The diocese of Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia has suffered particularly hard from the war in eastern Ukraine. Of the 70,000 or so Latin Catholics who formerly lived in the diocese only around 2500 still remain. The rest have been forced to flee, either into central or western Ukraine or further abroad. Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk tells us that in many of the parishes around 90% of the faithful have left, adding however that „the priests have stayed on and are ministering to the remaining Catholic faithful, and to others who seek God and are coming into the churches for spiritual support.“ But the church collections have all but dried up, while energy costs are soaring and the general running costs still have to be met. He has asked our help for 25 of the parishes in his diocese, so that the pastoral work can continue. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to contribute 40,000 Euros.
Franciscan Capuchin Father Jaroslav Fedirchuk writes to us from Dnipro: „The situation here in Dnipro is still very dangerous. We are constantly hearing air raid alarms and living day and night under stress. The spiritual and emotional tension hangs in the air, and the number of war victims is rising daily – including those people suffering deep trauma. Nonetheless, we want our dear benefactors to know that despite the ongoing war we continue to remain at our spiritual posts and will not abandon the faithful“.
He continues: „We are there to serve all in need. We celebrate the Eucharist daily, hear confessions, prepare adults and children and newcomers into our communities for their First Confession and First Holy Communion, and also for Baptism, Confirmation and the sacrament of Matrimony. We help wherever needed, without regard to the possible danger of air attacks.“
The parish priest of Saint Anthony‘s parish in Nikopol also reports: „Ever since the first months of the war, Nikopol has been bombarded almost daily with heavy artillery and most recently with drone attacks. Many people have left the city, while those who have remained are trying to adapt their lives to the daily dangers and stresses. Many people find it hard to leave their family homes, which mean so much to them, hoping and trusting, day after day that they will continue to be spared from the disaster – although no one can give them such a guarantee. People are trying to live as normally as possible, but not all of them survive to see the next day“.
He continues: „We are comforted by the fact that in the midst of the darkness of evil that surrounds us there is still space to encounter God, by hearing his word and receiving Holy Communion, by praying the Rosary and comforting those who suffer. Whenever we see people in need of help, we share what we have with them. It is only a drop in the ocean, but we believe that is important and necessary. We thank all our brothers and sisters for their help and their friendship towards our people. Let us pray to our loving God and that those who have set out on the path of evil may come to their senses. May the Lord give us all a heart ready to do penance, for God ‘wills not the death of the sinner but rather that he may be converted and live‘…“
Bishop Honcharuk thanks us on behalf of all the 25 parishes you have helped and writes, „May the good Lord bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for peace, in Ukraine and in all the world.»
