The Ukrainian Catholic University provides its students with an education, but it
also encourages them to live a Christian life and so creates a new and larger
community. The goal of the summer programs, consequently, is not merely to teach
the participants but to nurture the growth of the community.
Since 1995, the students of the Ukrainian Catholic University and volunteers from English-speaking countries have gathered every summer for an English-language summer school in rural Ukraine.
Students of UCU need to learn English for their course work, including classes taught by English-speaking faculty. English instruction during the year is capped by exposure to native speakers in an immersion setting. That is, surrounded by numerous English-speaking volunteers, the students have an intensive opportunity to improve their English skills.
About half of the 100 students are seminarians; others come from a variety of backgrounds. The English-speaking staff is principally from North America with assistance from Ukrainian teachers.
The full-day schedule includes English use at six hours of classes, morning liturgy, midday prayer and vespers, mealtime conversations, and evening activities. Typical classes have 7-10 students and involve a combination of reading, discussion and exercises. Weekends include occasional hikes and short trips.
The summer school is also a unique spiritual opportunity. Volunteers have a chance to live with Ukrainian college students, experience Eastern Christianity, and learn about the new challenges facing this ancient country.
The summer program is based in a remote setting in rural western Ukraine. Housing is provided in shared rooms; meals are likewise very simple. The summer program lasts 3 to 4 weeks in July. Volunteers often stay afterwards to visit student families or to sight-see. Room and board are provided for volunteers. The only real expense is travel to Lviv.
If you are interested in volunteering, please refer to the Volunteer Information Request on the site of the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (the request is at the bottom of the page) or send an e-mail to volunteers@ucef.org.
Theological Summer School
Every summer the Academy conducts a Theological Summer School for the improvement
of the theological knowledge and spirituality of those who cannot study full-time
at the University. The program is developed in collaboration with the Sheptytsky
Institute for Eastern Christian Studies at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada,
and combines studies of Eastern Christian theology with life at Univ monastery.
Students of the Summer Theological School participate fully in monastery life,
which creates a unique possibility for understanding the life of the people
who devote themselves to God. In addition, certain hours are set aside for lecture
on theological subjects.
Summer Internships Abroad
Goals:
To improve knowledge of the most widely know Western languages, in particular
English
To acquaint the students with contemporary methods and practice of pastoral
work
With these two goals in mind in 1997 the Ukrainian Catholic Education Fund
in collaboration with the UCU began a program of summer internships abroad
for the students. The internships are in the USA, Canada and Great Britain.
The program focuses on pastoral practice and study. In addition to increasing
their fluency in English the students can become acquainted with the religious
and pastoral experience of the Church in the West. The study program allows
students to become closely acquainted with the Western system of education.
Students have the opportunity to attend classes in Theology and other fields
of the Humanities in prestigious universities and theological schools in Europe
and America.
Since 1997 over 100 students from the Lviv and seminary divisions of the Academy
have taken part in the internship program.
Partners: Harvard Institute of Ukrainian Studies; St. John's University in
Collegeville, Minnesota; Shetptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies
at St. Paul's University in Ottawa; Ave Maria Institute in Michigan; various
parishes and Christian communities in England, Canada and the USA.
Contact
Ukrainian Catholic University
vul. Ilariona Sventsitskoho, 17
Lviv, 79011, UKRAINE
Since 1995, the students of the Ukrainian Catholic University and volunteers from English-speaking countries have gathered every summer for an English-language summer school in rural Ukraine.