Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The worldwide network of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) is also mobilized to come to the aid of the people of Ukraine who are leaving the country to escape the violence and destruction of war. Catholic Mission Australia, the denomination of the Australian PMS, in contact with the PMS of Europe which are the most involved, is responding to their request for aid for refugees fleeing Ukraine, now tens of thousands.
Catholic Mission Australia, thanks those who offer their contributions, works with the PMS in Ukraine, Poland, Romania and other European countries, in order to provide support where necessary, says the National Director of Catholic Mission, Father Brian Lucas, in the note sent to Fides. "Prayer and material support to those affected by these tragic circumstances are an expression of the solidarity of the universal Church as we strive to bring hope to those who need it so badly", says Father Brian. In Romania the local faithful are providing emergency relief and pastoral support, while a humanitarian crisis is underway, says Fr Eugen Blaj, National Director of the PMS in Romania. "The majority are women with children, trying to save their life from the war", he points out.
Refugee centers are crowded and essential services and the local faithful are doing everything possible to provide mattresses, bedsheets, pillows and food, as well as nappies and basic sanitary items, continues Fr. Eugen. In an e-mail sent to Fr. Lucas, he asked: "If you can help us, perhaps with a donation, it will be very useful". Families are torn apart, there is talk of a mother who arrived with her young children and her grandmother, looking for a place to sleep. "I asked about her about her husband - says Fr. Eugen-. With tears in her eyes, she told me that men aged 18 and over are being recruited, perhaps their home is now destroyed". The pain that refugees feel is strong, "if you ask them something, they start to cry", says Fr. Eugen.
In Poland refugees are welcomed in parishes, and in the PMS chapel, people pray for peace in the world.
Grateful for the generous support of the PMS of Australia, Fr. Maciej Bedzinski, National Director of the PMS in Poland says: "This shows that the PMS are a big family, a missionary family". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 7/3/2022)
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