October 12-19, 2024

Fastiv, 12.10-19.10.2024

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Last Sunday, a charity fair was held in Warsaw to raise funds for those affected by the flood in Poland. The special emphasis was on the icons painted on the stones representing Noah, Aries and Doves. All this is very symbolic, because Noah is the one who survived the flood, and the dove brought the first olive branch when the water receded. All collected funds are intended to overcome the consequences of the disaster and help specific families. Thanks to the artists Oleksandr Klymenko and Sonya Atlantova, thanks to Charytatywni Freta.

This week, we sent targeted help to 100 families in various cities and towns, and provided assistance to our military personnel, particularly in the hospital. We received help from a fraternal Christian community in Khmelnytskyi region, all this support from Partners will be delivered to the front-line Kherson, where we support the victims in various ways, providing social services at different levels of support. Despite numerous obstacles and constant shelling, we run a social kitchen, bakery, and laundry. Together with the Silni Bo Vilni NGO, the much-needed evacuation of those of limited mobility continues, we thank our volunteers who serve on the spot.

We thank the Dominican sisters from Zhovkva for the provided warm blankets from which we will sew sleeping bags for the Armed Forces. Also, thank you for the baby food we received from you. Thank you to our Friends of the community of lay Dominicans from Zwolle for the support they sent this week, it is very important for us especially now, despite the distance, thank you for your closeness.

This week, October 16 was World Bread Day, which draws attention to the issue of hunger and food shortages. Bread is a symbol of wealth and abundance, despite its simplicity of preparation and composition. We bake bread in our bakeries in Fastiv and Kherson, we distribute it free of charge in order to reduce the pain of those suffering in the front-line cities and to help maintain the balance of needs, because bread on ordinary sourdough has the taste and smell of home, which, unfortunately, the war steals from us.

I pray for a just peace. Please help close the shelter heating fee,

https://send.monobank.ua/jar/8J2hnNqAVm

Thank you.

With prayers

Fr. Mykhailo Romaniv OP