By Dennis Kellogg
Director of Communications
Bishop James Conley hosted three leaders from the Lincoln Ukrainian religious community Monday to learn more about the struggles they are experiencing as a result of the Russian invasion of their homeland and how the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln can be of help.
This month will mark one year since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started.
Oleg Stepanyuk, Sergii Checkushkin and Anatolig Synyuk are all members of the House of Prayer Church in Lincoln and all moved to the United States from Ukraine a decade or more ago. Now, they are monitoring the situation in Ukraine from afar, concerned about relatives left behind, doing what they can to get aid for those back home and helping refugees from their country adapt to their new environment in Nebraska.
Bishop Conley said he’s wanted to meet with the faith leaders ever since he joined in a local prayer gathering last March after the war broke out. The bishop led the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lincoln last March 25. Bishops across the world performed the same prayers that day, at the invitation of the Holy Father Pope Francis, who led the act of consecration from St. Peter’s Basilica.
In addition to meeting with the bishop Monday, the three faith leaders also met with Katie Patrick, executive director of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) and Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference. Nadia Peterchuk, a Ukrainian native who moved to Lincoln two years ago and now works with Ukrainian refugees as part of her job with CSS, and Poe Dee, the refugee resettlement director for CSS, also joined the meeting at the Chancery in Lincoln.
Bishop Conley started with a prayer, asking God to help the people of Ukraine and to help Nebraskans to support them as they go through this difficult time. He prayed for God to ultimately bring peace to the region.
The bishop then told the faith leaders he asked to meet with them to pray with them, to express his solidarity with them, and to ask what the Catholic community can do to help.
“I know our people in the diocese watch and read about what’s going on and their hearts are broken,” Bishop Conley said. “They want to help.”
The bishop went on to say from the news reports he monitors, it’s remarkable to him “the deep faith of the people of the Ukraine. You can tell their faith motivates what they do.”
Stepanyuk, who has lived in the United States since 1996, related stories of kindness he has experienced here since the conflict began, often from people of Polish decent who can relate to their struggles as neighboring countries.
“I was eating at the restaurant, the owner finds out I’m Ukrainian, comes up to me and says, ‘You don’t have to pay.’ I said, ‘No, no, no. I’m Ukrainian yes, but I live in the United States. Let me pay and I’ll tip you and maybe do it to the next man who comes from Ukraine.’”
He went on to tell of a taxi driver who also declined his money when he found out where he was from.
“I think that is from the Lord. That kind of kindness to a stranger, you don’t find it every day,” Stepanyuk said.
Bishop Conley pointed to the work of the Knights of Columbus for their efforts to provide aid to the people of Ukraine. He also cited the efforts of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska to help many Ukrainian refugees resettle in this area.
Patrick of CSS said the organization originally had approval from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to assist 80 Ukrainian refugees. Once they reached that threshold, they asked to help 80 more. She said they currently have more than 100 Ukrainians as clients they are assisting.
Stepanyuk said the current number of those who have come to Nebraska from Ukraine seeking relief from the fighting is at just more than 1,000.
“We are so proud of Lincoln and the Catholic Church,” Stepanyuk said. “Thank you very much for how people came forward to help. They exceeded our expectations. They did not expect anything. Obviously they wanted some kind of roof over their head and the ability to go to work. Those two things, but we’ve exceeded those things. Everyone is so thankful.”
Stepanyuk said one of the most important issues facing Ukrainian refugees currently in the United States is the time limit of two years on their legal status to remain in the country. He said there is no way for them to remain in the country without seeking asylum, which can be a lengthy, costly and uncertain legal process.
He said he has met with several congressional representatives and encouraged them to support what he is calling a “Ukrainian Adjustment Act” that would allow refugees from Ukraine to remain in the country if they meet certain criteria and have no criminal record.
Chekushkin described it as a situation in which “a person does not have a right to stay, but at the same time doesn’t have a home to go back to.”
Stepanyuk who is a member of a national group of American businessmen with Ukrainian backgrounds who are trying to help those in Ukraine with supplies and support, said he has requests in to meet with several of Nebraska’s congressional delegation about the legal status situation.
In regard to a state legal issue, Venzor of the Nebraska Catholic Conference said they are working with State Senator Tom Brewer on a bill he has proposed in the Nebraska State Legislature that would address Ukrainians who have come to the state as a result of the conflict not being able to access driver licenses.
“For the three bishops here in Nebraska, that bill will be an important bill that we want to help so that it will be passed so that Ukrainians have a basic access to be able to drive so they can get to work, get to school, visit family, get to church, so that will be important for us,” Venzor said.
That bill had a legislative committee hearing Tuesday.
Stepanyuk said, meanwhile, those still in Ukraine have done a remarkable job fighting the Russian army. Considering the long history between the two countries, he referred to Russia’s aggression as a “Cain and Abel story; brother vs. brother.”
“Ukraine is like a buffer between that evil and the civilized world, the rest of Europe, right now,” Stepanyuk said. “We will stand until the end.”
Stapanyuk said despite the suffering and deaths caused by the war, the people of Ukraine remain determined to protect their country.
“People have faith that at the end of the day, good always overcomes evil. At the end of the day, the brotherhood overcomes the hostility. At the end of the day, the light overcomes darkness,” Stepanyuk said.
Bishop Conley told the three men he appreciated them sharing their stories and the diocese will continue to work with them to help in any way it can.
“I’m thankful for your wonderful people,” Stepanyuk told the bishop. “We are very blessed. Thank you, every one of you.”
The local Ukrainian faith leaders invited Bishop Conley to their next Ukraine Appreciation Dinner for members of the local Ukrainian community. They also said plans are being made for an upcoming prayer rally Feb. 25 across from the Capitol in Lincoln to mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the conflict. They said the service would include prayers, testimonies and music in an effort to bring local Ukrainians together in a show of support for those back home. They invited the bishop to attend and pray with them.
Chekushkin closed the meeting in prayer, thanking God for the discussion, acknowledging God can stop the war and asking him to create a better future for all. He prayed for God’s mercy and to see the right path forward for Ukrainians. Chekushkin said whatever happens next will happen under God’s guidance.
“Show us the way Lord. Show us your plan for (those in Ukraine) and for us.”
