Ukraine, the military priest: Do not be afraid to speak to the wounded soldiers

Svetlana Duchovic – Vatican City

Father Roman Venichok is a young priest of the Greek Catholic Church. When the war broke out, he became a military priest and practiced his ministry in a military hospital in western Ukraine. Despite his lack of experience, the father. Roman responded to God’s call to serve the wounded soldiers in the foreground. “We should not be afraid of the new fear of communicating with the soldiers, especially with the injured. So I learned to talk to them normally.

The Roman Father, how did his ministry start as a military age?

She became a priest in 2021. Initially, she served in the parish as an assistant priest of Paraceen. After the start of the Russian invasion, I received the opportunity to serve the injured army. At first I was a little worried, I was a certain fear, it was something new for me, it was a responsibility. In addition, military service is something unknown deeply. But I trusted God, I felt that I had to serve this way, and I decided to accept this ministry, which I do not regret, on the contrary, I am very happy.

How do you really exercise your ministry?

Military priests are mainly concerned with pastoral care. We celebrate, pray, manage the secret of recognition and other secrets. However, the hospital is not diocese as people usually meet the same confession, and we serve people from all over Ukraine, from different confessions and religions. The priest is a person who serves everyone. I celebrate in my rituals-I am a priest in the Greek Catholic Church-I serve everyone, to the maximum extent possible, not only patients, but also for medical employees. Patients change constantly: some are emptied, others remain longer and others are less. Among the wounded soldiers of men and women, we talk to them and invite you to attend the Mass. We also participate in social and charitable activities, because patients sometimes need material help, such as when they need clothes, or even food. We are also working in education and culture, and we organize conferences and talks on historical and religious issues so that people participate and have the opportunity to learn something new. We serve people with various injuries, and there are serious patients, even with disability and amputation, and each imagines what we offer differently. But it is important that the church be present and that the priest is with them, to provide support to them when someone asks.

What did you know since he became a military priest and began to serve the wounded soldiers? What is important in your service?

The first thing is not to fear, not fear of something new, and not for fear of communicating with soldiers, especially those who were wounded, ancient warriors. I learned to talk to them normally, and treat them with respect. In general, they realized their appreciation when someone comes to visit them. It is important to listen to the person. It is not necessary to give advice, just listen and be present. A person who does not want to speak, will not speak, but he will do something else, read something or look at the phone.

P. Roman, sometimes it happens that people who are not used to seeing people with serious injuries or nervousness are difficult to act in front of them. What do you recommend?

As we learned, and as I managed to verify myself, the army does not want them to sympathize. Remember that they are still soldiers. There is a lot and we must learn to talk to them. We must deal with them with understanding naturally, and I repeat, with respect and gratitude.

What inspires you in your service to the wounded soldiers?

Sometimes, I was surprised, because when I visit the boys, I receive a lot of positive energy from them, many of them are determined to move forward despite their wounds. There was a soldier who had made both legs. Now he has the artificial limbs, and the same, in a rehabilitation centers, helps other soldiers recover. Use your experience to support them and help them move forward. So you have to be faith, focus on good, not surrender.

Do you see people who cannot get up and fall into despair?

Of course, we are human and the war does not leave anyone without consequences, as it affects everyone in one way or another. There are different people, with different characters and mentalities. For some, it is easier to face these tests, for others, not much. This is the reason for the presence of psychologists and psychologists and various consulting services that help people get out of this situation and live, to enter the natural life rhythm. It is not easy and the person cannot be forced, and if a person wants, he will receive support.

What helps to deal with a lot of suffering and pain?

Sometimes there are times when it is very difficult and painful to see that a person has very serious injuries. It must be said that he is not only a military, and among the injured is also civilians and children, all of this is very painful. The first thing that gives me strength is faith in God, who has the last word. It gives me strength on this journey of pain. Then I find the forces of helping the people who served them, the army, who deserve all our respect. If God wants, this war will end and there will be a just peace, and at a time when it will be important to remember them and not to forget the sacrifice they made to all of us.

We are in the year of the jubilee held by the late Pope Francis, whose slogan is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Do you see flashes of hope in Ukraine?

First, we hope in God. Everyone thought that Ukraine would decrease when the invasion began, but no: people mobilized and give these soldiers their lives to defend our country. In the dark moments, our people joined, the whole world responded and its width and continues to provide spiritual materials and support. Therefore, it is important to remain united and that everyone does what they can. For us, Christians, it is also important to pray, and we appeal to God for Ukraine, for our people, by our army.