Kyiv (Ukraine). On 24 February 2025, on the 3rd anniversary of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Communities of Mother of God Preprovince (EEG) present in Odessa, Kyiv, Lviv, lived this day with particular intensity, supported by the prayer of the whole Institute.
On Sunday 23, in the Angelus broadcast by the Vatican Press Office on the occasion of his stay in hospital, Pope Francis recalled this anniversary, defining it “a painful and shameful anniversary for all humanity” and renewing his closeness “to the martyrdom of the Ukrainian people”, he invited “to remember the victims of all armed conflicts and to pray for the gift of peace” also in other lands oppressed by great conflicts.
“Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). These are the words, from the bull of the Jubilee, and which begins the Message of the Bishops Conference of the Catholic – Roman Church in Ukraine (RCC) on this date:
“It is this hope in God’s Providence that enables us to look with the eyes of faith at everything that happens in our Country and in the world. During this time, each of us has seen that hope in people often leads to disappointment and despair, while hope in God is a firm and unshakable support. The hope placed in the Lord does not disappoint, because He is faithful to His promises, is constant in His love for us, whatever may be the circumstances. Hope in the Lord is rooted in the fidelity and omnipotence of God. This hope becomes for us a source of inner strength and opens our heart in gratitude to God, for His presence among us in this time of trials and for the people, for their dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance in the good.”
On this 3rd anniversary, the Bishops asked the population to intensify their prayer and, for those who were able, to fast or give up something and offer their sufferings. “Those who are sick are encouraged and invited to join their sufferings to those of Christ and sacrifice them for Ukraine, praying for the conversion of sinners and for a just and expected peace as soon as possible. In times when darkness and despair seem to reign everywhere, let us bow ourselves to the Heart of the Mother of Hope, who remained under the cross of her Son until His last breath.”
The FMA of the Community of Kyiv, together with the Provincial, Sister Malgorzata Pietruszczak, gathered around the altar of the little chapel of their House for the Eucharist, celebrated by the parish priest Father Marek Gramotka, a Carmelite, with the strong intention for peace in Ukraine.
Sister Nataliya’s testimony: “It has been an intense day of prayer and fasting among all the Communities and we hope that this cry has gone up to heaven, has gone up to God, that He will listen to us, that He may grant the peace so desired, that hope, theme of this jubilee year, may grow in our land.
In the meantime, we go forward, we continue with our ordinary tasks. We go ahead with our school, teach, do catechism, are a Salesian presence among the people, pray with them and for their intentions.
This winter was less harsh. December and January had almost no temperatures below zero and this was favorable both for the soldiers in the trenches, on the front line, for us, and for the population, who must pay their bills, shelter from the cold… Also, the weather was very cloudy. My town of birth is a few dozen kilometers from the border with Russia and with this foggy, cloudy weather, fewer drones flew.
Now we wait for spring. The snow that in recent weeks has covered the land is the greatest good for the grain and fruits of the earth, which we hope will be fertile again. And we hope that our presence can also be fertile here, where and how the Lord wants us. Thank you for your prayer, for all the good we can do to the needy together.”
Sister Anna thinks back to the past three years. “Three years of war in Ukraine… I never thought I would live during a war, a real war. Am I afraid? Yes, especially at night, when I wake up to the sound of an air raid. In recent months, we have air raids more often at night or early morning. I don’t get out of bed; I don’t go to the shelter, because it happens almost every night, and in the morning, I have to go to the children. I stay in bed and pray.
It hurts the heart when, after the alarm, we learn from the news that there are people who, at best, have lost their windows. And there are those who have lost their homes…
It hurts the heart for many families who have lost their husbands, children… In the villages there are almost no men because everyone is at the front or has been killed.
The heart hurts for Ukraine, so rich in natural resources and hard-working people, that now is experiencing terrible poverty and pain.
Many adults and children who left at the beginning of the war did not return to Ukraine. They have nowhere to go. Their homes have been destroyed or they are simply afraid. Among them is my mother, 72 years old, who has a beautiful house in Odesa, 15 minutes’ walk from the Black Sea, and now she is forced to stay in a foreign Country, although in good condition, but not in her land… But at least she doesn’t hear the terrible sounds of the air raid and doesn’t have to worry about a bomb hitting her.
We FMA continue to work. We have a small school. Due to the limited space, we can’t accommodate more than 40 children. But the parents of the children who study with us are very grateful for the care and safety their children receive in our school. Unfortunately, we have more and more students whose fathers are brought to the front.
Does our country have a future? We want to believe it does. We believe that the Lord is the master of the world and history, not politicians. Every day we pray for peace in Ukraine and for peace in other Countries where there is war. And we pray not to lose hope.”
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians continue their presence among the people, bringing a little light in the darkness – a smile, a good word, closeness – and concrete support, counting on the generosity and solidarity of all. It is possible to send contributions and offerings, in the ways indicated on the Web site of the FMA Istitute, designating in the causal Emergency Ukraine.
