His Eminence Cardinal Bychok Visits Rehabilitation for Military Families: Prayer, Art Therapy, and Heartfelt Gifts from Veterans

On the day of their arrival, June 19, 2025, participants dedicated themselves to art therapy. Each person received a white T-shirt with the logos of the Patriarchal Pilgrimage Center and the Mudra Sprava Foundation, which they transformed into a true canvas of emotions with the help of psychologists. With acrylic paints, veterans and their family members applied symbolic drawings to the fabric, imbuing them with their feelings, gratitude, memory, and hope. The participants formally presented one of these T-shirts to Cardinal Mykola.

Following a shared prayer, there was an incredibly touching moment: each family sought an opportunity for a blessing and wanted to give Bishop Mykola a gift. These included candles made from natural wax during previous workshops, personal chevrons, and requests to take these items with him to Australia and Rome as a symbol of connection, prayer, and a reminder of the fate of Ukraine and its defenders.

The cardinal listened carefully to everyone and assured them that he would keep and pass on all their requests. “His visit was a great honor for our entire community — a sign of respect, support, and spiritual unity,” the rehabilitation participants noted.

“The second rehabilitation retreat continues to gain momentum, and we are sincerely happy that among its participants are those who have found not only a space for healing but also a true community of care, trust, and mutual support,” the organizers concluded regarding Cardinal Mykola Bychok’s visit.

On the same day, His Eminence visited Lviv City Hall, where he met with Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. They discussed Lviv, Australia, Ukraine, and the Pope.

According to the cardinal, 52,000 Ukrainians live in Australia. During the war, the country has taken in an additional 15,000 refugees from Ukraine. However, many of them eventually left the distant and challenging continent for a displaced person. Bishop Mykola Bychok also noted that Ukrainians in Australia often feel a sense of guilt about the suffering of Ukraine, so many of them try to help as much as they can. Although Australia is far from Ukraine—a flight takes about 20 hours—the war leaves a deep mark on the consciousness of Ukrainians there as well. “Wounding has no borders,” the cardinal emphasized.

His Eminence Cardinal Mykola Bychok was accompanied by Father Lyubomyr Yavorskyy, the Patriarchal Econome of the UGCC. The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Mayor of Lviv Andriy Moskalenko, Head of the Executive Committee of the Lviv City Council Yevhen Boyko, and Acting Director of the Mayor’s Administration Department Serhiy Kubelko.

Press Service of the Mudra Sprava Patriarchal Foundation