In Ukraine, amidst the echoes of war and the resilience of a nation, the visible and invisible scars left on individuals and communities are several. For those impacted by the destruction, loss, and trauma of war, healing and hope can seem far and elusive. In response, the South Poland Province of the Society of Jesus has taken up an initiative to provide solace and support through “Space of Hope” – a center for spiritual and psychological health, dialogue and communication.

Space of Hope is a project in Chernivtsi, southwestern Ukraine, dedicated to assisting people affected by the ongoing conflict by catering for their psychological and spiritual recovery. Beyond just personal recovery, the Center is a space for dialogue which will foster peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Father General Arturo Sosa inaugurated this project on 8 November during his visit to Ukraine (6-10 November). The Center offers facilities to accommodate between 35-38 people in double rooms and dormitories, along with a kitchen, a dining room, a chapel, group work facilities and offices. A portion of the building has been sectioned off to serve as the Jesuit community, reinforcing a constant presence of Jesuits for pastoral support.

The services provided by Space of Hope are structured around both reconciliation, spiritual guidance and psychological therapy, in hopes of addressing the multifaceted needs of people affected by war. Some of the activities include Ignatian retreats, individual therapy sessions, support groups and workshops, weekly meetings, programs for children, specialized activities based on diagnosis, among others.

Space of Hope is designed not only to serve the people of Chernivtsi but also to be a replicable project for other parts of Ukraine. The project hopes to be able to structure an adaptable framework that can be implemented wherever and whenever there is a need.

In his address at the inauguration ceremony of the Center, Fr Sosa underlined that “Space of Hope” is to be “a place of hope in the face of an ongoing war”. He noted that the Society of Jesus, through the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has been involved in providing aid in response to the unimaginable suffering caused by the war that began in February 2022. In fact, through JRS and many mission partners, over 100,000 people have received coordinated assistance – shelter, education, healthcare, legal support and integration services in Ukraine and neighboring countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

However, as the war persists, the Society of Jesus recognizes that beyond immediate short-term relief, there is a need for sustained support to heal the long-term, unseen wounds inflicted by the war. To address this need, Space of Hope was created. As a space dedicated to spiritual assistance, dialogue, reconciliation and communication, the mission of the Center, “like that of the entire Society of Jesus, is to proclaim faith in Christ, crucified and risen, in whom God has willed to reconcile all things”.