Accompanying Fr Bejarano were the Provincial Superior, Fr Mychailo Chaban, and the Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, Fr Anatoliy Hetsyanyn.
A vibrant encounter with young people
The visit began at the Don Bosco Vocational Formation Centre, where the Rector, Fr Andriy Bodnar, welcomed the guest with great warmth. Fr Bejarano addressed the students in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, joy and sincere openness, and in his talk offered a profound and engaging reflection, inspired by the Gospel passage of the widow of Nain (Lk 7:11-17), highlighting how the Salesian educational mission is called to “restore life” to young people, especially those marked by suffering, helping them to rediscover their dignity, to nurture their dreams and to become responsible protagonists of their own future.
This spirit of dialogue, listening and closeness continued during the meeting with students from the campus at the Salesian Mary Help of Christians Community. The General Councillor for Youth Ministry emphasised how the period of living in community with others is a privileged setting for human and Christian growth, and invited the young people to build authentic relationships, founded on trust and mutual respect, and to walk together in faith, supporting one another as in a true family.
He then met with the young people at the St Dominic Savio oratory, the first Salesian oratory in Lviv, and then with the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), also taking part in the work of the SYM Council.
A particularly significant moment also took place at the Sheptytskyi secondary school, with a meeting with the school’s pupils. Fr Bejarano emphasised that education, in the spirit of Don Bosco, stems first and foremost from encounter, mutual listening and trust in the hearts of young people; and, drawing on the charism of St John Bosco, he recalled that only through a holistic education, capable of touching the heart as well as the mind, is it possible to transform the world and build a more just and fraternal society. He encouraged the young people not to cease seeking the deeper meaning of their lives, to hold fast to the light of hope even in times of difficulty, and to recognise themselves as responsible protagonists of their country’s future, especially at such a delicate time.
It is worth noting that representatives of the youth ministry of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church also took part in the various meetings: Fr Roman Demush, deputy head of the Commission for Youth Ministry of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Fr Orest Yelizarov, head of the Commission for Youth Ministry of the Archdiocese of Lviv of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, with whom the Salesians collaborate closely.
Faith celebrated: liturgy and communion
A central element of the visit was the sharing of liturgical celebrations, the heart of Christian life and the source of the Salesian mission.
During the Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian Byzantine rite, celebrated in the Church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, the General Councillor expressed his sincere solidarity with the Ukrainian people, assuring them of the constant prayers of the Salesian Congregation and conveying the greetings and paternal closeness of the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard.
In his homily, drawing inspiration from the Gospel of the third Sunday of Easter in the Byzantine rite, which recounts the women who went to the tomb at dawn bearing spices to anoint the body of Jesus (Mk 15:43–47; 16:1–8), Fr Bejarano recalled how God continues to act even in the most difficult moments, when it seems there is no room for hope. “Even in difficulties and trials, the Lord plants and nurtures something new in our hearts, a seed of hope and Resurrection.”
Another significant moment was experienced during the celebration with the young people of the “FC Pokrova Lviv” football team, who were encouraged to reflect on the depths of their own hearts and their personal relationship with God.
During his visit, the General Councillor also led a retreat for the confreres of the Vice-Province, which concluded with the Eucharistic Celebration, and emphasised that, despite the diversity of life’s paths, it is precisely in the Eucharist that true communion is built.
Concrete closeness: between suffering and rebirth
The visit was also enriched by moments of profound human impact, in which closeness became a real encounter with stories marked by pain, yet illuminated by hope.
The meeting with the Pokrova AMP Football team, made up of young former soldiers who lost limbs due to the war, was particularly moving. With great dignity and courage, the players shared their experiences of rebirth through sport, bearing witness to an inner strength capable of transforming suffering into a new beginning.
Deeply moved by these testimonies, Fr Bejarano expressed sincere admiration for their example of resilience and hope, whilst at the same time pledging his commitment to raising awareness of and supporting this initiative at an international level.
In Vynnyky, accompanied by the Rector of the Salesian house, Fr Hryhorii Shved, the General Councillor visited the Superhumans Centre, a leading centre for the treatment and rehabilitation of war-related trauma, active since 2022 and specialising in prosthetics, reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation and psychological support for adults and children affected by war.
He was able to witness first-hand, there, the suffering of people wounded and maimed by the war, a reality with which the local Salesian community in Vynnyky works closely.
During his visit to Vynnyky, he learned about the various areas of Salesian work: the oratory and youth centre, the children’s home, the Real Madrid Foundation’s social and sports school, and other services established in response to the war emergency, as since the start of the conflict, the Salesians in Vynnyky have been taking in families of internally displaced persons and continue to host young soldiers and former soldiers who are wounded and traumatised, along with their families, who regularly visit the Superhumans Centre for treatment.
Furthermore, the visit to the Mariapolis modular campus for internally displaced persons affected by the war was significant. Accompanied by Fr Andrii Platosh, who carries out his ministry there, Fr Bejarano was able to learn about and witness first-hand the reality in which around a thousand people are being cared for, whose personal stories are marked by the suffering caused by the war.
The facility was built specifically by the City of Lviv, and the Salesians have been working there since 2022, standing by those most in need. The Salesian kitchen on the campus also serves 360 of the most vulnerable people on the site (until June 2025, there were around a thousand!). Fr Bejarano emphasised how this Salesian apostolate amongst those affected by the war is a concrete expression of the values of solidarity and presence alongside those who suffer, and represents an authentic social dimension of the Salesian mission.
Alongside these services established during the war, the Salesians regularly send bread from their bakery in Lviv, together with whole lorryloads of food supplies, to the people who have remained in the combat zones.
The visit to the city’s municipal cemetery was deeply moving; there lie those who have fallen in the ongoing war, mostly young people, including some past pupils of the Salesian Order. Fr Bejarano, together with his confreres, took part in a prayer for the repose of the souls of the deceased, entrusting to the Lord those who gave their lives for others.
Educating as a family: the Pokrova family home
During the visit, Fr Bejarano met the children and young people of the Pokrova family home, young people from difficult backgrounds and, in many cases, marked by the experience of orphanhood. The meeting took place in an atmosphere of joy and warmth: the young people put on a deeply meaningful performance, weaving together culture, faith and their experiences during the war.
In his closing message, the General Councillor invited the young people to live their daily journey with joy and confidence, reminding them that holiness is built through the small things of everyday life. He encouraged each one to discover their own worth and to believe that, even through simple gestures, it is possible to give full meaning to one’s life, walking together as in a true family.
Formation and shared mission
The formation meeting with the educators, together with the Salesians engaged in educational works in Lviv, was significant. It was a precious time of reflection, discussion and fellowship, lived in the spirit of shared mission.
On this occasion, Fr Bejarano recalled that the Salesian mission is not limited to organising activities, but finds its heart in the living witness of faith in daily life. He emphasised the importance of the educative and pastoral community as a space of shared responsibility between lay people and consecrated persons, called together to accompany young people on their journey of growth, helping them to discover their own vocation and God’s plan for their lives.
A sign of hope for the future
Fr Bejarano’s visit left a profound mark on all the communities he met. It was an experience of genuine inspiration, support and encouragement for the Visitatory in Ukraine. Through words, gestures and moments of sincere sharing, a message of hope emerged clearly: even in the most difficult situations, it is possible to build the future.
Speaking to his confreres, Fr Bejarano emphasised how the Vice-Province is active in all the main areas of the Salesian apostolate, with the exception of the university sector, whilst highlighting the ability of the Salesians in Ukraine to respond with promptness, flexibility and a spirit of adaptation to today’s challenges. He also highlighted their willingness to open new areas of educational, pastoral and social service, to offer concrete responses to the needs of young people and the population in this time of trial.
The presence of the Salesians and the whole Salesian Family alongside young people in war-torn Ukraine continues to be a ray of hope, capable of supporting, educating and accompanying them towards a new future, founded on faith, solidarity and love, in the confident expectation that a just and lasting peace will soon arrive.
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