Ukraine: Calling for peace on the 4th anniversary of the conflict

Ukraine. On the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, as the Country celebrates the Second National Day of Prayer, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Mother of God Preprovince (EEG) continue to raise a single, insistent prayer to the Lord for the gift of peace. For four years, they have accompanied their people with hope in their suffering, entrusting every tear to the Heart of God, to whom the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine have dedicated the year 2026.

On this day, Sister Natalia Vakulishyna will travel to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Berdychiv to participate in the Rosary, organized globally by Radio Maria and broadcast live internationally. It will be an extraordinary moment of supplication for peace that will unite the entire Church. The celebration will be presided over by the Ordinary Bishop of the Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, His Excellency Vitaliy Kryvytskyi.

The Rosary will be prayed in several languages—Ukrainian, Italian, English, Polish, and Latin—and Sister Natalia will lead a decade in English. Following this, the Bishop will celebrate Holy Mass, joining the local and universal Church in this intense prayer for peace.

The FMA, in Kyiv as in the other communities, faithfully continue their ordinary activities: school, welcoming children and parents, accompanying those who are suffering, the injured in hospitals, those who have lost loved ones, and those awaiting family members detained or imprisoned in Russia. The Sisters in Kyiv are also fully involved in youth ministry at the diocesan level. Last week, they contributed to the youth animators’ course together with the Salesians of Don Bosco, and to the organizational meetings in preparation for the Diocesan Adolescent Festival—to be held in May 2026, involving 400 adolescents—and the Youth Festival, in September 2026.

We firmly believe that, after such a harsh winter in Kyiv—months without heat, without electricity, with temperatures dropping below -20°C—spring will come. We will go through the season of Lent and prepare for Easter with renewed hearts. We pray with the children at school, in the parish, with the educating community and the local Church. We remain close to our people and rekindle hope. Even in the darkness of war, we believe that God continues to work and that peace is a gift that is possible,” says Sister Natalia.

Sister Teresa Matyja shares the situation of Odessa:

Four years have passed since we woke up on the morning of 24 February  2022, and heard that the war had begun. Four years of living and waiting for peace to come, for everything to return to normal, even if that normality would never be the same again. The experience of war, of constant alarms and bombings, the fear of so many, and the desperation in the eyes of many.

I would like to share the current situation of people living in Odessa and the region. Being with people, talking to them, everything they experience deeply resonates in the heart.

There is currently a major problem with electricity and water shortages. And despite all this, this year’s winter is long and arduous. Electricity is frequently cut off, more often absent than present. In some areas of Odessa and the region, people have been without electricity for weeks. And when there’s no electricity, water and heating are often also lacking. If they have a generator, they only turn it on as a last resort, because it’s very expensive. Some also use a power station, but only a few have them.

In most cases, children are learning remotely; schools aren’t equipped to accommodate everyone. When a power outage occurs, there’s no internet, and the cycle closes.

The effects of the cold are very serious; people are getting sick. Medicines are very expensive, and not everyone can afford them. All of this is a consequence of the cold. If children go to school, when the alarm sounds, they have to take refuge in shelters where the temperature hovers around 7 degrees Celsius, sometimes even lower. And then come the illnesses. We’re helping as much as we can, donating funds for treatment, fuel, and food. We’ve also bought flashlights.

The situation is very difficult. We are all waiting for the weather to improve a bit, because the cold is making itself felt. In Odessa, it’s very humid, with a hint of sea air, and often there is a strong wind. People are going through a very difficult time, so we are trying to help them as much as we can.

People sleep with woolen hats, under blankets. Despite everything, we do not lose hope. We try to be with them, help them, talk to them, and encourage them to pray. What can we do without God?

Some people also suffer from depression. Due to stress and fear, many children develop diabetes. Both those suffering from depression and those with diabetes need resources for treatment. Assistance programs exist. But are they accessible to everyone?

This is why I consider our presence a friendly one. We show people that they are not alone and that someone cares about them. We don’t act alone. We are merely intermediaries, a bridge between those who want to help and those who desperately need it. We don’t lose hope; we persevere, and, drawing strength and power from prayer and a living relationship with God, we share faith, hope, and love.

Living here and experiencing all this teaches us a different perspective on reality and on living in the here and now, without grand plans. We are in God’s hands and we allow ourselves to be guided to join Him in accompanying those in need.”

The testimony of Sister Jolanta Lisak, from Lviv:

On 24 February  2022, none of us could have imagined that this horrible war would last until today. Perhaps the first days, weeks, and months of the war were the most difficult. We were not prepared for the arrival of the war with its cruelty.

The initial period brought us urgent challenges. In the early days, we worked with young women at home to bandage the wounded and set up camouflage nets to help save our defenders. Then the trains began arriving with refugees from eastern Ukraine, so we welcomed mothers with young children into our homes and helped refugees housed in the schools.

Thanks to the overwhelming solidarity and the great support of the volunteers, we were able to receive and distribute humanitarian aid from around the world. Every day, week, month, and year brings new challenges related to the conflict.

After four years, no one has gotten used to war, but we have learned to live in wartime conditions. The face of war has changed, but unfortunately, it hasn’t lost its cruelty. We in Lviv are in the Western part of Ukraine and are less bombed than in the East, but bombs still fall here every now and then. We hear the “sounds of war” almost every day because our house in Lviv is near the Field of Mars, the cemetery where the soldiers—Heroes of Ukraine—who defended us are buried.

Around noon, we hear the funeral honor salutes of the fallen soldiers. Since the beginning of the war, we have also visited the wounded soldiers in the military hospital, and for two years, once a month, together with the members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and the young women from our hostel, we have brought them homemade cakes and cookies. We try to bring them not only sweets, but also our gratitude, our closeness, a kind word, and we assure them of our prayers. Often, they are young, without legs or hands, but alive, even if some have dull eyes. Through our presence and prayer, we try to bring them a small ray of hope.”

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The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians around the world join together in prayer and daily offerings to the Communities of Ukraine and other conflict-ridden lands, who continue their presence among the people, bringing a small light into the darkness. The Institute counts on everyone’s generosity and solidarity to offer concrete support. Contributions and offerings can be made using the methods indicated on the Website of the FMA Institute, by designating in the purpose Emergency Ukraine.