Ukrainian refugees
In the House of the Schoenstatt Fathers located in our Sion in Jozefow, Poland, the four seasons since March until now have been connected by the constant presence of our guests from Ukraine. It is difficult to talk about the guests when the weeks are flying by, and we are still experiencing together this difficult time of war and refugees. Since the beginning of March, two people have been with us permanently: a mother with her daughter. Others have been and will continue to be with us temporarily (photo A).
In July I took photos in Przemyśl, Poland, on the border with Ukraine. In those pictures you can see the station hall with the beds prepared (photo B), the reception area and the tent for their first meal (photo C).
This is how the Ukrainians are received: Registration, first meal, medical care and, if they have no other choice, accommodation for mothers with children. One or two nights and then they continue their journey.
The line of trucks at the border (photo D) is another example of the current reality. Uninterrupted lines of trucks heading to Ukraine carrying aid.
Artem, born in Poland, continues his journey with his family. In the photo you can see the moment of farewell and departure (photo E). Thank God, the child was born in humane conditions and was able to spend the first months of his life in peace.
The following photos show mothers with their children (photo F) Unthinkable. Three of them lived in the same apartment block in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. Now they and their children are with us, in the house of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Poland, while their husbands are in Zaporizhzhya. One of the women has nothing to motivate her to return. Her house was destroyed by rocket fire.
Christmas is just around the corner. We don’t know how many will stay with us during this time. Currently there are seven of us living in our house. Everything is flowing. The intense recent firing of rockets has increased the level of fear and forced people to leave. In Poland it is customary to prepare an extra place at the table on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Normally this place remains waiting for someone to arrive, but this time we will prepare additional places.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to all those who support our hospitality in Sion, Poland with prayer and charitable contributions. In doing so, you are doing your part in helping and opening the hearts of those in need. At the same time, I ask for perseverance in all of us, so that this difficult time may turn into an oasis of Christian hope and concrete service to the lives of others.
May God protect and bless us all.
With gratitude and blessings, I greet you from our Sion in Jozefow.
Father Arkadiusz
If you would like to cooperate with the Schoenstatt Fathers in Poland so that they can continue to welcome and help Ukrainian refugees, you can do so through the following link: https://schoenstatt.com/help-ukraine/. Thank you very much!
