Two years of war in Ukraine: where medals help






Vienna (OTS) – Two years ago, on February 24, 2022, the war began in Ukraine and with it the suffering of many people. Religious communities were involved from the first minute of the war: here in Austria, locally in Ukraine, on the borders and in neighboring countries. The media office of the Austrian Religious Conference asked three religious communities how they continue to provide help and not abandon people today, two years after the start of the war.

The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Vienna-Simmering welcomed a Ukrainian family of ten members in March 2022. Part of the family still lives with the sisters today. The Salvatorian parish of Christus am Wienerberg also welcomed two Ukrainian mothers and their children. The Salvatorians also depend on aid deliveries that are brought to Ukraine through Poland. The Capuchin delegation from Vienna also regularly brings relief supplies to the war zone, with a focus on medical aid. The next delivery is already being planned.

“Thankful to have this family with us”

Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Simmering

By mid-March 2022, the community of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Simmering had grown by ten people: five adults and five children.

“We are very grateful to have this family with us”, says Sr. Elisabeth Knapp, beaming with joy. 40-year-old Maksym's family – his wife Lena, three girls and in-laws – stayed with his sisters in Simmering. Maksym's sister-in-law returned to Ukraine with her two children after a few weeks. “I missed my husband and father very much. She didn’t want her children to grow up without a father”, explains Sr. Elisabeth Knapp.

What has happened since then?

The two eldest daughters – eleven and nine years old – attend school, the youngest – she is six years old – attends her sisters' kindergarten. “The oldest daughter, in particular, is doing very well in school and will go on to high school,” reports Sister Elisabeth Knapp.

Father Maksym has already completed several German courses, will soon reach level B2 and will then start looking for a job. Mother Lena was not so lucky and so far has only been enrolled in two German courses. She learns German with the children and in everyday life with her sisters. The grandparents are still very emotionally burdened, “the grandparents' hearts belong to Ukraine”, says Sr. Elisabeth Knapp.

The sisters help the family with administrative procedures, filling out forms, and the family helps the sisters in the garden and around the house. “Right now I can't even imagine that they will abandon us at some point”, says Sr. Elisabeth Knapp enthusiastically about the extraordinary shared apartment.

Three Ukrainian girls become singing stars

A special experience for Sr. Elisabeth Knapp – and certainly for the three girls as well – was the star singing earlier this year. “Although they are very shy, they went out with me. They learned the song and poem and worked with me to collect donations for the Epiphany campaign. “It was such a beautiful experience,” says Sr. Elisabeth Knapp happily. Afterwards, the three girls even said they wanted to do it again next year.

Focus on medical help

Vienna Capuchin Delegation

The Vienna Capuchin delegation has been involved in helping Ukraine since the beginning of the war. The contact happened through brothers in Ukraine. “From the beginning, we analyzed where our help was particularly needed,” explains Brother Marek Król, delegate of the Vienna delegation.

At first they were involved at the Polish-Ukrainian border, where two Capuchins and some young people helped refugees, for example, with changing trains or with luggage. Gradually it became clear that what was needed in Ukraine above all else was medical aid and that this was perfectly compatible with the capabilities of the Capuchins. So they installed doctors and medical professionals locally – at the Capuchin Monastery in Kiev. They provide first-hand information about which medicines and medical supplies are needed particularly urgently.

Aid must continue

Finally, these are brought three to four times a year by Capuchins and volunteers in minibuses from Austria to Lviv, from where they are transported to Kiev. The last of these aid deliveries so far took place before Christmas, with the next scheduled for spring. Capuchin aid to Ukraine should also continue beyond this. “It is particularly important for us to help simple and poor people who would not otherwise receive help. This is our approach”, says Brother Marek Król.

If there is still space in the minibus in addition to medicines, generators, blankets, wheelchairs or items for children and the elderly can also be taken. However, medical help is clearly the Capuchins' priority.

Help both in Austria and locally

Salvatorians

The Salvatorians' aid flows through a network of confreres, via Poland, to Ukraine. The donations that the Salvatorians collect here in Austria and the additional financial support from the religious community allow Fr Adam Ziółkowski and Fr Rafał Chwałkowski to send food, hygiene products, medicines, but also mattresses, blankets and power generators by truck to Ukraine, bringing . Father Paweł Wróbel even managed to acquire a fully equipped ambulance for the clinic in Nowy Rozdół (Western Ukraine).

In the nearby town of Lemberg, Salvatorian priest Damian Pankowiak is coordinating aid. Currently, the main things needed are medicines and bandages. Hospitals and pharmacies are empty. There is a great fear that bottlenecks will continue to threaten Lviv in the future. “We are very concerned about how long transport from Poland will still be possible”, says Salvatoriano.

Commitment from the beginning of the war

In an email he reports: “Pastoral work during the war continues quite normally. If there are no anti-aircraft attacks, masses and services take place in the usual order. We meet children, young people and adults.” Father Damian Pankowiak also writes: “Since the beginning of the war, we, as Salvatorians, have been involved in humanitarian aid to refugees, to those most in need, also to families who have lost a father, a brother or sent a son to war. It is help that is provided in a specific place and for specific people.”

Here in Austria, the parish Christus am Wienerberg welcomed two Ukrainian mothers Nataliia and Zhanna with their children (the parents had to stay at home). Fr Salvatorian Johannes Neubauer offers them refuge and protection in the parish hall of Vienna's tenth district. They can stay there as long as they want.

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Questions and contact:

Austrian Order Conference
Renate Magerl
Head of Communications and Media
06607853626
[email protected]
https://ordensgemeinschaften.at/