„If someone comes to us today seeking humanitarian aid, they won’t receive it until June—that truly breaks my heart,” Father Wojciech Stasiewicz told the Family News Service. Based in Kharkiv, Father Stasiewicz is the director of Caritas-Spes. This organization assists 5,000 and 10,000 people weekly in Kharkiv and the surrounding region. He acknowledges that, with Russian advances on the front lines, the mood among residents and refugees is far from optimistic.
Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second-largest city after Kyiv. Located just 35 kilometers from the Russian border, it has endured relentless shelling for the past two years. Many districts, such as the northeastern suburb of Saltivka, have been devastated. According to Father Stasiewicz, approximately one million people remain in the city, half of which are refugees. With jobs scarce, many have no choice but to seek humanitarian aid.
Overwhelming Needs
The demand for aid is staggering. Each month, as many as 50,000 people in the Kharkiv region rely on Caritas-Spes for support. „Imagine this: someone comes to us today asking for help. They wait in line for hours, only to receive a voucher that sets their pickup date months away—currently June. It’s humiliating, and it breaks my heart because I want those who come to us today to leave with help,” Father Stasiewicz said. He emphasized that the priority is ensuring everyone eventually receives aid. The distribution is carefully scheduled: one day for refugees, another for the sick and disabled, and another for families with children.
The Polish priest expressed gratitude for the support received from Poland in recent weeks and months. „When I made an appeal for help in November, ahead of Christmas, donations poured into our Kharkiv center,” he recounted. „During the winter, the greatest needs were clothing—shoes, medicine, and food supplies.” He praised the assistance provided by Caritas Polska, its diocesan branches, and Poland’s Government Strategic Reserves Agency. Father Stasiewicz also highlighted the previous Polish government’s contributions. He voiced appreciation for assurances from the current administration to continue its support.
Life Under Constant Threat
Father Stasiewicz doesn’t sugarcoat the reality when discussing Kharkiv’s current situation. „The situation is tense and unpredictable. It’s been quiet in Kharkiv for 10 days now. Is this the calm before the storm? We’ve been through so much that nothing would surprise us. When things are this quiet for so long, you can’t help but feel that something might be brewing,” he said. He also noted the growing despair among residents following Russia’s recent victory in Avdiivka. „You can feel the depression, the loss of optimism in the air.”
The situation in nearby Kupiansk—a key gateway to the Kharkiv metropolitan area—is of particular concern for residents. „Waking up alive and unharmed in a standing building is a great blessing. First comes a prayer of thanks that we’ve woken up, then morning Mass. From 8:30 a.m. until late into the evening, our Caritas center is fully operational,” Father Stasiewicz shared about his daily routine.
Collaboration and Challenges
Father Stasiewicz highlighted the collaboration among priests across the Kharkiv-Zaporizhia Diocese, which spans several large, front-line regions in Ukraine. „It may seem like there’s a lot of aid, but we’re doing our best to share it wisely,” he explained. He described the particularly harsh conditions faced by rural communities during winter. These villages, frequently targeted by Russian artillery and rockets, are entirely dependent on volunteer support. Due to landmines in fields and gardens, residents are unable to grow their food. There are significant shortages of water and gas.
Faith as a Beacon in Dark Times
Reflecting on his pastoral work, Father Stasiewicz emphasized the importance of being present for others. „After two years, we all understand who we are, where we are, and that we can help others—because we could just as easily be the ones on the other side, asking for help. We’re one big family, especially when we pray or sit at the same table. The presence of another person makes all the difference,” he said.
When asked about how he consoles parishioners who ask the simple yet profound question—”Why?”—Father Stasiewicz admitted, „Sometimes I think to myself, maybe this is all just a dream, and I’ll wake up any moment.” Yet he emphasized that the experiences of the past two years have deepened his faith. „If so much good can happen amid such cruelty, how can one not see God in all of this? It wasn’t God who created war or divided nations—that was man’s doing. But in all of this, God is present,” he explained.
Father Stasiewicz also acknowledged the human struggle with anger and calls for revenge. „How do you speak about love, forgiveness, mercy, and eternal life in an environment like this? These are tough moments. When I look at the first pew and see a young widow, barely in her twenties, coming to church in tears—what can I possibly say? Theoretically, I could say a lot. But most of the time, just being there, in silence, is the best sermon I can give.”
The priest observed that people of faith often navigate difficult times differently, viewing faith as both a grace and a guiding light. „I can say with absolute certainty and confidence that God has not abandoned us. In fact, perhaps we feel His presence now more than ever,” concluded Father Wojciech Stasiewicz from Kharkiv.
Family News Service