Przemyśl, 23 November 2024
The war in Ukraine has been going on for over 1000 days. Unfortunately, the situation for the inhabitants is deteriorating and people are losing hope. The Felician Sisters in our Przemyśl Province are continuing to help all those in need in various ways.
The sisters continue to provide material assistance to families from Ukraine through the “Family to Family” program. They provide material support to four elderly and sick residents of the DPS in Chmielnik, near Rzeszów, where our sisters serve. They are still preparing parcels for families from eastern Ukraine, which they are distributing through Caritas Przemyśl (currently, they are preparing 200 more 18-kilogram parcels); they also provided financial help for those in need through Bishop Edward Kawa (Bishop of Lviv).
The sisters serving in Zabłotów and Kosovo support people spiritually and materially. They have the opportunity to continue running the day-care centers for pre-school children. They also maintain good contact with parents, conducting monthly meetings and, if necessary, devoting time to individual conversations. On the occasion of various holidays, they organize an action with children and parents to help families living in the eastern territories of Ukraine or for the residents of the DPS in Zabłotów. And, of course, every day they pray with the children for the end of the war, for their loved ones, for all those fighting for Ukraine’s freedom, and for the victims of this war.
Last week, together with children, the sisters prepared gingerbread cookies for the elderly and sick from Zaporizhia, who are transported to the DPS in Zabłotów. At the parish in Kosovo, under the leadership of the parish priest, the Help Center for the needy remains open, and they are trying to support the Center financially.
From the parish priest’s account:
Since September, the Centre has been open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. At this time, the families of refugees from eastern Ukraine who live in our area and the local families of soldiers come. Every two weeks each family receives such a package of oil, tea, pasta, sugar, flour, peas, various types of groats.
In September, 279 families (568 people, including 131 children) received help, and in October – 275 families (571 people, including 138 children). Children are additionally given snacks, crisps and juices.
During this time (September, October), 20 parcels were sent to specific places in the east of Ukraine – groceries (such as mentioned above), socks, medicine and personal hygiene products.
The sisters from Zabłotów provide help to families displaced from the eastern territories as well as many others, providing hygiene products, buying medicines. They purchased and sent medical supplies for the residents of Kherson (it is currently very dangerous to reach this area) and medical supplies for the hospital. On Sunday, November 17, on the occasion of the Day of the Poor, with the support of the parishioners, the sisters and the parish priest visited the elderly at the DPS, giving them gifts. At the moment, with the participation of children and parents from the Community Center, they are preparing Santa Claus parcels for children from Kherson.
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, the sisters in Zabłotów celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Common Room of Blessed Mary Angela. They joined in thanksgiving and praise to God for all the graces they received, which God had given to the sisters, families, and children over the course of 25 years, asking for God’s blessing for the years to come. The Provincial Superior, the Councilors and several sisters who worked in Ukraine went to this ceremony.
The solemn Holy Mass was presided over by Bishop Edward Kawa. Fr. Jan Radoń, who invited the Felician Sisters to Zabłotów, was present, along with the parish priest and other invited priests who served in this parish. The Holy Mass was attended by children using the Common Room, their parents and parishioners, as well as representatives of the city authorities. The program of the Jubilee celebrations included a joint meeting, games for children, thanks of priests, parishioners and children, as well as representatives of the city authorities, for the presence, prayer, work of the sisters, for spiritual and material support.
On Sunday, October 6, 2024, they visited the sisters in Kosovo and participated in the Holy Mass. They also had the opportunity to meet with the parish priest and parishioners. Everyone expresses gratitude for the presence of the sisters, their work and the help provided. The people of Ukraine always express their gratitude to all donors and remember everyone in their prayers.
Sister Maria Oksana Zhownir, Provincial Councilor
Our Lady of Częstochowa Province, Przemyśl
