Topic for the VIII Ecumenical Social Week has been chosen

A meeting of the Organizing Committee of the VIII Ecumenical Social Week was held on May 22, 2015 in the Ukrainian Catholic University. The event was attended by Fr. Dr. Ivan Datsko, President of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies; Halyna Bokhonko, Director of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies; Lyubov Khomyn, Head of Coordination of higher education and science, the Department of Education and Science of the Lviv regional state administration; Anna Datsko, Deputy Head of the Humanitarian Policy and External Relations of the Lviv regional council; Anna Hrapenyuk, Head of service of the Mayor of Lviv City Council; Iryna Tril, Chief Specialist of Lviv centre of social services for families, children and youth; Volodymyr Zalutsky, Head of Department of youth policy and social development of “Lviv Polytechnic” and Iryna Kitura coordinator of the 8^th Ecumenical Social Week.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Dear Friends,

Warmest greetings on Easter Holidays!

May Lord bless you on this happy day of Easter and fill your heart with peace and joy! Today we open our souls to God and ask Him to fill them with spiritual

strength and hope.

May Lord comfort you with his grace, teach you happiness, and lead you on your life journey together with the risen Christ.  May Lord’s love each day be in your homes and strengthen your love to your neighbors and toward Lord Jesus, who is glorified today.

With Love in Christ,

The team of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies.

89th Social Week of France, dedicated to technical science

From November 21 to 23, 2014, the 89th Social Week of France was held at the Catholic University of Lille. It was attended by the Assistant Director of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies, Iryna Rohovska, and the Methodologist of the MPES, Uliana Fedorovych. The Social Week of France was dedicated to life in a time of digital technology and technical science. On the first day of the conference the participants had the opportunity to attend educational trips and enter the world of technical science. Depending on the type of trip, the participants visited enterprises, laboratories and, at the Catholic University met with experts who presented their research.

The next day a documentary film by Philip Borel, “A world without humans?”, was shown and small group discussions were held. Also in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Treille ecumenical worship took place, involving Pastor Klaveroli, Chairman of the Federation of Protestants in France, and Bishop Ulrich, Archbishop of Lille.

On Sunday morning, the last day of the conference began with worship in the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul. The events continued with interesting conversations about the acceleration of time in small groups with various specialists. The participants of the Social Week of France tried to answer the question: "How to remain human in this changing world? How to deal with human relationships, which are replaced by the growing omnipresence of machines?"

7th ESW ended with exhibition-fair of social organizations

On October 4 the traditional fair of social organizations was organized in Lviv. With this event the 7th ESW was completed. Participating in the exhibition-fair were: L'Arche, Emmaus Center (UCU), Lviv City NGO Refuge-Community of Mutual Aid, Ray of Light- Center for Down’s Syndrome, Workshop of Good, Dzherelo Education and Rehabilitation Center, Caritas-Lviv UGCC, Foundation of Spiritual Revival.

The visitors were presented with items, most of which were made by people with disabilities. The project Center of Social Assistance of the Caritas-Lviv UGCC presented both decorative household items and practical items. "Our Mrs. Lidia, 86 years old, made cloth dolls. Mrs. Olha, disabled in an industrial injury, presented embroidered pictures and cards and Mrs. Tamara, 92 years old, presented knitted hats,” the head of the Center of Social Assistance, Halyna Hii, said.

The Dzherelo Education and Rehabilitation Center offered candles, cards, cloth dolls and various accessories.
Visitors of the exhibition-fair liked the range of products. But they said that the important thing is that these funds will go to a good cause.

Youth initiatives – the future of society

On October 3, as part of the 7th ESW the BarCamp «Youth Initiatives: The requirements of time - the needs of society" was held at UCU. Participants of the BarCamp attended master classes and creative workshops.

The training session "Development of grant projects" was conducted by Olexandra Sladkova, Head of the dministration, Construction and Infrastructure Development Department of the Lviv City Council. "In the work of drafting a project it often seems that 80% of the effort gives no results. Only a small number of contests is won. But, in fact, there are results," Olexandra Sladkova said.

The workshop "My Dream Team" was conducted by Olha Sadokha, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of the River of Knowledge Training Program and a business coach. She denoted the criteria by which participants must be choosen to a team. The Vice President of the Ukrainian Students in France Association, Anastasia Fomichova, spoke about
the activity of her organization, cooperation with Ukrainian students, and support of the Maidan. Afterwards there was a creative workshop "Friends of the L'Arche Community share their experience." The members conducted a workshop on soap making.

At the end of the BarCamp a biographical film about Bohdan Havrylyshyn, a known economist and public figure, and his video appeal were shown.