Stefan Muhovskyj is continuing his studies at the seminary in Lviv. He wrote to us: ‘Studying in the fourth year of theology was quite difficult, but the subjects were very interesting, because we began to raise the question of morality in the Church and the morality of young people on many current issues. Therefore, our topics were interesting and instructive for me and I understand that all of this will be of use in the future. In addition to my studies, I’ve had quite a few responsibilities to take on throughout the year, including trips with the seminary choir to different cities in Ukraine where we glorified God through our singing. I’ve also been working in a state-run orphanage in my spare time for two years now. I believe that the Lord revealed his love for these children to me in a completely unexpected way, and for that I thank him. Now I really love everything we do for them! As these children have experienced far more terrible things in their ten to fifteen years than many of us who are not directly involved in the war-torn and occupied territories. It motivates me to see them not breaking down, despite all their pain, to continue to remain open to the world. During the summer, I devoted my working time to summer camps for young people and children. This enabled these young people to escape the hell of the war that is going on in their territories. These experiences will remain unforgettable and important to me. I would like to thank all those who have supported me financially and with their prayers to continue my studies’.
With the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Stefan actively participated in helping refugees from the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, helped to temporarily house refugees, providing them with food and basic necessities. Together with his friends from the seminary and his father’s parish, he founded an art court for refugees, helped the hospital in the town of Stryi, where orphans from Zaporizhzhia were evacuated, and was a facilitator in a summer camp for refugee children in the town of Skhidnytsia.
We continue to support Stefan in his seminary studies, also for the academic year 2022-2023.
Since September 2020 we have been supporting Stefan in his seminary studies.
Stefan was born in Donetsk in 2002; he is the third son of a Greek Catholic family with seven children. Stefan went to school in Donetsk until 2015, in his spare time he enjoyed playing football with his friends and learning to play the violin.
With the outbreak of war, the Greek Catholic community in Donetsk was persecuted; belonging to the church itself could lead to arrest. Stefan’s family moved to western Ukraine. Stefan graduated from Christian high school, felt called to devote himself to the priesthood and entered a preparatory year at the seminary in Lviv. After that he decided to study theology. Half of the costs of his studies are being met by the diocese, but the shortfall is too great and unaffordable for this large family in which only the father has a job.
Since September 2020 Ad Pacem has been supporting Stefan with €500 a year.
In his letter of September 2020 Stefan writes to us: “I sincerely thank and pray for all my benefactors from Ad Pacem for their help.”