisters”. Pleasantly…
14:00. The planned meeting with the city Mayor Sergiy Nadal .All congregated in the girls' cell. TV cameramen, photographers, journalists ...
Some of the media had already a personal experience from the "24 hours". It's nice that the Mayor personally knows, what does it mean to stay in the cell for 24 hours, because two consecutive years participated in the "24 hours". We had an unconstrained conversation about the current state of the city, the role of youth in the life of Ternopil. Then - a gift for each participant - a book about Stepan Bandera.
15:30 - 17:00. Director of Ternopil distric museum of political prisoners, Mr. Volodymyr Birchak tells us about the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. Dry historical facts complements with interesting stories about unknown heroes. There is pride that I belong to the nation where so many people were going to fight for the idea.
17:00. Conversation with the Priest Vasyl Oprysko.Thoughts concerning Sunday story about Zacchaeus. Rise above the earth to see God. To see signs of the times in each moment, each event. To know what we are living for. Not to judge anyone. We do not live in those conditions, do not know how it was in the past. Confession. And again a thought: "We have a chance to confess. And they? They could only dream about it ...
18:50. A walk. We move in a circle. Pinching frost. Under the supervision. How much we needed this special and fresh air! Fresh, not stagnant ..."
19:00. Dinner. Long-awaited dinner! Oatmeal, tea and bread. De-li-cious!
20:30 Silence. If desired - in the punishment cell. In solitude. Face to face with the past.
The first 15 minutes you can feel light coolness. Later began to grab the chill. For a while it became really cold. Just an hour passed. And for them years passed. Sometimes with water on the floor till the ankle. Is it possible to feel all this and not to go crazy?
21:30. Watching the movie"Krytu". Younger then we are...Young people ... somebody's children. Someone's love ...
Singing with a guitar. Favourite and still unknown songs. Songs of Kupchynskiy, Lepkiy, Sukhiy, an unknown author. Girls and boys voices merge. It makes us to feel united .
23:00. Akathist to the Archangel Michael. To warrior of the Heaven. And they were in the Army of Light. And we are Warriors ... Do not forget about it!
23:30. We are going to sleep. Tired feet bring us to the place of rest. Dust everywhere. In the throat, lungs, eyes, on the clothes ... does not matter ... to sleep ... piercing light of the bulb at the corridor is coming through the space at the door and dazzling the eyes. At every turn you are waking up because of this light. Morning coming soon…
29th of January 7:00. "Waking up!" Loud voice of "commandant" makes us to get up. Washing ourselves in turn.
8:00. Breakfast. Tea with black bread and two little cookies.
9:00. Silence. Again punishment cell. We remember the picture of the victims of this torture cell. Among the skulls - one with a long black braid ... Young girl... still full of hope, love and aspirations ... It could be any of us. Thank you, Lord, that I am alive.
10:00. Give over the candell, share experiences. We are out of words. Just the feeling that something deep in your soul is born and growing. Responsibility? Readiness? We are talking about our wishes. We want to feel greater sense of physical conditions. However, aware that such event has to touch our souls.
11:00. Common Liturgy with the Priest Oleg Kharyshyn. For the repose of those who died. At the room, which reproduces the hiding places. Again, the thought - how it was to serve God in those days? How many clerics were risking their lives, went into the woods to be with the rebels? How many died? How many gave their lives so that we can now pray in our churches, with our language? Do we remember this? Do we appreciate this? Or maybe we are just complaining?
... January frost pinches the face. Fresh rough air fills every cell of the body. Is it the smell of Freedom? It is the smell of LIFE. So there is 29th of January today. After 94 years of the Battle under Kruty...
Olena Bidovanets
Traditional youth event “24 hours”
31.01.2012
Traditional youth event “24 hours”, dedicated to memory of Kruty Heroes will take place at 28- 29 of January, 2012 in Ternopil. Meeting place will be at the former prison cell of KGB as many years in a row, which is now Ternopil regional museum of political prisoners. In Ternopil, the Union of Ukrainian Youth in Ukraine, since 2005 has beed organized the event "24 hours" and this year Federation of the Ukrainian Catholic academic and student associations "Obnova" joined its company. Members of these organizations, and representatives of other youth organizations within 24 hours will stay in the cells of the former prison, will have an opportunity to touch the history of the liberation struggle, communicate with members of the armed struggle of OUN-UIA and political prisoners who will be guests of the event.They will communicate with each other, watch videos relating to the national liberation issues, participate in common prayer. By the way, in the past years there were such guests and participants as national deputy of Ukraine Ivan Stojko, Ternopil Mayor Sergiy Nadal, the writer Vasyl Shklyar, poet and singer Oleksandr Smyk.
The event will be completed with Liturgy that young people will make a donation to the repose of the souls of students who were killed in the Battle under Kruty, standing in defense for the Ukrainian state. This event indicates that it is able to combine every year many people from different cities and organizations and jointly restore in minds of young people the faith to God and Ukraine. Organizers believe that this day in the life of its participants is different than 365 days a year. After the event participants will have more faith and enthusiasm and their personal example affirms that to be Ukrainian in your country - is a great moral duty to past and future generations. For eight years, for hundreds of young people such event is a symbol of remembrance of those who in 1918 gave their lives under Kruty. Remembrance of those who were political prisoners in the cells of the museum when the building served as a camera of NKVD, of millions of our compatriots who have devoted their lives to the Ukraine.
The event will be completed with Liturgy that young people will make a donation to the repose of the souls of students who were killed in the Battle under Kruty, standing in defense for the Ukrainian state. This event indicates that it is able to combine every year many people from different cities and organizations and jointly restore in minds of young people the faith to God and Ukraine. Organizers believe that this day in the life of its participants is different than 365 days a year. After the event participants will have more faith and enthusiasm and their personal example affirms that to be Ukrainian in your country - is a great moral duty to past and future generations. For eight years, for hundreds of young people such event is a symbol of remembrance of those who in 1918 gave their lives under Kruty. Remembrance of those who were political prisoners in the cells of the museum when the building served as a camera of NKVD, of millions of our compatriots who have devoted their lives to the Ukraine.
From understanding of human dignity - to solving social problems
11.11.2011
The scientific and practical conference "Human Dignity in the Teachings of John Paul II" took place at the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" on November 4, 2011.
The event organized by the Kiev Association of Ukrainian Catholic Students "Obnova" and the Commission of the UGCC for Promoting Christian Unity took place within Fifth Social Days of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The conference was opened by Archbishop Emeritus Lubomyr Husar and Vice President for Graduate and Post-Graduate Studies at “Kyiv-Mohola Academy” Volodymyr Morenets.
Representatives of the Ukrainian traditional churches, namely Roman Catholic Bishop Stanislaw Shyrokoradiuk, bishop of the UPC-KP, Bishop Yevstratiy Zoria, rector of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary, Vladimir Burega, rector Uzhgorod Theological Academy, and Archimandrite Arseny Bochkar attended the conference.
The conference became an opportunity for young scientists and students from all over Ukraine to think about modern values and to reinterpret the dignity of human being in the light of the social teachings of Blessed Pope.
In his opening speech to the conference participants, Patriarch Lubomyr reminded the youth about the twentieth century that was marked by scientific and technical progress, as well as wars, genocide and death camps. But in the midst of this terrible reality there were individuals and groups of people who strived to save God's work - human with its unique dignity.
"The personality of Pope John Paul II is clearly seen among those persons. Following the example of those who gave their lives for the truth - the martyrs, tireless fighters for justice - and being inspired by the rich source of religious Christian tradition, he brought all over the world earnest hope that God loves his best work - a man - most of all. Because of this Pope and those similar to him, human did not give up on being itself"- said His Beatitude.
The task of Social days, annually organized by Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, is to awake in the Ukrainian society a sense of responsibility for themselves, their community, and specific person who needs our help. "This year the emphasis of Social Days has been made on the dignity of human being, since human is a value itself and, therefore, entitled to dignity and respect. Pope John Paul II who was proclaimed Blessed this year, draw special attention to human dignity" - says the organizer of this Social Days, Chairman of the Commission of the UGCC for Promoting Christian Unity, priest Igor Shaban.
The annual conference has become a tradition for the Federation of Ukrainian catholic student Assosiations. For many years the conferences take place in different cities where the "Obnova" assosiations are represented. "This conference is an opportunity for us to learn the experience of spiritual and scientific leaders of Ukraine. Such events turn into moments that remain in the memory of Obnova's members for a long time",- shared her impressions from the event co-organizer of the Conference - the Chairman of the Kyiv branch of "Obnova" Kristina Holodnytska.
The Federation of Ukrainian Catholic academic and student associations "Obnova" unites youth communities in different cities of Ukraine. The mission of the organization is spiritual and intellectual renewal of the Ukrainian youth, the implementation of Christian values in their life, education and professional activities. "Obnova" organizes scientific conferences and seminars, holds charity events, youth camps and festivals.
The event organized by the Kiev Association of Ukrainian Catholic Students "Obnova" and the Commission of the UGCC for Promoting Christian Unity took place within Fifth Social Days of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The conference was opened by Archbishop Emeritus Lubomyr Husar and Vice President for Graduate and Post-Graduate Studies at “Kyiv-Mohola Academy” Volodymyr Morenets.
Representatives of the Ukrainian traditional churches, namely Roman Catholic Bishop Stanislaw Shyrokoradiuk, bishop of the UPC-KP, Bishop Yevstratiy Zoria, rector of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary, Vladimir Burega, rector Uzhgorod Theological Academy, and Archimandrite Arseny Bochkar attended the conference.
The conference became an opportunity for young scientists and students from all over Ukraine to think about modern values and to reinterpret the dignity of human being in the light of the social teachings of Blessed Pope.
In his opening speech to the conference participants, Patriarch Lubomyr reminded the youth about the twentieth century that was marked by scientific and technical progress, as well as wars, genocide and death camps. But in the midst of this terrible reality there were individuals and groups of people who strived to save God's work - human with its unique dignity.
"The personality of Pope John Paul II is clearly seen among those persons. Following the example of those who gave their lives for the truth - the martyrs, tireless fighters for justice - and being inspired by the rich source of religious Christian tradition, he brought all over the world earnest hope that God loves his best work - a man - most of all. Because of this Pope and those similar to him, human did not give up on being itself"- said His Beatitude.
The task of Social days, annually organized by Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, is to awake in the Ukrainian society a sense of responsibility for themselves, their community, and specific person who needs our help. "This year the emphasis of Social Days has been made on the dignity of human being, since human is a value itself and, therefore, entitled to dignity and respect. Pope John Paul II who was proclaimed Blessed this year, draw special attention to human dignity" - says the organizer of this Social Days, Chairman of the Commission of the UGCC for Promoting Christian Unity, priest Igor Shaban.
The annual conference has become a tradition for the Federation of Ukrainian catholic student Assosiations. For many years the conferences take place in different cities where the "Obnova" assosiations are represented. "This conference is an opportunity for us to learn the experience of spiritual and scientific leaders of Ukraine. Such events turn into moments that remain in the memory of Obnova's members for a long time",- shared her impressions from the event co-organizer of the Conference - the Chairman of the Kyiv branch of "Obnova" Kristina Holodnytska.
The Federation of Ukrainian Catholic academic and student associations "Obnova" unites youth communities in different cities of Ukraine. The mission of the organization is spiritual and intellectual renewal of the Ukrainian youth, the implementation of Christian values in their life, education and professional activities. "Obnova" organizes scientific conferences and seminars, holds charity events, youth camps and festivals.