The UGCC Consulting Center is actively assisting in the establishment of parish family centers

On March 11–12, a lecture and seminar were held at the Patriarchal House in Lviv as part of the “Strengthening the Activities of Family Centers” project, implemented by the Patriarchal Commission of the UGCC for Family and Laity. “It has already become a good tradition for our specialists to participate in such events,” emphasizes Maryna Danyliv, head of the UGCC Consulting Center.

What are family centers for?

Maryna Danyliv further added why the existence of family centers is important: “The family has always been and remains the foundation of the Church and society. Support for married couples, assistance in times of crisis, and premarital counselling — these are key tasks of pastoral care. That is why it is so important to develop family centers — centers that provide catechesis for all family members and contribute to building a healthy Christian environment.”

Project and financial activities

Within her lecture and presentation, the expert reviewed the main models of family center activities — from the basic format (premarital counselling) to the institutional level, including psychological, therapeutic, and other consultations.

The lecturer also focused on the financial models of various types of family centers, as there can be different forms of payment for services or free services. “It is important to understand and calculate all this in order to ensure the smooth and effective functioning of the centers,” she noted.

Legal issues

An important part of the seminar was the legal section. Yulia, a lawyer at the Consulting Center, explained in detail the legal mechanisms for the functioning of family centers, both based on an existing religious organization and by creating a new structure. The formats for involving expert consultants in carrying out such activities were also discussed.

Lively dialogue and request for continuation

The participants of the event were priests and responsible persons who are considering the possibility of creating or developing family centers in their communities. After the seminar, there was a lively discussion, and the next day we received requests for further consultations.

“This lecture is only one of the many stages of a large-scale project. In the future, within the metropolitan level of the UGCC, we will hold a series of two-day seminars to provide communities with specific tools for the creation and effective functioning of family centers. So, we continue to work to create stronger families and develop Christian communities!” Maryna Danyliv shared her plans at the end.