RMG – SDB Provinces: The “Mary Help of Christians” Byzantine Rite Vice-Province in Ukraine (UKR)

01 April 2025
RMG – SDB Provinces: The “Mary Help of Christians” Byzantine Rite Vice-Province in Ukraine (UKR)

(ANS - Rome) – The "Mary Help of Christians" Byzantine Rite Vice-Province in Ukraine (UKR) is a remarkable example of the inculturation of the Salesian Charism within the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. This Church is one of the largest Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris, deeply rooted in the liturgical and theological traditions of the Byzantine Rite. The Vice-Province includes Ukrainian Salesians of the Byzantine Rite, also known as Greek Catholic Salesians.

The Origins of the Salesian Charism in Ukraine

The Salesian charism first reached Ukrainian soil in 1904 with the opening of the first Salesian house in Dashava (Daszawa), in the Lviv region, which at the time was part of the Polish Salesian Houses of the Latin Rite. The Salesian houses established between the two World Wars belonged to the Krakow Province. However, all Salesian activities were shut down by the Soviet regime at the end of World War II, and Polish Salesians were forced to return to Poland. Among the notable figures who visited the Dashava Salesian house were Blessed Michael Rua, Fr. Paolo Albera, Fr. Pietro Ricaldone—all former Rectors Major—and Fr. Giulio Barberis.

The Foundation of the Byzantine Rite Salesians

  • 1930: The Beginning of the Greek Catholic Salesians' History
    The Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs requested the Salesians to establish an educational and pastoral mission for Ukrainian youth. Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was eager to have the Salesians within his Church and, with the help of his bishops, sought vocations for Salesian religious life.
  • In 1932, the first group of young Ukrainians was sent to Italy for Salesian formation while maintaining their Greek Catholic Rite. They later returned to Ukraine to establish Salesian communities.

The First Byzantine Rite Salesian Community and Works in the Diaspora

Due to the political situation after World War II, Ukrainian Salesians were unable to return home and remained in the diaspora.

1951-1996: The first Byzantine Rite Salesian community and a minor seminary (the Ukrainian Institute "St. John Bosco") were established for Ukrainian youth in the diaspora. Locations included:

  • Loury, France (1951-1956)
  • Castel Gandolfo, Italy (1956-1959)
  • Rome, Italy (1959-1996)

Additionally, a second Byzantine Rite Salesian community was established in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1964 to 1994.

The Presence of Byzantine Rite Salesians in Ukraine (From 1991– to Present)

After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, Greek Catholic Salesians were finally able to operate in the country. The first Salesian house was opened in Lviv, followed by other communities and works.

  • 2005: The "Mary Help of Christians" Byzantine Rite Delegation was established to encourage the inculturation of the Salesian charism within the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
  • 2012: The Delegation became a Special Statute Salesian Circumscription, now the "Mary Help of Christians" Byzantine Rite Vice-Province (UKR).

The Salesians of the Vice-Province

The Vice-Province currently consists of 24 consecrated Salesians, including:

  • 21 priests
  • 1 deacon
  • 2 students

Additionally, there is 1 novice and 1 bishop.

Current Salesian Presence and Apostolates in Ukraine

There are seven Salesian communities in Ukraine, each engaged in various apostolates:

Lviv – Mary Help of Christians:

  • Headquarters of the Vice-Province and animation offices
  • Parish of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God
  • Oratory and Youth Center
  • University residence

Lviv – Blessed Philip Rinaldi:

  • "Pokrova" Family Home
  • "Don Bosco" Vocational Training Center
  • University residence
  • Salesian Youth Sports Clubs

Lviv – Sheptytskyi Gymnasium-School

Vynnyky – St. John Bosco:

  • Pre-novitiate
  • Oratory-Youth Center
  • Semi-public church
  • Social sports school
  • Refugee shelter
  • Family home for pre-adolescents

Kyiv – Mary Help of Christians:

  • Oratory-Youth Center
  • Semi-public church

Dnipro – St. John Bosco:

  • Chaplaincies
  • School activities
  • Humanitarian aid

Novosilka:

  • Sanctuary and Spirituality Center
  • Two parishes

The Vice-Province’s Efforts During the War (2022–Present)

Since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Salesians have taken immediate action to support the population:

  • Opening their houses to host internally displaced persons.
  • Organizing collections and distributing humanitarian aid.
  • Serving as chaplains in combat zones.
  • Collaborating with Lviv’s Social Support Center to provide spiritual and material assistance to displaced persons in the "Mariapolis" modular city, offering meals to around 1,000 people daily.
  • Establishing the "Pokrova" Football Club for Disabled and Amputee Players, a team for young people who lost limbs due to the war.

The Salesian Family in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Alongside the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Salesian Family in Ukraine includes:

  • The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)
  • The Salesian Cooperators (SSCC)
  • The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA)
  • The Past Pupils of Don Bosco

The "Mary Help of Christians" Byzantine Rite Vice-Province stands as a powerful testament to faith, resilience, and the inculturation of the Salesian Charism. Through their educational, pastoral, and humanitarian efforts in these challenging times of war, the Byzantine Rite Salesians—together with their Latin Rite confreres from the Krakow Province (PLS)—demonstrate the vitality of Don Bosco’s Charism, responding dynamically to today’s challenges.

This unity in diversity is beautifully articulated in Salesian Constitutions, Article 100:
"The Founder’s charism is the principle of unity in the Congregation and, due to its fruitfulness, is the origin of different ways of living the single Salesian vocation."

In every circumstance, the Salesians remain signs and bearers of God’s love to today’s youth.

For a deeper insight into the FRB Vice-Province, a video is available on ANSChannel.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/23918-rmg-sdb-provinces-the-mary-help-of-christians-byzantine-rite-vice-province-in-ukraine-ukr#sigProId608a7db986

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