September 20-27, 2025

Praised be Jesus Christ!

This week in Fastiv was special.

Not just because we have conducted another course.

And because we touched the very depth of human pain – and light.

At the social center of the Holy Name of Jesus, on the street Kyivska, 57, within five days we received 15 women – mothers of fallen defenders of Ukraine.

Each has her own way. Someone’s son died a year ago, someone – ten. But the pain does not end over time. It changes. It lives in memory, in silence, in gaze, in prayer.

And very often – in loneliness. That is why these meetings are not just a “rehabilitation course”. It is a community of presence where you can be real. Where you can remain silent – and others will understand you. Someone will take your hand when they do not find words.

What was this week?

• iconography, where every mother created her icon – the image of faith, pain and hope.

• Psychological support – careful, gentle, with attention to every heart.

• Spiritual meetings, prayer, silence, community.

• bodily practices, and physical rehabilitation, special therapy, hydromassage, heat therapy, which help the body to breathe, and souls – to recover.

• A real female circle that does not need explanation.

In conclusion, each mother brought her written icon.

And she put it next to her son’s portrait.

We consecrated these icons.

And it seems that at this moment – for a short moment – the sky leaned closer to the earth.

We are grateful to

• every mom – for trust, for openness, for tears and smiles.

• volunteers, specialists, all who served this week – with love and silence.

• those who prayed, supported, believed.

• those who were just around.

We believe that healing is possible. Not always fast. Not always noticeable. But it lives.

Also thank you to those who supported these days of our Catholic Gymnasium students. It is nice that one beautiful family became the “parents” of our institution. They decided to help another child. Also, one month of our work was paid by a family from Italy, and our friends from Poland paid 3 educational scholarships.

Thank you to our volunteers in Kherson, who, despite the danger, do good every day.

We are nearby.

With prayers

Fr. Mykhailo Romaniv OP