A JOURNEY OF FAITH AND MISSION
STORY OF THE FOUNDER
I was born in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, a land that has endured profound suffering. For over 70 years, the shadow of Soviet rule darkened our nation, stripping away faith, identity, and dignity. Then, in 2014, another storm came—war. What began as an invasion grew into a brutal, full-scale assault that has now raged since February 24, 2022, all caused by Russia.
Faith was not something openly practiced in my family, yet there was one exception—my grandmother, Vera. When I was about seven years old, she called me close to the corner of her room with an icon of Our Lady holding Jesus and taught me the Our Father prayer. “In case God exists, you need to know this prayer,” she said. I had no idea at the time, but those simple words would become the greatest inheritance she could have ever given me.
At 18, I discovered something that would change my life forever. My mother, without my knowledge, entered my name into the U.S. Green Card Lottery—and I had won. I was stunned. Suddenly, a door stood open before me, but stepping through it meant leaving behind everything I knew—my family, my friends, my home. It was the hardest decision I had ever faced. Yet, looking back now, I can see how God had already set a path before me, one that would shape my future and call me to a mission far greater than I could have imagined.
A New Life in a Foreign Land
Arriving in the United States as a young immigrant was not easy. Everything was unfamiliar—the language, the culture, the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Like so many who leave their homeland, I struggled to find my place. But in my hardest moment, I remembered my grandmother’s words and began to pray the Our Father once more. That prayer became my anchor, my bridge to something greater. Through it, I came to understand that God was not just an idea, not a distant figure in the sky—He was a loving, omnipotent Father who was guiding me even when I could not see the way.
To learn English, I spent hours watching old black-and-white movies with subtitles. Many of them depicted Catholic churches, priests celebrating Holy Mass, and nuns quietly praying the Rosary. These images, though foreign to me, stirred something deep within. I didn’t yet understand why, but I felt drawn to explore this faith that seemed to hold such beauty and mystery.
A Call to Mission
Eventually, my journey led me to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. It was there that my life took a profound turn. I began attending Holy Mass at the Catholic Church regularly, and soon, it became the most important part of my daily life. I realized that Jesus was waiting for me each morning in the Holy Eucharist, drawing me closer to Him, giving me a deeper understanding of my freedom in Him. My heart longed to give everything and to dedicate my life entirely to Him and to live this mission of helping others come to know the love of God the Father.
I began to pray and seek direction, spending many hours in Adoration, asking for clarity on how exactly my mission would take shape. At one point, I considered joining the Peace Corps to serve in Ethiopia. But then, I came across the words of Mother Teresa:
“Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are—in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see.”
Those words struck my heart. I realized my mission was not in Africa—it was in Ukraine, my own homeland. That was where I was needed most.
Chalice of Mercy: A Love Story
On September 14, 2007, with the help of friends, I founded Chalice of Mercy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to God the Father. And it became more than just a nonprofit—it became a love story, one that continues to unfold each day, each hour, each moment.
For nearly two decades, my team and I have worked to restore the dignity of life that was stripped away during the Soviet era. We have worked hard to uphold the value of life, the sanctity of family, and the freedom of faith—fundamental truths that had been suppressed for generations. Yet, in all the work we do, our mission remains the same: to live our faith so that others may come to know God as a loving Father.
Two Homes, One Heart
In 2010, I became a U.S. citizen, embracing the country that had given me so much. I have now lived in the United States for 23 years, and for 18 of those years, my heart has been devoted to serving my people in Ukraine. This journey was only possible because of the kindness and generosity of the American people, whose compassion for Ukraine has given me the strength and means to help those in need.
Though life has taken me far from where I was born, my soul remains deeply connected to Ukraine. No matter where I am, I carry it within me. I am, and always will be, a daughter of my homeland—forever rooted deeply in the land of my birth, forever grateful for the country that allowed me to flourish and continue my mission.
And so, the journey continues.
Valentyna Pavsyukova
Founder/President – Chalice of Mercy