A Message from Sister Iwona Skorupa, OSU
Provincial of the Province of Poland (Poland, Netherlands, Ukraine)
Ursulines of the Roman Union
Dear Sisters,
Thank you very much for your prayer and support for our sisters in Ukraine. For today, all of them are alive, the two who are in Kiev cannot leave because it is not safety even if they want to go to the parish and stay with other people. They cannot cross Kiev as the bridges were destroyed by the Ukrainian soldiers that the Russian army is stopped. They have one person with them. We are worried about these two the most, but the good thing is that each day I can be in contact with them, thanks to mobiles. Those in Kolomyja and Ivanofrankivsk hear bombs but from time to time. The three in Czerniovce are in a village where there is relatively calm.
In Poland most of our communities are prepared to receive refuges from Ukraine. Our community in Częstochowa is waiting for 20 orphans but we will see who will come. Those people will come to our communities through Caritas or we can also have somebody from the families of our sisters but always we need to report to Caritas. In Warsaw, probably, we will have a family (without a father who went to the army) of our one Ukrainian sister or people from the parish where our sisters are. This coming week will be 900 orphans arriving in our country.
Once again thank you for your prayer and our sisters who are in Ukraine told me that they feel the power of this prayer and as well as their soldiers. From the information they are receiving from the relatives who are in army is visible that they are some small miracles.
Much love
Iwona Skorupa, OSU
Ursulines of the Roman Union
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Dear Sisters,
Many of you will be wondering about the safety of our sisters in Ukraine, now that the country has been invaded by Russia.
We have 11 sisters in Ukraine—6 Ukrainian and 5 Polish sisters. They live in four communities, one in each of Kiev, Czerniowce, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyja. These last three cities are all to the south west of Kiev. Also, one of the novices at the Generalate is Ukrainian.
It appears that at present the sisters are safe, however, they are living with the anxiety, tensions and restrictions of a country at war. They want to stay with the people and support them where they can.
The sisters in Ukraine are grateful for our solidarity with them and with their country. Pope Francis has called for a day of Fasting for Peace on Ash Wednesday, March 2nd. I am sure that communities and churches in different parts of the world will be responding to this invitation in ways that are most appropriate for their context. As we join our prayers for peace with those of others throughout the world, let us remember that St. Angela was a peacemaker.
With thanks and blessings,
Sue Flood, OSU
Prioress General
Ursulines of the Roman Union, Rome
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