This year, 477 new students from across Ukraine joined the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) community. Traditionally, before the academic year begins, the university holds an orientation session to provide freshmen with the tools necessary for successful adaptation and to help them feel integrated into the community. During the session, students familiarize themselves with the campus, the structure and values of UCU, opportunities for student leadership, volunteering, service-learning, and the various university departments they will interact with during their studies.
Orientation session for the 2026 incoming class
“This is an opportunity for students to begin their acquaintance with the university even before their studies formally commence. The orientation session consists of many elements, each of which reveals the university in its own unique way,” said Ivanka Mohylyak, Head of the Office of Student Life at UCU.
A portion of the orientation session is dedicated to student leadership. Representatives of the Student Council and Student Government discuss their activities and encourage freshmen to participate actively in student life. Additionally, students learn about socially oriented learning and service, and how to get involved in impactful initiatives.
An important part of studying at UCU is the spiritual development of youth. Freshmen were introduced to the university’s clergy and learned about the Office of Pastoral Affairs and the opportunities for spiritual guidance.
The students also attended a mandatory meeting titled “Witness. Serve. Communicate + Martyrs and Marginalized: The Formula for a Successful University,” featuring UCU leaders and alumni. The speakers shared their personal experiences, the university’s values, and their individual paths. Tetyana Tymkiv, a UCU alumna, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, and an administrator at the “Poradnya” Counseling Center, spoke about service as a way to support others. She shared her own experience of adapting to the university.
Freshmen meet with Archbishop Borys Gudziak during the orientation session
“UCU is a place where every person can feel warmth. It was in ‘Poradnya’—our Counseling Center—that I realized service can have a deeper meaning. It is not just about helping someone nearby; it is an opportunity to be with them during difficult times, especially during the war. Sometimes, service is simply about giving a person space,” said Tymkiv. She illustrated how the university creates an environment where students know where to turn for support when they are struggling.
Dmytro Sherengovsky, PhD, Vice-Rector for External Relations and Public Service at UCU, spoke about another vital aspect of university life: communication. He emphasized the importance of seeing others as individuals with unique experiences, interests, and aspirations.
“I hope you discover people. Look at those around you. Get to know them, find out what interests them, and what worries them. Do not just recognize them; try to see the person behind the face. The university, the church, the park—these are all places where we can communicate, discuss, and truly hear each other. That is the essence of communication: to be a person, to see others, to speak, to listen, to discuss, and to seek understanding together,” Sherengovsky addressed the students.
Incoming UCU students, 2026
Myroslav Marynovych—a dissident, former political prisoner of the USSR, philosopher, religious scholar, and founding member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group—spoke to the students about the UCU mission and the responsibility of students to embody the university’s values.
“Our university is a missionary one. To be a missionary, those values must be internalized. Today, you can wear jeans or shorts, be a scientist or a driver—and still be a missionary. People should look at you and see that your actions correspond to the values you declare. I want you to be more than just followers of our leaders; I want you to testify through your studies, work, and knowledge, and eventually transform Ukraine,” added Marynovych.
An important component of the orientation is peer connection. Freshmen are divided into small groups led by a mentor. Mentors assist new students in adapting to the university environment, answering questions, and accompanying them during their first days at UCU. The vast majority of this year’s mentors are second-year students who chose to serve in this role because they wanted to pass on the positive experiences they had during their own transition.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak meeting with students during the orientation session
At the conclusion of the orientation, students attended a final event: a meeting with Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of Philadelphia of the UGCC and President of the Ukrainian Catholic University. He spoke about the vocation of the university, human dignity, courage, service, and the importance of viewing life in the light of eternity. Archbishop Gudziak emphasized that UCU seeks to not only prepare students for a profession but also to recognize each of them as an individual. He stressed that education should prepare them for relationships, family, responsibility, and service to others.
One of the central themes of the Archbishop’s address was human dignity. He urged students not to measure their worth by grades, professional success, appearance, or material achievements. “Your dignity and mine are given by God, and no one has the right to diminish that,” Archbishop Gudziak emphasized. Speaking about the war, he encouraged students not to fear the truth and to remain free from aggression, noting that recognizing one’s own dignity provides the courage to speak the truth, even in difficult circumstances.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak meeting with students during the orientation session
Concluding the meeting, Archbishop Gudziak highlighted the importance of community, mutual support, and love. He encouraged students to be vulnerable, to admit their mistakes, to express gratitude, and to ask for forgiveness.
“This university loves you. We need your testimony, and we urge you to love each other—to be able to say ‘Thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong,’” concluded the Archbishop.
The orientation session serves as a foundational step for new UCU students. Ahead of these young people lie their academic journey, new connections, and the opportunity to bear witness to their values.
