In these dark moments, when war and conflict between brotherly peoples are getting the upper hand over peace and sharing, the friars of the Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony wish to thank all those who are praying for this war to end and who are making donations to the people of Ukraine.
The news and images coming from Ukraine are unacceptable. Mothers and children fleeing, frightened elderly people, destroyed schools and hospitals. War, unfortunately, only brings destruction.
Special prayers go to our brothers in the Provincial Custody of the Holy Cross in Ukraine, which immediately sprang to its feet to help: it welcomed refugees in its friaries, it took humanitarian aid and helped people relocate to bordering countries.
Stanisław Pękala, the Custody’s secretary, writes to us, “We cannot remain indifferent to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. People are dying every day and the country we are living in is falling to pieces before our eyes. The war is being waged on different fronts. The most visible one is aggressiveness and hatred. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled from their homes and from war-torn areas. Thousands of mothers with their children are camped at train stations and along bordering countries. The Custody has five friaries. Two are located east of the Dnepr river: Kremenchuk e Boryspil, and three are to the west: Leopoli, Bilshivtsi e Mackivci. The friaries in the western part of the country are welcoming those fleeing the war. In the east they are helping the homeless and those needing food, hygiene and medical assistance.” He continues, “In these days, as chaos and evil increase day by day, we maintain our hope that the war will end soon. Your prayers and words of comfort along with material help are of great help to us. Despite the grave difficulties we continue to help the needy.”
Let us make our own the words of Pope Francis after this year’s Angelus on Sunday, March 6,
Dear brothers and sisters, rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine. It is not merely a military operation, but a war, which sows death, destruction and misery. […] War is madness! Stop, please! Look at this cruelty!
Our brothers and sisters in Ukraine need our help! Our friaries in Ukraine, Poland and Romania are currently offering refuge and taking humanitarian aid to people feeling the conflict as well as to those who have chosen to remain in their homes and have been hard hit by the violence of the war.
Please support our fellow friars in Ukraine in their effort to help the country’s beleaguered population in St. Anthony’s name.
You may do so through a donation for the emergency in Ukraine – DONATE NOW
May the good Lord grant us peace!
photo credit - Brothers of the Provincial Custody of the Holy Cross in Ukraine