Deacon Yuriy Pylypchak: Every human being needs a community; everyone needs to love and be loved, and to receive and give care

You lived in the US as a layman for several years. Since November, you have served as a deacon – what new perspectives on the Church in the US have you discovered? How has your work prepared you for this ministry?

I will start with the last part of the question. I consider my work in the hospital not as a job, but as a ministry. When I worked and continue to work in the hospital as a chaplain, it helped me discover many Christian values and brought me closer to God and human person – to each individual, patient, and family member I encountered. This experience reopened my heart and strengthened the connection between my heart and mind. Witnessing the sacrifices and suffering of others, I saw firsthand the lives of patients and their families. I heard their life stories and saw how intimate their relationship with God can be on a daily basis. This experience deeply influenced my own spiritual life, prompting me to reconsider its meaning and review my relationship with God, as well as with every person who is the image of God.

Regarding my perspective on the Church in the US, it hasn't been a recent discovery but remains unchanged: every human being needs a community; everyone needs to love and be loved, and to receive and give care. I believe it is crucial to build community not around oneself or any individual, but around Christ and the principles of the Bible, as they form the strongest foundation. Meeting others as images of God and communicating from the heart is, for me, the most sacred and profound aspect of every relationship.

Priestly ministry is always very concrete – at a specific time and location. What kind of priest is needed in 21st-century US? What kind of priest do you aspire to be?

I believe the kind of priest needed in the 21st century in the US is the same as has always been needed: one with a heart that is deeply connected to the mind. It's crucial to bridge the intellectual and emotional aspects of our being. We are created with intellect and feelings intertwined; we cannot separate them and must not overemphasize one at the expense of the other. This integration of heart and mind fosters a deeper relationship with God on a daily basis, not just on winter or summer breaks, weekends or Sundays. Every priest is called to nurture this relationship throughout their life. If a priest lacks this connection with God in their heart and mind, they cannot effectively guide others toward Christ. I want to be a priest who maintains this connection and cultivates a daily relationship with God.

Another characteristic I strive for is responsibility. I understand that the responsibility I will carry as a priest comes not from people but from God. This responsibility both scares me and strengthens me, compelling me to love and care for others more deeply and meaningfully every day.