"You just do what you have to do - you go to serve with God's help", - Father Wojciech Stasevich about the work of the Caritas-Spes Kharkiv Mission
More than three months have passed since a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has started. This was the beginning of trials and new challenges for the entire Mission and Caritas Spes Kharkiv in particular. Workers and volunteers got used to the new conditions: they worked under the sounds of explosions, took part in the quest "find fuel" to deliver humanitarian aid, wrote reports, hid from the shelling, tried on a bulletproof vest.
On the square in the center of Kharkiv several times a week is distributed food and everything necessary for human life. Also, together with the director of Caritas-Spes Kharkiv, Father Wojciech Stasevich, humanitarian aid is being delivered to all districts of the city for people of retirement age and people with disabilities. The volunteers brought products and hygiene stuff to the subway, cooperated with hospitals and volunteer kitchens very often.
Every week our Kharkiv team accepts and unloads 2-3 trucks. And for the day of direct care covers needs of the food kits for 2-3 thousand people. In case of villages in Kharkiv region, which are regularly visited, the team helps from 500 to 1,000 people per trip.
Priest Wojciech Stasewicz came to Ukraine from Poland 15 years ago and began serving in Sumy. It was a time of questions for the father. He wondered if Ukraine should be his place of service. 10 years of priesthood in Sumy, the father perceived as the voice of God. Then, in 2017, he was transferred to Kharkiv and headed Caritas-Spes Kharkiv.
"I don't want to say you can get used to it, but you just keep serving."
For Caritas Spes Mission in Kharkiv, the proximity of the war is especially palpable, as shelling continues from almost every day. The number of victims is increasing every day, so, naturally, the number of services is increasing. Prior to this new phase of the war, most of the workers were nuns of various orders. After the events of February 24, everyone was evacuated. There was a moment when from the whole team only Fr. Wojciech and an accountant had remained there. It was not an easy period, but volunteers came to the rescue. Today, on the contrary, the Kharkiv team even has a reserve list of volunteers.
"The war caught me in Odessa, we were there at a meeting of the directors of the Mission. On February 24, I returned to Kharkiv and thought about what we should do and how, because, in fact, all the workers had left the city, except me and our accountant.
Unexpectedly for me, volunteers started coming to our social center every day; in addition, - the mothers of volunteers who serve in other areas. Now our big team has 50-60 people. There is even a backup list of volunteers. If we don't have enough people, we call. Four of our volunteers are from the police. When they have a couple of days off, they come to us to serve. Their presence with us in police uniform is very important for us because it shows the solidarity of the whole nation. It is also important, because people see that a priest, a policeman and volunteers have arrived - everyone immediately feels calm. We help people quickly because reality demands it."
On March 1, when Russian missiles hit the city center, destroying the building of Security Service, the Father was on a service. The hit was so strong that windows flew 100-150 meters from the buildings. And the roof of the parish house was damaged.
"Of course, we were scared, but in half an hour we returned to the chapel and continued the service. When I went to the chapel to pray for the next few weeks, it was scary that nothing would happen. I will not forget the first days when planes flew over our heads. There were moments when I fell asleep thinking without knowing whether I would wake up ever... It also happened to race on mined roads to areas beyond Kharkiv. You just do what you must do. You are going to serve with God's help. I don't want to say that you can get used to it, but you just keep doing the ministry."
"The more dangerous is the place, the more we want to help"
There have been several shelling of humanitarian aid in Kharkiv. All places where the Mission assists have some localization. Addresses of houses are not publicly named and are not shown. Workers cannot officially open a social center for the safety of people. Initially, humanitarian aid was distributed daily in the center of Kharkiv, now twice a week. Father says that people pass information about Caritas Spes to each other, and volunteers organize humanitarian aid points in different areas on other days. Volunteers also travel to the liberated villages of Kharkiv region.
“Our volunteers are a big family. When we leave with 5-6 people, we feel safer. I can't say that we are used to war, but we know for sure that we need to help people. The more dangerous the place, the more we want to help. To date, there is no official organization in Kharkiv that provides humanitarian aid.
For me, it is a miracle in Kharkiv that the number of volunteers increases with increasing needs. Some people started helping us because they got help themselves. They want to give thanks in this way. People from the subway and activists came to help. "
The Father says that he always gives freedom to volunteers and does not force anyone to go to dangerous places. Everyone, of course, is afraid. Especially when hearing explosions. But people themselves know where to go and who to take with them. Volunteers do not talk about war between themselves. Even with the warming and beginning of repairs and summer work, people want to work on the weekends.
"The most important task of Caritas Spes is to carry the human factor"
Father says that those in need from different parts of Kharkiv find the Mission's volunteers themselves. The team also works very well with police officers, from whom it receives specific information about groups of people and needs.
"Many people who live in basements have their apartments destroyed. We were recently in HTZ, Horizon area, where the people have no water and light since March 5. People thanked, like children, simply for the bread, water, stews, antiseptics - such the ordinary things.
The worst situation is in Saltivka. You still just drive into the area and feel in the air as if life has stopped here. In the house where 1000-1200 people lived, 5-10 inhabitants remained. Usually, people come out of the basement in hats and jackets, because it is cold in the basement, and it can be +25 degrees outside.
When I see these areas, these houses, it hurts. When I look at children, I see adulthood in their eyes. They lost their childhood. The war affected the children the most - it's worth talking about. "
Many notice a priest in the Missioner, and it is a great joy for Father Wohczech to be present, to talk to people and to continue his spiritual activity.
"I have noticed dozens of times that wherever we go, people are most happy when we have the opportunity to talk, they need to be with them. Humanitarian aid is only 20 percent. The main task of parishes, Caritas Spes and volunteers is to carry the human factor, to stop, to listen to their stories, to tell something. When I come in a cassock, a lot more people come up and ask something. I try to go out in priestly clothes more often so that people can see this sign. We always have prayer - it helps a lot. "
About the personal point of no return
Of course, Father Wojciech Stasevich could return to Poland. His parents and three brothers stayed at home. The Polish bishop said that all priests may leave parishes, but almost all remained in Ukraine.
"Everyone in my position did the same in such circumstances. My archbishop even pressured me a little to return to Poland and help from there. I told him that I stay in Kharkiv, to which he replied: "If your parents agree, then I agree."
I talked seriously with my mother. I even tried not to tell the whole truth about the war so that she would be less worried. She prayed a lot for me and passed her experience to God.
But hard work needs to be done. But I know for myself: you experience everything differently when someone is around. Sometimes: you know a person for a month, and the feeling that you know each other for 20 years. I wish all Ukrainians to have more of such people. "
Despite all the difficulties, the Caritas-Spes Kharkiv team always adheres to the main goal - to help the needy. During three months of the war, Caritas Spes Kharkiv Mission received 680 tons of humanitarian aid. More than 37,000 people received food, and volunteers distributed more than 40,000 liters of drinking water, 4,000 sets of hygiene products and essential medicines, 4,500 baby food and diaper kits and about 2,000 kg of clothes.
