The Catholic Church of Ukraine helps war refugees

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Catholic churches across Ukraine are opening their doors to help war refugees, especially the most vulnerable.

In the aftermath of the war, a mixture of uncertainty and fear reigns in Ukraine, reports Magda Kaczmarek, project officer for Ukraine at the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) foundation. As such, she is in constant contact with the partners of the project in the field of the two rites of the Catholic Church.

“The main bishops of the country have launched an appeal not to leave the country. It’s a tough decision, especially for priests in the Greek Catholic Church, many of whom are married. They fear less for their own lives than for the safety of their children and family,” says Kaczmarek.

Project partners from Kyiv and many other cities across the country reported shooting and explosions. Many spent the night in presbyteries and bunkers, says Kaczmarek. It is unknown which target will be attacked next.

Brovary (a suburb of the capital Kyiv/Kiev) in Ukraine: The word ‘shelter’ and arrows point the way to refuge from attack.

Aid to the Church in Need

Pauline priest Roman Laba, from Brovary, a suburb of the capital Kiev, said in a video message to ACN that a rocket attack on the city at 5 a.m. Thursday morning killed seven people and injured 17. The city ​​has experienced a total of seven rocket attacks, pushing many people to move west.

“The first panic has passed for now. Many people came to the parish looking for help and shelter, so we set up emergency accommodation in the basement of our monastery and in the unfinished monastery church. At the moment we have about 80 people with us, including members of the parish and people from the surrounding buildings,” Fr. Roman explains. “Please pray for Ukraine,” the message concludes.

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The Pauline Fathers created emergency shelters in the basement of the parish presbytery and the unfinished church.

Aid to the Church in Need

From a village near Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine, Brother Vasyl informed ACN: “We don’t have time to be afraid. We stay and help people to survive this situation. Mariupol, a major port, is only 60 kilometers (less than 40 miles) from the Russian border and very close to areas under separatist control, and is therefore also under heavy fire. The threats and fear of further escalation are growing hour by hour.

This is also reflected in the attitude of the people, reports the priest. “Some people came to see us to confess for the first time in their lives. Old and sick people ask us to go see them and hear their confession. They want to be ready for death should it come to that.

In addition to spiritual accompaniment, he is currently involved, with the help of lay people, in evacuating children from poor families and bringing them to safety in the countryside of central Ukraine. “The children are all traumatized, because there was shooting in the area here. We calm them down and say they need a break,” Brother Vasyl reports.

The ACN is also in contact with Bishop Jan Sobilo, of Saporischschja, which is also found in eastern Ukraine. Archbishop Sobilo is from Poland, but rejects any suggestion of going to safety. “I came here to serve the people,” he says, expressing his hope saying “this terrible time of war must also turn into a blessing, so that kindness and love may prevail.” However, he does not rule out a bombardment of his city, and continues to hope for help from ACN: “The foundation is always on our side. If the worst comes to the worst, keep helping us.

In response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the worldwide pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need sends aid of one million euros (more than one million dollars). According to a statement by ACN President Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern, this aid program is intended for priests and religious who work throughout the country in parishes, with refugees, in orphanages and in homes of retirement.

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