Roman Catholic bishops of Ukraine urged the Church in Poland to provide pastoral care to thousands Ukrainian migrant workers
The Conference of Catholic Bishops in Ukraine appealed to the Church in Poland to provide pastoral care to thousands of Ukrainians of different faiths working in Poland, Bishop Radoslaw Zmitrovych said in an interview with KAI.
The chairman of the Commission for pastoral Care of Families of the Ukrainian episcopate has noted that the situation of Ukrainian families is complex, because of the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine. The difficult economic situation in the country does not make the things easier.
The Auxiliary Bishop of Kamyanets-Podilsk diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, taking part in 375th plenary meeting of the Conference of Bishops of Poland in Warsaw, said that many Ukrainians were losing that the situation improves. Hence such an extensive emigration. Families are divided - for example, when one spouse goes to work abroad. It primarily affects children and often causes them to suffer.
“In this regard, the Conference of Ukrainian Bishops of Latin Rite appealed to the Poles and the Church in Poland to provide pastoral care to thousands of Ukrainian citizens working in your country, regardless of their religion,” said the bishop. He also pointed out that priests and nuns who worked in Ukraine and know the language can especially be of help. “Where can I find a better care than in churches and parishes? It would be good if the bishops appointed a coordinator responsible for such activities.”
Bishop Radoslaw Zmitrovych has told that about one of the key issues is that many Ukrainian couples and families are outside the Church and have no relationship with God. “Without God it is harder to deal with problems in the family. Migration often leads to crisis and even threaten the collapse of marriage.”
Internal migration has also increased because of the war in eastern Ukraine and it is for these workers the aid is largely intended that the Church offers primarily through the branches of Caritas. “Migrant workers are also received by families. A great example of care are the activities of Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, who recently re-visited Donbas, where the war is ongoing. The aid distribution initiated by Pope Francis also looks clear and fine. We must also remember thousands of priests and lay people who help migrant workers on a daily basis, preferring to remain anonymous,” said the auxiliary bishop of Kamyanets-Podilsk Diocese. It was reported the Catholic media center
