December, 31, 2023 – January, 6, 2024

Fastiv, 31.12.2023-6.1.2024

Christ was born!

The beginning of a new year always means plans and new challenges, various perspectives. I think that it is difficult for many of us to look ahead because of the situation in Ukraine, with massive shelling and night and morning alarms. Always in such moments, the words of the Apostle Paul are remembered: “Lift up your eyes to where God is,” remembering that He is our hope. The time of Christmas holidays, joint meetings, greetings is a powerful sign of unity and a ray of light that strengthens the steps and forces on the way to the Victory.

We are not alone in these difficult days. For example, Mr. Joerg Schneider, head of the climate protection and energy saving department at the DB Cargo company in Mainz, Germany, visited us. We thank Mrs. Kateryna Molchanova for her care – she introduced us and took care of our children. Thank you, all the employees of the company, who have collected 111 gifts, and Mr. Joerg himself personally delivered these exceptional gifts for the children.

We also thank the International Solidarity Foundation for the refrigerators, washing machines, and microwaves that were brought to the residents of our Shelter, and we are very grateful to Ms. Monika Kapa Cichocka for supporting this project.

Thank you very much for the memory and support of humanitarian missions to the secular community from Zwolle, Mr. Peter and Frans van der Heijdt, may you not lack the strength of God’s blessing.

We thank the director of Univest Marketing, Mr. Volodymyr Kudryashov, for the 10 pallets of children’s toys that we received during these holidays. We are very grateful for your memory and care during this difficult time.

This week, we have distributed 1,219 basic food kits. In total, we have provided 10,300 kg of humanitarian aid. Addressed aid was sent to hundreds of forcibly displaced persons who are in difficult circumstances, thanks to the Nova Poshta Humanitarian company.

We remember our Defenders, this week we handed over to the Southern and Eastern directions, 12 generators, 7 stoves, 30 sets of thermal clothes, which were sewn by our tailoring workshop. We thank Ms. Oksana Volkova for all the efforts and organization of the fast tailoring. Thank you to each of you for each donation and offering. In these weeks, we are collecting 118,000 UAH for 200 tourniquets for the Armed Forces, we will be grateful for your support, donations and reposts.

Celebrating the Epiphany, the stubbornness of the wise men from the East, who, looking into the sky, set off in search of the King Messiah, are not stopped by circumstances, fatigue, or even King Herod. May God grant us to pass through this year, through trials and discouragement, to seek the Cross that saves in spite of everything.

With prayers

Fr. Mykhailo Romaniv OP