'The Church needs people who not only do good, but do it effectively,' says the CEO of Renovabis
This was reported by the press office of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.
Fr. Thomas Schwartz highlighted the longstanding partnership between "Renovabis" and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, noting that it creates opportunities not only to support individual projects but also to collaboratively envision the future of church institutions. He emphasized the importance of beginning to think today about development models that will help church structures successfully fulfill their mission in the future.
The speaker placed special focus on social entrepreneurship as a valuable tool for ensuring the stability of the Church's educational, charitable, and pastoral initiatives. He clarified that this approach is not about changing the essence of church ministry, but rather about generating resources that will enhance the Church's ability to carry out its mission and expand its social ministry.
Father Thomas provided examples of successful social initiatives already being implemented within the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, particularly in education, healthcare, and social services. These include the St. Basil the Great Lyceum and the St. Luke Clinic in Ivano-Frankivsk, the "Caritas" agricultural enterprise in Ternopil, and the Sheptytsky Hospital in Lviv. He believes this experience can serve as a foundation for developing new models of church ministry based on professional management, collaboration, and the responsible use of resources.
Fr. Thomas Schwartz expressed his conviction that the Church's future will depend on its ability to balance fidelity to its spiritual calling with social responsibility and institutional resilience. He assured Ukrainian bishops of the Foundation's ongoing support in this endeavor.
