PC(USA) International Peacemaker offers a prayer for peace

Yuriy Lifanse, a leader in the Community of Sant’Egidio Ukraine, is scheduled for a visit to US congregations and mid councils this fall

by Yuriy Lifanse | Mission Crossroads

Sant’Egidio Ukraine provides support to residents of the war-ravaged nation. (Contributed photo)

Yuriy Lifanse is an International Peacemaker who’s scheduled to visit the United States later this year. Lifanse is a leader in the Community of Sant’Egidio Ukraine, an international lay Catholic association committed to social service. Lifanse writes, “I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and witness with our sisters and brothers, for the support and prayers during the entire time of this painful war.”

To think about peace, about the blessing of peacemakers in the midst of war and constant threats, is very difficult. War is absolutely evil — it brings only suffering, pain, grief and injustice.

For the Community of Sant’Egidio, this is a difficult time. Many of our friends have had to leave their homes, and many are separated from their families. Our poor friends have gotten poorer. Our friends have died defending our country. The stories of the refugees, which we hear every day, are nearly tragic. “We have no home — they have lost their city” — these words of a homeless friend from Lviv precisely express the tragedy of millions of people in Ukraine.

It is hard even to think about peace. War forces the awakening of fear and despair in the heart; anger and hatred toward the enemy who has come to destroy your life. How can you think of peace in such circumstances? Where is God and his mercy? Where is justice? Even religious leaders say that it is necessary to pray for victory rather than for peace. The spirit of the Community of Sant’Egidio is expressed in three p’s: pray, poor, peace, in the words of Pope Francis. Peace is an important part of our life. Talking about peace is difficult in a country at war: Sometimes it generates incomprehension, sometimes aggression. God’s word and works of mercy help us to survive in the midst of tragedy.

Today, I understand, as never before, the Word was not written for seminaries or for liturgies. God’s word was and is a living voice for those living through war, persecution and slavery, as it was for the people of Israel. The Gospel was announced in a Palestine occupied by the Romans, spoken from the cross to an enemy soldier carrying out an execution.

Peace: It is hard for me to imagine today. Over nine years of war, my oldest daughter has grown up and my youngest daughter and her mother have had to hide in a bomb shelter. My hope is in the gift of peace: “Peace I give you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, I give to you. Therefore, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). We ask the King of Peace for this gift of peace with hope for the creativity.

Heart: It is hard to protect one’s heart from darkness, from despair, from hatred and anger. The Psalms help with this. They provide feelings and words to get through the dark nights and tragedies, to cry and argue with God. Most importantly, every psalm ends with hope that God will protect God’s own, that has not forgotten me.

The Sant’Egidio refugee center in Lviv, Ukraine, has distributed more than 90 tons of humanitarian aid since opening in 2022. (Contributed photo)

Acts of mercy: A journalist asked at the beginning of the war, “Aren’t you afraid?” I don’t have time to be afraid. Kyiv was still surrounded when we restored food distribution to the homeless. Ten days after the beginning of the war, the first truck arrived with supplies; after two weeks we established a central office and a logistics center for humanitarian and logistical assistance in Lviv. Hundreds of people came to Sant’Egidio to pray and serve their neighbors. These are people from cities where there is community and refugees from dangerous or occupied zones. They have no opportunity to return, or their homes have been destroyed. At one time they had to come to us for help and they remained with us to receive other refugees. For them, prayer and service have become a support and comfort in life. Thus, they obtain a new family and find a place in a new city.

‘Although we are not in uniform and are not armed, people sense the care and solidarity that come from the prayer that ends our day.’

The community’s building is the first place of peace. Today Sant’Egidio in Ukraine is working in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kyiv. Since the beginning of open hostilities, new buildings have opened in these cities: three houses for old people and two for people with handicaps. Peace schools have opened for children, where they can return to the important tasks of childhood: laughing and playing. In Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv, which suffered greatly during the battle and occupation, the peace school opened immediately after the city was liberated. In the cities’ help centers, they distribute direct humanitarian assistance to suffering families. They receive hundreds of families every week. This is a lot of work. Their first task is to give people peace, security and mercy.

Everything in the building is arranged so that people have a sense of peace. They are greeted while still outside, set at a table and offered tea and a small surprise gift … There is no bother or hurry; everyone can state their opinion. And everyone can come and serve others. The help center and many other ministries to the poor function thanks to the selfless help of those who have received help themselves.

At the exit, there is a book where people can write down their wishes. It is full of expressions of gratitude. I like to call them psalms. “I was at home,” writes a woman from occupied Severodonetsk. “I am thankful to God for your organization. The Lord is risen, and Ukraine will rise,” writes an elderly person from Kherson. “You are bringing victory closer” is a phrase frequently encountered. Although we are not in uniform and are not armed, people sense the care and solidarity that come from the prayer that ends our day. At such times I think about the true victory, the victory of life over death. I think of Easter, which we celebrate in these days. The mercy of God is felt through concrete acts: We sense that “mercy is measured in kilograms.” People need to have the experience of peace in order to have peace in their hearts.

Praying for peace: Once a week, the community prays for peace in Ukraine and in other countries where there is war. In Lviv, by chance, the prayer takes place in a church for military chaplains. Often, when I go there to preach, I find the names of soldiers who have been buried that day. In Lviv, that is more than 400 people, young and not so young. The prayer for peace is the first exercise. Such prayer has existed for many years. In my communications on the first day of the war, I wrote to the Sant’Egidio memberships: “We are ready. We know that evil exists, that strangely, prayer, which this world sees as useless, has made us realists. We know that war will not end in the 21st century, we know that there is always room for miracles and surprises of history and that peace begins in the hearts of people. Therefore, even in times of great pain and suffering, we continue to pray for  “the peace that only God can give.” I hope that this is the liberation of all cities, but everything is in God’s hands.

International Peacemaker Yuriy Lifanse offers thanks to siblings in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). (Contributed photo)

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is worsening. Today, the population of the country is insufficient and there is no economy. All effort and resources are expended for military defense, and the atate does not have sufficient resources for support of the population. The Community of Sant’Egidio is doing great work, but the need is much more. Over 12 months, the help centers provided assistance to more than 100,000 people, and more than 73,000 people began to receive help in other cities through religious organizations and local authorities. It is hard to estimate the quantity of assistance with medicine. Is it more than 200 truckloads in all the regions of Ukraine, at a cost of more than $10 million. We are preparing for a long task. Even if military action ends today, it will take many years to restore normal life in the country. This is why we are always searching for new sources and possibilities.

In conclusion, I very much want to thank my brothers and sisters in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), both those I know and those I do not know, for your loyal prayers and support. I ask that you not stop praying for peace for me and for my country.

Yuriy Lifanse is a leader in the Community of Sant’Egidio, an international lay Catholic association committed to social service.

 The Sant’Egidio refugee center in Lviv, Ukraine, has distributed more than 90 tons of humanitarian aid since opening in 2022.

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