Truly, I tell you: whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Matthew 25:40

For me, these words of Christ are key, teaching us to serve others. I often reflect on them, and they serve as my guiding principle in life. When I understand that God wants to help someone through me, it’s an incredible feeling, which motivates me even more in my work. And when I see the eyes of an elderly person, or lonely people eagerly awaiting the arrival of volunteers, I realise how important this work is, to serve one another, in love.

The Lord has blessed us with the ability to be His hands. Recognizing this makes it easy to feel love for those we help. When we genuinely try to help with love for others and are guided by the desire to be the hands of the Lord, our service blesses us not only in this life but in the life to come.

In my years of work at Caritas, I’ve witnessed countless stories, each one as unique and complex as the individual it belongs to. People with wounded souls come to our House of Mercy, each having experienced a lot of sorrow, pain, and sometimes disappointment. Therefore, faith in God and spirituality enable me to find the right words, bring comfort, and individually assist each person.
The same applies to working with volunteers. When there’s an opportunity to gather together, it’s invaluable time filled with interesting spiritual conversations, reflections, and joy. Thanks to this enriching atmosphere, many of our volunteers say they found a true family in Caritas, where they are always supported and motivated to perform acts of mercy for the Glory of God.

That’s why every day, I thank God for the work I love, which fulfils and motivates me.

Nataliia Protsyk is a Volunteer Coordinator for Caritas Ternopil in Ukraine.