UKRAINE
EYE-WITNESS TESTIMONIES OF THE SITUATION
acnmalta.org/ukraine
NUNS TAKING IN FAMILIES, A SIGN OF HOPE
The Sisters are caring for elderly and sick people
Despite the increasing risk of remaining in Ukraine’s warzones, Religious communities have stayed behind to serve the people. Magda Kaczmarek, Ukraine Project Manager for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), is in constant touch with the Charity’s project partners.
She maintains close contact with several Orders of Nuns in the war area. “The Sisters are full of fear and anxiety, but they also feel upheld by prayer and by a worldwide wave of solidarity,” she reports. Magda speaks movingly of a conversation with a Nun from a convent in northern Ukraine. For security reasons neither the Nun’s name, nor the location can be revealed, but media reports confirm there is fierce fighting in this town. Several times during the night, the Sisters have had to take displaced people in the basement; they sleep in their habits and veils, so that they can run out of their rooms at any time. At night, the whole convent is kept in
Aid to the Church in Need www.acnmalta.org
darkness, so as not to attract attacks. In recent days, the Nuns have tried to continue their convent life as much as possible. However, Sisters playing with displaced children the mobile phone is now a constant companion their families: this was, and still is, a even at the liturgy of the very important mission. For many local hours, Madga reports: “In this way, they people, the Sisters are also a sign of hope can always get an early warning when and guidance. Many neighbours say: “We another attack starts.” are staying as long as the Sisters stay. However, even the convent’s basement has become too unsafe due to When they go, we go too.” Despite the depressing situation, the fierce fighting, so at night the Nuns there are also glimmers of hope. “The now take displaced people in an air-raid Nuns receive news from all around the shelter. Several bombs have already world that people are thinking of them landed near the convent, killing a young and praying for them. The friends and family, reports Magda Kaczmarek. “The neighbours of the convent also show the Sisters are now hosting three families Nuns great solidarity, although these in the convent, who were very fearful people are themselves in great distress,” for their lives.” This is not a new task reports ACN’s Ukraine Project Manager. for the Nuns, because even before the ACN helped to fund the building of attack by Russian troops began at the this convent and for many years has end of February, many people came to also contributed to the living expenses them, including families affected by the of the Sisters, who are grateful to ACN war that began in 2014. They provided for its solidarity and closeness. spiritual care for the wounded and
Aid to the Church in Need (Malta), 35, Mdina Road, Attard, ATD 9038 Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church and registered in Malta Reg. No. LPF-212, as a Foundation regulated by the second schedule of the Civil Code Chapter (16) of the Laws of Malta. VO/2227
Latin-rite Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv-Zaporiyia (right) and Bishop Mytrofan from Kharkiv-Bohodukhovsk (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) (left) visiting an injured man (© ACN)
Of all the Ukrainian cities currently under attack, Kharkov is one of the most targeted. On 1st March, a missile struck the house of the Roman Catholic Bishop, Pavlo Honcharuk, tearing a hole in the roof. No one was injured. “So now we too have received one of these ‘presents’,” said the Bishop in a short video message which he sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Bishop Honcharuk told ACN of the great damage that has occurred in other parts of the city – not to mention the numerous deaths. The image of the missile attack on Freedom Square in central Kharkiv went around the world. A government building there was destroyed, and many people were killed. The Russian military has claimed repeatedly that no civilian targets in Ukraine would be attacked. Yet another
video clip sent to ACN shows badly damaged apartment blocks which, according to the Bishop, lie opposite a destroyed factory. “Those were flats. All the windows were blown out. Many people were killed. The overhead cables of a bus route were destroyed,” Bishop Honcharuk says, obviously shocked by what he sees. Several burnt-out cars and craters caused by the explosions are visible in the streets. A solitary old man is trudging along the road and the Bishop warns him to be careful. In the video, Bishop Honcharuk looks into a car: “There was shooting here. There is blood here.” Despite the damage, work in the Bishop’s house carries on unhindered: women in the kitchen are preparing hot meals which are taken to two nearby underground stations where hundreds of people are sheltering. Bishop Honcharuk found refuge from the attacks in a bunker, along with about 40 other
If you wish to receive this leaflet by post please send us your contact details via SMS on 7999 9969
Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk’s house, from the Diocese of KharkivZaporizhia, damaged due to the attacks
people, including Bishop Mytrofan, from the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Together, these two brother Bishops have been visiting the injured in hospital and taking part in food distributions. The situation in Kharkiv and in other places is becoming increasingly critical. In view of the escalating crisis, ACN is supporting Priests and Religious in Ukraine, so that they can continue their pastoral and charitable work.