"With God's help, we survive," says one Ukrainian villager. That source of hope is made tangible by the presence of St. Basil sisters, who continue to visit Preobrazhenka and other villages at least once a month.
Sr. Lydia Timkova has committed to regular trips across Ukraine to shepherd food and medical supplies to civilians living near the Russian front. Twice in 2023, Timkova has journeyed to where battles are raging.
Last year, the Presentation Sisters gave use of their unoccupied flat in Bratislava, Slovakia, to Ukrainian refugees. The need for accommodation and safety is still vital for many families fleeing the war.
GSR Today - During my assignment in Ukraine, war was evident. Damage to towns and survivors' sober observations framed our time there. Yet reminders of war were almost always offset by the Ukrainians' resolve and humanity.
'Christ will rise, and Ukraine will rise': In the 14 months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Catholic sisters have struggled to keep the spirit, promise and vision of Easter and Resurrection alive day-to-day.
While the war in Ukraine is still going on, it is important to stay alive, not to succumb to the temptation of an easy and false peace. To remain human, we need to be open to the pain of others and our own.
Realizing it had been a year since the Ukraine-Russia war broke out, I intensified my prayers for its end. I also researched the war's global impact: I was surprised how much the war has affected so many people in India.
Soon after the sounds of the first bombings, we went to the basement to set up a bomb shelter. The Institute of Theological Sciences of the Immaculate Virgin Mary began welcoming people displaced in the war.
The invisible traces of war are imprinted on souls. How can we live after what has happened to us? And these words come to mind: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
