About Us

About Caritas

Caritas Zhovkva
Sokal-Zhovkva Eparchy of the UGCC
Caritas Ukraine
Caritas Internationalis

CF “Caritas Zhovkva UGCC” is a non-profit charitable organization founded in August 2017 by the Eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, a member of the Caritas Ukraine network and a member of the global community of Caritas Internationalis organizations.

Our charitable foundation implements social and humanitarian projects in the territory of the Sokal-Zhovkiv Eparchy of the UGCC with the support of the international organizations.

We support the most needy segments of the population without regard to nationality or religion.

The Diocese of Sokal and Zhovkva of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is one of the largest eparchies of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine.

The Eparchy was established on July 21, 2000, by the Decree of Patriarch Lubomyr Husar and with the blessing of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, it was separated from the Lviv Archeparchy of the UGCC as the Diocese of Sokal of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. On September 18, 2007, the name was changed to the Diocese of Sokal and Zhovkva of the UGCC.

The Eparchy is the center of local Christian life in the former Sokal, Zhovkva, Radekhiv, Kamianka-Buska, Buska and Brody districts of Lviv Oblast and is a strong center of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community, promoting peace, love and solidarity.

“Caritas Ukraine” is part of a large international network of humanitarian organizations.

Over 30 years, millions of Ukrainians have received help from Caritas Ukraine. The organization focuses its efforts on 6 areas: children’s aid, healthcare, support for people with special needs, social problems of migration, emergency assistance and community development.

“Caritas Ukraine values efficiency, accessibility and transparency. The organization is a multiple winner of the Charitable Ukraine contest and a leader in the rating of Ukrainian philanthropists.

Today, Caritas Ukraine has 40 regional organizations in 20 regions and, based on Christian principles and values, helps millions of people without religious or ethnic restrictions.

Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 164 regional Catholic aid, social work and international development organizations operating in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

The first Caritas organization was established in the German city of Freiburg in 1897 by a priest, Father Lorenz Wertmann. Later Caritas appeared in Switzerland (1901), the United States (1910), the Netherlands (1924) and many other countries. The priests and parishioners called their work in these new institutions “service in the spirit of caritas pastoralis”. The spiritual guidance and stimulus for the first Caritas centers were the writings of Pope Leo XIII, in particular, the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which earned the name of Christian Social Teaching.

Today, the confederation is one of the world’s largest humanitarian networks. A significant amount of Caritas’ work is related to overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, fighting poverty and social injustice.

Mission of CF "Caritas Zhovkva UGCC"

We sincerely aim to combat the injustice that leads to poverty and vulnerability within the territory of the Sokal-Zhovkva Diocese of the UGCC.

Our mission is to work through coordinated actions within the Caritas Ukraine network in collaboration with Caritas Europe and Caritas Internationalis, as well as through strategic partnerships and cooperation with church leaders, religious organizations, civil society, ‘social partners,’ national and European institutions, and governments. Additionally, we seek to collaborate with all people of goodwill from all faiths with the goal of promoting social and economic justice.

We aspire to collectively contribute to the construction of a world where the cries of the poor and the voices of children are heard.