You can get used to war, - Father Marian Kuts, the abbot of the Salesian monastery

The Salesians are a Roman Catholic order that works with children and youth. In Odesa, they founded a lyceum with a pre-school department, an elementary school, and a gymnasium called Narnia. In the conversation, the monastery's abbot, Fr. Marian, explains how the war has changed their ministry, how the monastic community lives under shelling, what the lyceum's students experience, why the priests ' prayer and a moment of silence in class have become a vital necessity. And what it means to stay with Ukrainian youth when fear becomes commonplace.

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How has the ministry of the Salesians in Odesa changed since the beginning of the full-scale war?

It is probably impossible to say that everything has changed dramatically. We tried to serve in the same way as before. The ministry of the Salesian Fathers in Odesa is, on the one hand, the parish of St. Peter on Havanna Street, and on the other hand, our presence here on Vadatursky Street. This particular place is better known to Odessans as a school, gymnasium, and today as the Narnia Lyceum.

What have been the most painful challenges for the monastery and the parish over the years?

The most tangible, of course, was the beginning of the full-scale invasion. We remember well the first days and the first six months of the war: many people left - I mean our parishioners. There was complete uncertainty in the school: since February, it has actually closed, and no one knew what would happen tomorrow.

And our presence here is primarily a school: the Narnia Lyceum and a kindergarten. The hardest part was to recover and learn to work in a new way. What did this mean in practice? We had to set up shelters very quickly, establish communication, switch to online learning, distance learning and family forms. The teachers were not ready for this, but we had to learn on the go.

For the first six months, we struggled with these challenges in order to resume the educational process in September 2022. And, thank God, we succeeded. Today, the lyceum is working, the school is alive, and we are sincerely grateful for that.

How many monks live in the Salesian monastery in Odesa today? Where do they come from and what is the history of the community?

The history of the Salesians in Odesa dates back to 1958, to the Church of St. Peter on Havanna Street. At that time, Father Tadeusz Hoppe, who came from Lithuania and worked alone for many years, served here in very difficult times.

In the 90s, when the church revival began, he asked his order for help. Thus, Salesians, mostly from Poland, began to come to Odesa. They served both in the parish of St. Peter and in the cathedral.

In 1997, an opportunity arose to purchase this building, a former kindergarten of the Krayan plant. The city agreed to the sale on the condition that the building would not lose its social purpose. This was in line with our mission, as Salesians are called to work with children and youth.

First, we reopened the kindergarten - literally in one day we hired 26 employees, returned the staff, parents and children. Then, on the initiative of the parents themselves, we opened an elementary school. That was 20 years ago, and this year we are celebrating our anniversary.

Later, a gymnasium was opened, and in September of this year, a lyceum. Today, it is a full-fledged secondary education institution, and it is in this institution that we, as a Salesian community, invest most of our efforts.

Today we have four priests in Odesa. One of them is Father Edward from Poland, rector of St. Peter's parish. Another brother serves as a military chaplain and is constantly in the unit. The other two are from Ukraine, particularly from the Lviv region. I am also from Lviv.

Can a new person join you? Is the order open to this?

Of course, we are not a closed structure. If we were closed, where would new vocations come from? People see us - at school, in the parish, in the city. Sometimes someone has a thought: "Maybe I would like to live this life."

We are open to such people and help them recognize their vocation. We organize retreats and spiritual exercises for boys and young men. Formation in our order is a long process, about ten years.

First, there is a year of discernment, then novitiate, taking vows of obedience, purity, and poverty. Then there is philosophy, practice in communities, and theology. It is a long road, but it gives time to realize one's choice.

There are two paths in the Salesian order: monk and priest. Not every monk becomes a priest-some consciously choose the life of a brother, serving children and youth without being ordained.

Unfortunately, there are very few vocations in Ukraine today. Only one person is currently undergoing formation.

Why do you think that is?

This is a difficult question. The world has become very fast, young people want everything at once. And vocation is a long, demanding road that requires patience and a deep inner decision.

It used to be different: you wrote a letter, waited a few days for a response, and had time to think about it. Today, the Internet has united the whole world instantly, and at the same time created an expectation of immediate results. It is difficult for a young person to accept the idea of a long process without an obvious "return". They ask: "What will I get out of this? What's the benefit?"

And Christ says: "I am sending you to work without reward." This is very difficult for a modern person to accept.

The second reason is the family crisis. I see how spirituality in many families fades into the background. Earnings and material stability come first. Often material values prevail over spiritual ones. Young people look at me and ask: "What do you have? Where is your family, where is your wealth, where is your success?" Values have changed.

Even the apostles asked Jesus: "We followed You - what will we get out of it?". This is a normal human question. But today it is very difficult to show a young person that this path is beautiful in itself. Not because it guarantees something, but because it is filled with meaning.

There are vocations, but they are few. Unfortunately.

PHOTO: Intent / Natalia Dovbysh

Has the war changed your personal understanding of vocation?

Yes, the war has changed a lot.

When the full-scale war began, I served in the Zhytomyr region, in the city of Korostyshiv. To be honest, I did not believe that there would be a war until the end. Even when I was asked in Poland: "Are you ready for war?", I didn't take it seriously. A month later, everything became a reality.

The first weeks were a shock. Empty shops, endless columns of cars, people running away. The Kyiv-Chop highway passes through our town, and the traffic never stopped. The fear was real, especially when the fighting was going on right next door: Bucha, Irpin. We were constantly watching the news, listening to where the front was moving.

People were turning to God en masse. They asked for prayer. We held additional services, adoration. But over time, I saw that you can get used to war. It's scary to realize, but it's true.

I was very impressed when someone said at a junior high school graduation: "These are the children of war". They went to first grade in 2022. They grew up in shelters. For them, this is the norm.

For me personally, the war made my ministry much deeper and more painful. People came asking "why?" after losing their husbands, brothers, fathers. Often you just listen and don't know what to say. And then you pray in your heart: "Lord, give me a word." Not an answer, but a word. Because sometimes it is not explanations that are important to a person, but presence.

I've been a priest for 25 years, but these years of war are radically different from all my previous ministry. Previously, many things were schematic: duties, schedule, structure. And now there is a living human tragedy every day.

Did you ever think of leaving?

No. Such a thought never even occurred. When the war broke out, our province allowed everyone who was afraid to leave for Poland. But no one left.

I felt that people needed me. We opened an Unbreakable Point, had a generator, and people came to us to charge their phones, drink tea, and just be together. It was a real ministry to be there for them.

I feel the same way now in Odesa. There are hardened people here. Parents trust us with their children during times of anxiety. This is a huge responsibility. There were days when children stayed in a shelter for several hours in a row, and you have to not only ensure safety, but also keep them calm and create a sense of normalcy.

This is a different kind of ministry. But I know for sure: my place is here.

What supports your community the most today?

Prayer. Nothing works without it. We are an active community: we have prayer and work. If you neglect prayer, you will not have the strength to serve. People feel it. They do not come for advice - they come for the presence of God.

Sometimes a person will just speak out and thank you. And you realize: it's not about the words, but about the fact that God was there in this conversation.

Do people come to you for confession?

Yes, they do. At school - less often, because we are Catholics, and most children and parents are Orthodox. They know this and treat us with respect. There are not many Catholics in the city, but confession is a common practice in the parish. At school, everything is different: children talk, joke, and look at each other. This is normal for children.

Recently we initiated first-graders: we blessed them and prayed. A few days later, one girl met me in the hallway and asked: "I know you - were you in our class?" I said: "Yes." - "Do you work at the school?" I smile: "I'm working part-time." We are not yet used to the fact that a priest can be at school. We are the founders of this institution, but we do not engage in any proselytizing.

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