Orionine Missionaries continue to serve in Ukraine despite the dangers of the continuing Russian invasion.
“The scenes of thousands of people fleeing, which you see on television, we see live, every day, every night, when someone suddenly arrives with desperation on their faces, the tiredness of three/four days of travel. A hint of a smile returns and they express their big thanks when they see themselves protected in a house where there is a bed, a piece of bread, and other people who have arrived in their same condition who welcome them and go out of their way to alleviate the fear and the pain, with the four things collected in a hurry and placed in the improvised suitcase”. This is what Fr. Moreno Cattelan, an Orionine missionary priest in Lviv reports, speaking of the activity they are carrying out in Ukraine, reported Fides News Agency.
The priest recalls: “our life in the mission in Kiev as in Lviv changed completely on February 24, 2022”, nevertheless he reiterates: “We are determined not to leave our people, our position, our mission. We are working day and night on the charity front. Driven by the example of St Luigi Orione who surely would have left Tortona to be here among the refugees who fled from the fury of the bombs that pushes them to look for a way out. He is not there, but we are there and there are many confreres in Italy who have made their homes and their time available to welcome those who flee. With them, the whole Orionine family mobilized to deal above all with the refugee emergency”. Don Cattelan says that in L’viv the Orionini are dedicated to welcoming refugees, making available about thirty beds, especially reserved for mothers with small children or people with disabilities. “These people can stay with us as long as necessary until they find new accommodation here in L’viv or elsewhere. For those who want to leave the country, we give the opportunity to reach one of the reception centers that our Congregation has activated in Italy. Since our monastery has rooms with three/four beds, a kitchen, a refectory, a laundry room, a meeting room, etc. we did not need volunteers. They are in fact the same guests who provide for each other’s needs. As if they were one big family hit by a common tragedy. Living with us, they understand that the fear and trauma suffered, especially by children forced to live for days in bunkers, can only be overcome by being united and demonstrating that the ‘dynamite’ of charity unites and changes people’s hearts and actions.
Only the animators of the oratory come to entertain the group of children”.
Finally, the Orionine missionary underlines that “war changes people, it is changing the face of our cities, it is upsetting the whole world. But also many gestures of charity and closeness change people’s hearts. They create proximity and the search for God. That God whom we invoke several times a day to ask for the gift of peace. “War is madness”, Pope Francis reminded us. What we are experiencing firsthand has no rational explanation. Absolutely. Charity yes. Peace yes. Fraternity yes”. The Orionine nuns, who had to leave Kharkiv together with the 20 mothers and 24 children they assist, are in Jazlowiec (near Gròdek), guests of the Sisters of the Niepokalanek Monastery. Sister M. Kamila says: “Thanks to the kindness and generosity of so many benefactors from Poland, Italy, and Switzerland, we are receiving many essential goods for daily life. It is incredible! Money, diapers, cakes, clothing, blankets, sleeping bags … Everywhere there are drawings of children with the Ukrainian flag and greetings. Tears flow from our eyes … In this story of evil and destruction, a story of good, beauty, compassion, and kindness is written forever! “Only charity can save the world!”
Thanks to everyone!!!”
“Together with the mothers, we sort out the humanitarian aid and share it with those who are worse off than us, especially sending it to the eastern areas and to our beloved city of Kharkiv … Today we sent an entire bus. Tomorrow, if possible, another bus will go to Korotycz with food and provisions for the children. Please pray for their good journey! We admire the people who, despite the danger, deliver these aids risking their lives! Especially our priests who remained in Kharkiv! Pray for peace soon, the peace that we all need! Pray for Ukraine!”
