Соціальне служіння римо-католицької церкви на Півдні України у 20-30-х рр. ХХ ст. (The Social service of the Roman Catholic Church in the South of Ukraine in 20-30-ies of the 20th century)

Abstract

У статті проаналізовано соціальне служіння Римо-католицької церкви у складних суспільно-політичних умовах 20-30-х рр. ХХ ст. Мирське служінння, доброчинна діяльність, задоволення життєво необхідних потреб людини, духовне відродження й гармонійний розвиток кожної особистості визначаються основними складовими соціального служіння церкви у досліджуваний період, особливо під час Голодомору 1932–1933 рр. (The article is devoted to questions of social service of the Roman Catholic Church in the difficult socio-political conditions of the 20-30-ies of the 20th century. The article analyzes the main vectors of social work of the Church. The author notes that despite numerous prosecutions by the Soviet authorities the Roman Catholic Church continued to bear its social service in the lands of southern Ukraine. Mercy, charity, the satisfaction of needs of human spiritual revival and harmonious development of every person is determined the key tasks of the Church within the period under study. Creating of charitable organizations, women, youth, children’s clubs and associations of the Roman Catholic Church sought to meet the social needs of parishioners, but also to ensure that it continues functioning at post-Soviet territories. At the same time, the author draws attention to the fact that the Soviet government substantially restricted the development of religious life in the region. The social activity of the Church subject is to clear regulation by the authorities. The priests were forbidden to carry out religious instruction and education of minors. Leading source of faith and religious education is now becoming a family. The article notes that an outstanding role in the social service of the Church belonged to the women who fulfill their duty within the family. They took on the challenging function of the spiritual upbringing of the younger generation. In the family circle, they introduced the children with the basics of the Catholic faith, giving them spiritual guidance, taught confessional traditions. Women have served an important mission within religious communities. The members of the community were provided spiritual and psychological help, who contributed to the adaptation converts the parishioners, visited the sick and the needy,helped conduct religious services helped to maintaining the spiritual connection between members of a religious community. The author come to the conclusion that due to the selfless social service of women not only maintained a spiritual atmosphere in the parish were kept, and religious traditions, but also to ensure the vital activity of the Church as a whole. Unconditional manifestation of the social service of the Roman Catholic Church was the organization of famine relief during the Holodomor of 1921-1923 and 1932-1933, the Ordinary laity, the priests, the international charity and the Roman Catholic charitable organizations by all possible means tried to help the starving people of the South of Ukraine. The author notes that the repression of the second half of the 30-ies of the 20th century against the clergy and believers, were directed by the Soviet government on the final liquidation of the Roman Catholic Church and the deprivation of her social influence.