May 18-25, 2024

Fastiv, 18.05-25.05.2024

Praised be Jesus Christ!

We are always accompanied by some statistics, this week – it was the 30th humanitarian mission to the Kherson region. We somehow became “specially related” with the administrator of the social kitchen and bakery Ms. Olena, volunteers, employees of the Kherson military administration, ordinary residents and our beloved Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, headed by Father Maxim and Mr. Serhiy. Humanitarian aid for the South did not stop from the days of occupation and after liberation. We are grateful to all the Benefactors and people of good will!

We brought building materials and the necessary tools for the reconstruction of the village to the village headman Igor in Inhulets. In Kherson, volunteers packed food kits for needy bedridden, disabled people. Sometimes we hear the question: “the war lasts 2 years already, why are you still helping?” The reality of the city is that there is not a day without shelling and not a single night in peace. There are very few jobs in the city, single and elderly people often live only on pension payments or those who do not have social assistance. And they just don’t have the strength to go out to the store and quickly come back.. How to stay away here…

Our volunteer Mr. Ireneusz came from Poland to Kherson this week, and he expressed his desire to stay in Kherson for a whole month. He will deliver lunches to the needy in the most remote villages where there is no electricity. Now the situation in the south is very tense and difficult, entry for foreigners is only with the prior consent of the military commander with an agreed route. We are grateful to Mr. Ireneusz’s family for supporting Ukraine in this difficult time.

In Kherson, together with the partners of the NGO Silni Bo Vilni, we are continuing the project of evacuating people with reduced mobility. In May, more than 150 people were evacuated, unfortunately, residents only contact us when there is a “hit” near their home.

This week we were visited in Fastiv by the Dominican Sisters from Grenada, Spain, who more than 25 years ago made the roof and floor coverings in the so-called “old school” house, which in 2015 opened after extensive renovations and became the St. Martin Center. The sisters dreamed of opening a Catholic school in Fastiv, certain circumstances forced them to move to Kyiv, and there the sisters work with children to this day. Sister Antonia, who in the community of sisters from the very beginning of their mission in Ukraine was very happy that their dream came true and the St. Martin de Porres Catholic School was opened in our Center, which now actually opened enrollment for classes 1-4, we invite you to study. We are writing this weekly report to you, and our thoughts are with the families from Kharkiv who were affected by the explosion. May the missing be found…

This week they provided assistance to children’s institutions and our Defenders. The greatest need is diapers for the bedridden and children, as well as wet wipes, hygiene products, long-term storage products, coffee and tea, and alternative means of lighting. We sent out all of these requests this week. If you can, support us so that we can continue to help those who are weaker.

We do not stop at the joint project with our Partners Mrs. Victoria Kramarenko from the “Wings of Victory” charitable foundation and Mr. Oleksandr Klymenko. More than 1,078 veterans received medical transfer services, 129 veterans received rehabilitation services in the pool and 68 people received hippotherapy. Another 340 people received medical support and 110 veterans received physical therapy. This project is very important for families of veterans who feel supported and professionally cared of.

This week, we distributed 21,000 kg of humanitarian aid and provided 2,981 basic food kits for victims of Russia’s military aggression. We thank the parishioners from Zwolle, the Netherlands, Mr. Peter and Franz for their financial support for the humanitarian missions. Thank you friends and volunteers for being there. I wish Ukraine a peaceful Sunday.

With prayers,

Fr. Mykhailo Romaniv OP