Obnova Club

Obnova Club (Ukrainian: ТУСК «Обнова», meaning 'Renewal') is a Ukrainian Catholic student society established in 1930 in Lviv, then part of Poland. It was created to unite Catholic student youth and to form a Christian elite that would guide Ukrainian society. The organisation's motto is 'Renew all things in Christ' («Обновить все во Христе»). Its two main areas of activity from the outset were missionary work with young people and self-education through reports, essays, and discussions on historical, artistic, philosophical, and theological themes. The society was supported by the Theological Scientific Society led by Father Josyf Slipyj and by the Ukrainian Catholic Academic Seniorate (УКАС), founded on the initiative of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. Its chaplains included Father Dr. Mykola Konrad and, from 1937, Father Dr. Ivan Hrynokh. Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky himself acted as spiritual patron and benefactor. In 1933 Obnova played a key role in preparing the 'Ukrainian Youth in Christ' congress in Lviv, which drew over 200 students. In 1931 it became a member of the international Catholic movement Pax Romana, representing Ukrainian Christian youth abroad. In 1936 a member of its seniorate, Dr. M. Chubaty, was elected director of Pax Romana's commission for Eastern churches, 'Pro Oriente'. The Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine in 1939 interrupted the society's work; it was revived in emigration after World War II and re-established in Ukraine on 2 April 1992. Today Obnova Club continues as a Ukrainian Catholic student organisation, operating a website at obnova.net.ua. It remains associated with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and focuses on student formation, academic events, and community building.

Obnova (Ukrainian: Обнова, 'Renewal') was founded in 1930 as a society of Ukrainian Catholic students in Lviv, then part of the Second Polish Republic. Its purpose was to unite student youth and to form a Christian elite that would become the guiding force of Ukrainian society. The motto adopted was 'Renew all things in Christ'. From the beginning, the society pursued two main directions: missionary work with young people and self-education. Members prepared reports and essays on historical, artistic, philosophical, and theological subjects, which were read and discussed within the society. The society received support from the Theological Scientific Society headed by Father Josyf Slipyj and from the Ukrainian Catholic Academic Seniorate (УКАС), created on the initiative of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and composed of senior intelligentsia. Metropolitan Sheptytsky took a personal interest in Obnova's development, inviting well-known scholars to participate in УКАС and creating conditions for the society's existence and activity. Father Dr. Mykola Konrad was appointed chaplain; in 1937 he was succeeded by Father Dr. Ivan Hrynokh, a noted theologian and public figure. Metropolitan Andrey himself often took part in Obnova's external and internal work as spiritual guardian and major benefactor. A special mission fell to Obnova during preparations for the 'Ukrainian Youth in Christ' congress in 1933, an initiative of the Church dedicated to the Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Pius XI for the 1900th anniversary of Christ's Resurrection. A week before the congress, the Ukrainian Catholic Academic Seniorate organised a meeting of Christian students, at which this group for the first time perhaps called themselves Catholic nationalists. Their resolution declared their decision to act actively within Ukrainian youth. The call bore fruit: on 6–7 May in Lviv more than 200 students attended the congress. After the congress, Obnova intensified work with all academic youth. It issued an 'appeal' stressing the importance of the moment in the nation's life and setting the goal of working to 'spur the Ukrainian nation to the highest peaks, to gain it might and power, to make it holy and dear to God'. Obnova recognised Christ and His teaching as its guide. To achieve its aims, it first strengthened its internal force by caring for deep religiosity, firm character, and professional development. At the end of the appeal, Obnova asked all supporters to join the organised ranks of Catholic Action. The appeal yielded positive results: masses of Ukrainian youth joined the Ukrainian Catholic Academic Youth (КАУМ), and Obnova itself grew numerically. The Church supported the initiative, and through the student chaplain Father M. Konrad, the importance of such work was emphasised. Academic evenings, Obnova days, and study days became increasingly popular. In November 1935, on the society's initiative, a meeting of representatives of Ukrainian student societies decided to hold a festive Academy on 12 December in honour of Metropolitan Andrey; the funds raised were to establish the 'Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Student Aid Fund'. That same year the society declared its readiness to defend the Church and Metropolitan Sheptytsky during the Polish chauvinistic offensive. In 1939 Obnova organised a lecture cycle titled 'Social Week'. Another dimension of Obnova's life was its participation in the international Catholic community. It was tasked with representing the entire Ukrainian Christian movement abroad. As early as 1929 a group of Ukrainian students took part in a congress of Slavic Catholic Academic Organisations convened by the Polish Catholic student society 'Odrodzenie', with representatives from Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian student Catholic organisations. The aim was mutual acquaintance and rapprochement of Slavic peoples for close cooperation within Catholic Action. In 1931 Obnova became a member of the world Catholic association Pax Romana. After its creation, the Ukrainian Catholic Academic Seniorate applied for admission to Pax Romana at the 1930 Munich congress; an invitation followed to the next jubilee congress in Fribourg, where the admission of Ukrainians was to be decided. Obnova received support from Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian students, became a full member of Pax Romana, and immediately joined active world Catholic life. Its important work was also visible in the Uniate Commission. In 1936 Dr. M. Chubaty, a member of Obnova's seniorate, was elected director of Pax Romana's commission for Eastern churches, 'Pro Oriente'; in 1938 he and the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Academic Seniorate, Bohdan Lonchyna, travelled to a congress in New York. The annexation of Western Ukraine by the Soviet Union in 1939 interrupted the development of the Ukrainian Catholic Academic Seniorate, and only after World War II, in emigration, was the organisation restored. With the assistance of older intelligentsia, especially Ms. Roma Haida from the USA and Ms. Lesia Kripyakevych from Lviv, an initiative group was formed that led to the revival of Obnova. On 2 April 1992 the founding assembly of the Ukrainian Catholic Student Society 'Obnova' took place.

• 1992

  On 2 April, the founding assembly of the Ukrainian Catholic Student Society 'Obnova' is held, reviving the organisation.

• 1939

  Obnova organises a lecture cycle titled 'Social Week'; Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine interrupts the society's work.

• 1937

  Father Dr. Ivan Hrynokh succeeds Father Dr. Mykola Konrad as chaplain of Obnova.

• 1936

  Dr. M. Chubaty, member of Obnova's seniorate, is elected director of Pax Romana's 'Pro Oriente' commission for Eastern churches.

• 1935

  On Obnova's initiative, a meeting of Ukrainian student societies decides to hold a festive Academy and establish the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Student Aid Fund.

• 1933

  Obnova plays a key role in preparing the 'Ukrainian Youth in Christ' congress in Lviv, attended by over 200 students.

• 1931

  Obnova becomes a member of the international Catholic movement Pax Romana.

• 1930

  Obnova founded in Lviv as a society of Ukrainian Catholic students.

Ukrainian Catholic student society focused on youth mission and self-education

1. 1Obnova Club - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Обнова (общество) - Wikipedia (Russian)ru.wikipedia.org