October 18-25, 2025

Praised be Jesus Christ!

The week in which we conduct rehabilitation for our mothers of fallen defenders is always exceptional. We touch on something very intimate — the wounds left by the war. A five-day course of assistance is aimed at giving the opportunity to sanctify these wounds with God’s touch — through the presence, prayer and help of our specialists.

In this report, I would like to especially thank everyone who is involved in this cause: the benefactors who support financially, our Dominican family, all specialists and volunteers.

Special thanks to Ms. Lyudmila Jaresko for the delicious lunches, Ms. Yana Bozhar — the program coordinator and Ms. Olya and the Kvity dlya tebe (“Flowers for you”) store for the flower therapy courses.

In contrast, in Kherson this week was especially difficult in our Shumen district.

Not far from us, houses were burning, daily shelling is becoming more and more intense. Our friend Andriy (a boxer), who evacuates people from dangerous places, shared a video where he takes away the body of an elderly woman who died just during lunch. She was eating soup cooked in our kitchen.

At that moment, the enemy dropped a shell.

This story is not just another pain of war. It is a sign that evil is trying to destroy even our most ordinary moments of life.

I will add a photo of that tureen – as a symbol of the memory of the deceased woman, prayers for her and our protest against this evil.

Despite everything, we believe that we can bring God’s light into the darkness brought by war.

As Saint Paul says, evil can only be defeated by good.

We continue to help our military – especially those who need heating. We send aid to the Pokrovsk direction and to the South, we take care of our defenders.

We sincerely thank everyone who is nearby, who supports, prays, helps. May God protect you and Ukraine!

With prayers

Fr. Mykhailo Romaniv OP