Out of tragedy, hope

A photograph shows a mural by Italian urban artist TVBoy on a wall of the House of Culture in the town of Irpin, Ukraine, on Feb. 1, 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP via Getty Images/Dimitar Dilkoff)

St. Sophia Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in The Colony is thousands of miles from the front lines of the fighting in Ukraine, but the hearts of its faithful are close to the war-torn country.

In his flock, Father Pavlo Popov ministers to a broad scope of Catholics. Refugees recently arrived from Ukraine — some living with local family, some with no ties to the area. Immigrants who arrived in Texas decades ago but worry about family who remain in the Eastern European country. Texans proud of their Ukrainian ancestry. Even worshippers whose only link to the parish is an affinity for the country or the Eastern Catholic Rite.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, more people fill the pews of the church. According to Fr. Popov, “People are back in church because they feel this urge to pray. They feel so much in pain; they feel so hurt; so they come to church looking for that healing.” 

Anxiety about the uncertain duration of the war and the safety of loved ones and family haunts many parishioners.

Fr. Popov ministers to his congregation by looking back, looking out, and looking up.

The past provides assurance the Ukrainian people will endure. “We are going through some tough times, but it’s not the first. It’s nothing new for Ukraine, for the history of Ukraine, for Ukrainian people,” said the pastor.

Having lived through great famine, genocide, two world wars, and communism, the Ukrainian people are no strangers to hardship. He explained, “We’ve been familiar with persecution and suffering and challenges.”

Liz Moroz Harper, a St. Sophia parishioner and president of the Ukrainian American Society of Texas, agrees that Ukrainians are tenacious and resilient. 

“We are a proud people with a love for freedom. We will not give up. I hope [the war] ends soon, but Ukraine will not submit,” said Harper, whose four grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine.

Many in the community, including Fr. Popov and Harper, look out for opportunities to help, given the constraints of living here. At times they work together. For example, the Ukrainian American Society of Texas created an angel tree to provide Christmas gifts to about 15 refugee families who worship at St. Sophia.

Some St. Sophia parishioners sponsor refugees, helping them adjust to their new community by assisting with transportation, language barriers, and other needs.

Fr. Popov has been impressed with the generosity of the community, even those without a personal connection to Ukraine. The parish has collected funds for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, and donors at Holy Cross Parish in The Colony have provided local refugees with food and household items. 

The Ukrainian American Society of Texas’ focus was the preservation and celebration of Ukrainian heritage and culture when it was formed 40 years ago.

Now, Harper said, the nonprofit’s purpose includes fundraising, educating, sustaining awareness of the war, and maintaining a website (uast.org) with vetted organizations that provide humanitarian and defense assistance.

 

Eternal Perspective

Despite the injustice of an unprovoked war and the loss of innocent lives, Fr. Popov delivers a message of hope to his congregation. 

He references the Apostles, saints, and martyrs, who experienced great hardships which advanced their personal holiness and expanded the Church.

God can work through terrible situations, he said, and His care can be observed in the support of the international community, in tales of unlikely survival on the battlefield, and in signs that Russia is weakening.

“Focus on Christ, focus on God, and just [remember] the challenges of life shape us, to make us better, to make us stronger,” he said. “Keep your eyes on eternity.”
Ultimately, Christians must look to the cross for hope, where they see the sorrow of Jesus’ crucifixion followed by the joy of His resurrection.

Fr. Popov said, “There is no victory if there is no struggle. So it’s inevitable. We don’t like it. We don’t want for it. We don’t wish for it. And once again, God’s will prevails. And we hope after this God has His own plan, and in due time we will know. There’s going to be good even out of this evil situation. So there’s no question about it.”

 

From the ashes

On March 17, 2022, wildfires raged through the dry grasses and dense brush of Eastland County, destroying more than 54,000 acres, including most of the town of Carbon, where 86 homes were razed, including those of seven families belonging to St. Francis Xavier Parish in Eastland.

Winds surpassing 35 mph pushed the fire so quickly that individuals only had time to grab their keys or their purse, leaving medications, documents, animals, and family treasures behind.

Two young men, Ernesto and Jesus Perales, suffered burns as they escaped.

The next morning, Father Vijaya Mareedu, SAC, then pastor of St. Francis Xavier, accompanied some of the survivors as they returned to survey the damage. And on March 20, Bishop Michael Olson celebrated Mass at St. Francis Xavier, staying to pray with the seven families and the Perales brothers.

Although their homes and possessions were ashes, the families were resolute: they would start over and rebuild in Carbon.

In the weeks that followed, the parish provided lunch for the families after each Sunday Mass. Fr. Mareedu explained, “Not only just for the meal, but for coming together. There is a lot of sorrow, which they may not be sharing, but that has built up.”

For Evelyn Guillen, who was at work at Ranger College when the fire consumed the home she shared with her parents and brothers, the Sunday lunches were more than a meal. In coming together each week, “God says, ‘No, you are not alone. You have me and you have all of these people too,’” she remembered.

Guillen said she also experienced love and support from the greater community. Donations of practical necessities and financial assistance totaling $230,984 came from the diocese and beyond. The funds were disbursed to the seven families who lost their homes and another parishioner who lost outlying structures for his livestock.

Fr. Mareedu recalls gratefully the presence and support of Bishop Olson and the generosity of donors in the diocese, the Knights of Columbus, and Catholic Charities Fort Worth.

 

Tested together

Before the disaster, the families knew each other, but now “the bond is stronger between all of us,” according to Guillen.

Not only did they share a common catastrophe, but each Sunday the families still meet to help each other repair and renovate the used mobile homes they have purchased and placed on their properties. Two families are building more permanent structures with community assistance.

The hands-on labor of rebuilding lives and homes keeps the families busy, but Guillen reflected on how disaster has changed her life. She thanks God for the safety of her family, and she has a greater appreciation that everything she has is a gift from God.

She said, “We’re going to remember the bad moments of course, but we are going to embrace all the love that we have received and just keep moving forward with our lives in the presence of God.”

Fr. Mareedu has spent much time with the families, recently blessing each one in their homes.

The priest said, “I see God’s hand very much present in the community because this situation has brought all of them together. And with this pain, there is strength that is built up in the community. God is very much showing us a way to stay together, work together, and be committed.”