Month: August 2021

December 13, 2022

Yesterday afternoon was quiet. There was a power outage in Kyiv. Today is quiet, as it has been for a few days. They say: “the calm before the storm.”
God, give us peace !

The Word… These and similar words sound different in a wartime.
“Behold, a poor man cried out and the Lord heard him,
and delivered him from all oppression.”
That poor man is me, that poor man is Ukraine, is every sinner. In this Psalm 34, there is hope for us, there is a way out, there is victory.
“Behold, the poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
and delivered him from all oppression.”
Hence my, our poor man’s cry COME LORD JESUS!
We ask You for peace in our hearts, righteous peace in Ukraine. COME…..

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Lviv:
Br. Casimir is leading an Advent retreat at St. John Paul II Parish in Lviv. Let’s pray for Kazimierz and the listeners. (photo)

Kyiv/Zhytomyr:
Br. Sergey Kippa, custos took part in a meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors of Male Religious of the RKC. The Invitee was the Apostolic Nuncio. (photo)

Vinnytsia:
Thanks to our benefactors and thanks to the efforts of our guardian and pastor Br. Joseph we have connected the generator. God grant that we never have to turn it on.

Dnipro:
Br. Yaroslav, sent a photo from the street, from Dnipro advertising with the caption “On December 25 we celebrate Christmas with the whole Christian world.” Interesting! (photo)

A message from the US:

“This attached photo and the simple message from us here in Detroit, Michigan USA: “We stand with Ukraine against the inhumane aggression of Putin and his war machine. His reward will be in hell.” (Photo)
Mark, Detroit

News from the brothers:

Kyiv (Bro. Sergey Kippa):
Finally back home. (photo from a meeting in Zhytomyr)

Kamianske (Br. Vladislav Gmyrko):
All brothers from Kamianske just returned from a trip to: Velyka Komyshuvakha, Izium, Kramatorsk. We brought help to the civilian and military population.
We also wish the Custos the gifts of the Holy Spirit on his birthday and name day.

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 12, 2022

There were alarms in Kyiv yesterday. Likewise in Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipro. There is no peace. God, give us peace!
Today in the morning hours in the central regions of Ukraine, in Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, among others, we were awakened by missile alarms.
God, give us peace.

Note!

Today, Brother Sergey Kippa, custos, celebrates his Birthday and Name Day. Let us pray for the Custos. God, bless his story and family. Brothers send you best wishes…

The Word… “Show us, Lord, your grace and give us your salvation.” Come, Lord Jesus!

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Croatia (Brother Jure Sarcevic):

Dear Blazej!
Thanks for today’s (yesterday’s) report. You wrote very beautifully and truthfully about Croatia at this World Cup. Where is the reason for this? In the text below!

On the eve of the Croatian national team’s graceful yet fortunate victory over Japan after a penalty kick lottery, great news reached the public, which was publicly shared by the rector of the Croatian national shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica, Domagoj Matošević.
Namely, on Sunday (the day before the match), the Croatian national soccer team led by coach Zlatko Dalić asked the Qatari authorities to celebrate Mass in Doha, given that all Christians are experiencing the holy time of Advent.

Although Qatar is an all-Muslim country, they accepted the Croatian national team’s request and provided them with everything they needed to celebrate the Mass. The Mass was presided over by the rector of the Croatian National Shrine of Our Lady of Bystrica, Domagoj Matošević.

No other national team has announced that it has done something similar, although it is known that several Catholic countries remain in the competition.

Our heroes once again showed together how humble they are even in success, for which God has rewarded them lavishly.

Go bravely, because with God all things are possible!
Greetings to all brothers and God’s peace and freedom to all Ukraine!
Brother Jure

Bahmut:
The reality of war. Most people die on this front. (photo)

News from the brothers:

Dnipro (Br. Jaroslaw Fedirchuk):
Bahmut. (Photo.)
https://rkc.in.ua/index.php?l=u&m=k&f=tmus

Dnipro/Lviv (Br. Jerzy Zielinski):
And here are some photos from the retreat Meeting with God at the Pilgrim House in Briukhovychi. (photo)
During and after today’s Advent Eucharist, which is the central place and time of Meeting with God.
Electricity was there, warm water was there and the Holy Spirit was there too. Praise the Lord! (photo)
Community of leaders. (photo)
Participants. (photo)
And here S. Miroslawa—the provincial SS. Servites, a Greek Catholic who has been coming for several years with her sisters. (photo)

Kyiv (Br. Adam Wróbel):
St. Nicholas came to the children in Kyiv today. (photo)

Krasyliv (Br. Maciej Styburski):
Continuing preparations for the Krasyliv fair for the army. (photo)
Krasyliv had St. Nicholas too. (photo)

Lviv (Br. Sergey Voronyuk):
A “Pre-Christmas” Franciscan chess tournament was held at the House of the Capuchin Brothers in Lviv. Congratulations to the deserving winners! We thank God for the opportunity to build unity and a time of healthy competition behind the chessboard. (photo)
Deo gratias!

Kyiv/Zhytomyr (Br. Sergey Kippa):
At 10:00 a.m. beginning of a meeting of major superiors in Zhytomyr. We started with the presentation of Franciscan fashion. (photo)
(First from the left, Br. Sergey)

COME LORD JESUS!

December 10, 2022

Thank God we have some peace. Even more electricity, light, heat. Thank God for everything. The regular war in the east and south of Ukraine continues. People are dying.
God, be merciful to them.

The Word… A short word from the Responsorial Psalm and it is on me living in war very comforting and hopeful: “Renew us, O God, and give us salvation.” It is God who is to renew us, to return us to life, to normalcy. Only God, even from war, from death, can and does bring out good for me. Ps. 80: “Raise up thy might and come to our aid.”
Come, Lord Jesus! We pray for a just peace! God is love!

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Kherson:
A city liberated from Russian occupation, without gas, light. People in front of apartment blocks cook food on a fire. (photo)

Vinnystia:
Clara Studio has published in print, in the form of a book, The Ritual of the Secular Franciscans. Great work was done by Br. Wolodia Procko, a Capuchin from Kamianske. Br. Volodia writes: “Thank God! The work of many Franciscans crowned with success”. (photo)

Kyiv/Khoroshiv:
Let’s pray for Brother Sergei, the custos, who is currently in Khoroshiv, where he is leading an Advent retreat.

Lviv/Briukhovychi:
Another meeting of Brother Jerzy Zielinski of the leaders of the Consultation Center. A visit by Sr. Myroslava, the provincial sister. (photo)

Starokostiantyniv: 
History. Dedication of the traditional altar setting. Let us pray for our Benefactors. Mr. Nicholas, who fought against the spirit of war, occupation and terrorism in this way.

News from the brothers:

Dnipro (Bro. Yaroslav Fedirchuk):
Diocesan calendar with our church. (photo)
Deanery meeting in Dnipro. (photo)

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 9, 2022

Since morning Kharkiv, Mykolaiv have been fired with missiles. People are suffering. Peripheral cities and the capital remain without light.
Rules: 2 hours light, 5 hours without light, and so on alternately. Practically, in the cold, without water, internet etc. God, give us peace!
At our place, the morning is calm. We do not know what the new day will bring. I pray for peace!

The Word… “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, instructing you in what is useful, directing you in the path that you walk. O, if you would heed my commandments, your peace would become like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Thy offspring would be like the sand, and like its grains thy seedlings. Your name would never be removed or blotted out from before my face!”
A word for people at war, not just in Ukraine: “O, if you would heed my commandments, your peace would become like a river…” First Commandment… “Listen, Israel…” Hear…
Come, Lord Jesus!

Video in Ukrainian about St. Juan Diego, to whom Our Lady appeared in Guadalupe:

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Izyum, Toruń & Lubicz, Poland:
Our angels, Marcin Izyk with his team among the people in Izyum. This is how Russian terrorism works. (photos by Marcin Izyk)

Kyiv:
Freely we have received, freely we give. Sr. Bogumila, a Nazareth nun, with the help of Capuchin friars and volunteers, continues to help the displaced. (photo)
Rorate mass. (photo)

Vinnytsia:
We are not living by war. We took advantage of our parishioner’s invitation and celebrated the Immaculate Conception with a community dinner. (photo)

Let’s remember, to sustain the spirit of patriotism:

A young patriot from Vinnytsia, Azovstal, who survived Mariupol (in Ukrainian):

Krasyliv:
Brothers and sisters in the pastoral care of children and youth. (photo)

Vinnystia:
Invitation to an organ concert in our Capuchin church. This is the fight against the invaders of our heads and hearts. (photo)

News from the brothers:

Lviv (Br. Kazimierz Guzik):
Sergiy’s meeting with students at the Catholic University. (photo)

Kyiv (Br. Sergey Kippa):
Exceptional news for those who have been following the renovation of the square in front of the church in Kiev (especially Rafal P.). Today they finished the handrails.

Uzhgorod (Br. Marek Lisowski):
Academy children are preparing for Christmas. (photo)

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 8, 2022

Night shelling alarms in the south of Ukraine. Phosphorus rockets raining down on Avdiivka left a scorched earth effect. Deadly fireworks. (photo)
The morning  was quiet in our region. Alarms in Kharkiv, in Nikolaev. Kyiv without light. God, give us peace!

The Word… “Adam, where are you?” Błażej, where are you? What is your reality? What is your life? You don’t need to be afraid, hide, run away.
Who do you listen to, what word do you follow? A lot of questions! The answer is one—just like Mary.
How will it happen…? How can Jesus—the Word—live in me? The answer: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you…”
Your decision: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Just like Mary. God loves you!

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Kyiv:
And to top it all off, a heavy snowstorm has hit Kyiv.

Vinnystia:
Traditionally siccis, fasting before the feast of the Immaculate Conception. During lunch we read the Passion of Christ. (photo)

Bahmut:
This is how a city in the Donetsk region is burning. Residential houses are burning. (Photo)

Warsaw, Poland (Br. Tomasz Wroński, provincial vicar, Warsaw Province):

Mary Immaculate in our church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Warsaw. May she protect you! (photo)
Peace be with you!
Tomek

Vinnystia:
Our angels, Marcin and Zbyszek, visited us on their war from Kherson, Odessa and other numerous Ukrainian cities back to Poland.
They left gifts, had a Capuchin dinner and, despite the night, went to their homes and numerous duties.
Let us pray for our Benefactors. (photo)

Dear Friends!
We are still in Ukraine. We are staying in the east at the moment. Along the way, we once again met with our friendly families from Kharkiv. This time we prepared individual Christmas gifts, cards and gingerbread for them 🙂 Thank you dear brothers and sisters of the Tree of Life community for this! You guys are wonderful. Thank you! 🙂
Marcin Izyk
(photo—these children live in the basement)

Kyiv:
St. Nicholas at the school of the Sisters of Nazareth, which are located in the premises of our monastery. St. Nicholas with a Capuchin beard of Br. Victor D. (photo)

Krasyliv:
Pastoral care with children who suffer the most from the war, darkness at home through lack of light. It is good that there are Capuchin brothers (Br. Leonid) and Capuchin sisters. (photo)

News from the brothers:

Uzhgorod (Br. Marek Lisowski):
Our schedule for today. Our street is in blue. White color is times “with electricity.” Greetings. (photo)

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 7, 2022

Thank God the news about a possible massive air raids over all of Ukraine did not come true. They attacked the south and east of Ukraine. It was calm at our place, we even have light. Kyiv is struggling to supply residents with electricity. The city is often without electricity. Yesterday in Kyiv there was an air raid alert at 11:56 PM.
God, grant peace! That night in Kyiv was very difficult. The alarm lasted 5 hours.

The light is turned on for 5 hours, turned on for 2 hours and so cyclically.
At that time there is no light, water and heat. Internet and mobile telephony may also not work. Winter. This is how Russian terrorism works.
God give us peace.

The Word… The word that God gives, to me and to us residents of Ukraine, is very unequivocal and read in the key of war gives us and the boys fighting on the front lines great hope. Listen:
“Don’t you know this? Have you not heard? The Lord—is the eternal God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not get tired or weary, His wisdom is unfathomable. He gives strength to the weary and multiplies the power of the powerless. Boys get tired and weary, they falter, young men grow weak, but those who trust in the Lord regain their strength, they receive wings like eagles; they run without fatigue, without weariness they go.”
God did not leave Ukraine, just for the record.
Come, Lord Jesus!
“Behold, the Lord is coming to save His people, blessed are those who are ready to go out to meet Him.”
God is love.
“Come to Me, all you who are afflicted and burdened, and I will comfort you.”
Come…

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Zaporizhzhya:
The destruction of homes and lives by Russian terrorists continues. (photo)

Vinnytsia:
St. Nicholas in our church. (photo)

Berdychiv:
Major superiors of the more beautiful part of consecrated persons in Ukraine. (photo)

Kamianske:
Nomination? We don’t know, but the best St. Nicholas… br. Volodya Procko. (photo)

News from the brothers:

Dnipro/Novomoskovsk (Bro. Yaroslav Fedirchuk):
St. Nicholas came to the children of Novomoskovsk. (photo)

Lviv (Bro. Sergey Voronyuk):
A biblical retreat for older youth was held last weekend in Lviv-Bryukhovychi. (photo)

Kamianske (Br. Vladislav Gmyrko):
St. Nicholas in Kamianske. Children of the parish and displaced persons. (photo)

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 6, 2022

The highest level of threat across Ukraine yesterday around 3:00 p.m. About 100 rockets flew across the sky, according to reports. Explosions were heard in Vinnytsia, windows and doors in the monastery trembled. Alarm signals in cars in the parking lot went off. Ambulances could be heard.

We are waiting to see what happens next. Around 5 p.m., alarms were canceled in various regions. Most of the missiles were shot down by Ukrainian anti-missile systems.
And for that, too, thank God.

Today, in addition to St. Nicholas Day, is the Day of ЗСУ (Armed Forces of Ukraine). (photo)
Boys, gentlemen, we pray for you… Heroes don’t die!!! Герої не вмирають!!!

News came that today there may be a repeat of yesterday’s air raids on all of Ukraine. God, give us peace!!!

The Word… “Listen, nations, to the word of the Lord and proclaim it throughout the world. Behold, our Savior is coming, cast away fear.” Ukraine, Ukrainians are the heart of God and the Church. Tell the cities of Judah: “Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God comes with power, and His arm holds the authority. Behold, His reward with Him goes and before Him His payment. Like a shepherd He grazes His flock, He gathers them with His arm, He carries the lambs on His breast, He guides the lactating sheep gently.”

It is not God’s will that the poorest perish: “So also it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that even one of these little ones should perish.”

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Croatia:

Dear Blazej. Thanks for today’s report from Ukraine. We admire the resilience of the Ukrainians to aggression. We hope and pray for its victory and ultimate freedom. We are collecting humanitarian aid for Ukraine together with the Franciscan Friars of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If God permits, a tugboat with humanitarian aid will arrive in Ukraine next week.
Peace of God and glory to Ukraine!
Br. Jure Sarcevic

Let us pray for our Brothers and Benefactors, for Croatian, who know what war means. Thank you….

Zaporizhzhya:
Terrorists continue to ruin residential homes and stores. (photo)

Vinnystia:
Another day of Rorate masses. (photo)

Starokostiantyniv:
A photo of the consecration of the altar and tabernacle. (photo)

Kamianske:
St. Nicholases (our angels) from Poland came to our brothers, Marcin and Krzysztof from Toruń and Lubicz from Poland. Let us pray for our Benefactors.

News from the brothers:

Vinnystia (Br. Igor Mularski):
Successful work of the anti-missile system over Vinnystia was reported.Two missiles were shot down over the eastern part of the Vinnytsia region.

Lviv (Br. Kazimierz Guzik):
Rorate mass and St. Nicholas in Lviv. (photo)

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 5, 2022

Polish brothers, we sincerely thank you, your parishioners and supporters of your monasteries for your gifts of heart, prayers, offerings, welcoming Ukrainians under your roof. Thank you. May God reward you. (photo)

A quiet night in our region. In the East and South, alarms, bombings, innocent people are killed. Russian terrorism continues. God, give us peace!

The Word… The prophet Isaiah and his prophetic Word is optimistic for me.
“Let the desert and the parched land rejoice, let the steppe rejoice and let it flourish! Let it bring forth flowers like lilies of the field, let it rejoice, leaping and shouting for joy.”
There is hope for our Ukrainian land, which will continue to feed and become the granary of Europe and the World after the end of the war. There is hope for Ukrainians to see a serene sky, without rockets and bombs, and to bless God and live in peace for the glory of God.
Come, Lord Jesus!

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Warsaw, Poland:

In the photo, from left, Olga, Olka and Goska—Capuchin sisters who went to Ukraine on September 21 [2021], a moment later war broke out there. The sisters share their lives with Ukrainians, working with them to make camouflage nets and candles for the army, crying with the weepers and accompanying people in the dark time of war. They do humanitarian aid, catechize and in their spare time are still able to prepare decorations in the church 🙂
I thought it was worth making them a gift for Christmas. Very practical—things that come in handy when the electricity or heating is out. If you want you can add sharing and a few zlotys from yourself—I would be grateful, I think the sisters will be very happy. (All money from this fundraiser will be donated to support the sisters).
br. Szymon Janowski, Capuchin
Link to the fundraiser: https://buycoffee.to/bratszymon

Kyiv:
(Ania from Kyiv, our courageous parishioner writes to me).
“Brother, do you remember the military men who lived near our church? A battalion was formed from these soldiers and they liberated the Kharkiv region. Then there was a rotation. And then they saw them off to Bahmut. The whole battalion was killed” (in battle with the Russian army). My friend’s husband was there. There were more than 500 people there. ‘This is terrible,’ he said. 😭😭😭”

News from the brothers:

Voronezh, Russia/Trzebiatów, Poland (Bro. Gregorz Romanowicz):
“I ask the Brothers to pray for my mother Zofia. Today she lost consciousness. She is currently being resuscitated in the intensive care unit.”

Lviv (Br. Kazimierz Guzik):
Marian night vigil. (photo)

Vinnytsia (Br. Igor Mularski):
Helping the needy in the village and ministering to the sick, “First Friday”. Brother Patrick and Br. Igor. (photo)

Kamianske (Br. Volodym Procko):
In Kamianske, today (yesterday) there was a celebration in honor of St. Nicholas. (photo)

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 4, 2022

A peaceful night. In the East the war. Innocent people are being killed.  God, give us peace, and let the “great of this world” come to mind.

Today in our church is a special prayer of gratitude for those people who support the Church in the East. In the Polish church a contribution is collected for the church in Ukraine, among other places. Thank you for this help that we receive, especially since February 24. God bless. We pray for you Brothers and Sisters, and for our Benefactors. (photo)

The Word… A familiar image from the Prophet Isaiah, a fable or a prophecy?
“Then the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the panther and the kid shall lie down together, the calf and the lion shall feed together, and the little boy shall chase them. The cow and the bear shall cease to be friendly with each other, their young shall lie together. The lion, too, like an ox, will eat straw. The infant will play on the nest of the cobra, the child will put its hand into the hiding place of the viper. Evil shall not be done, nor shall they work destruction throughout my holy mountain, for the land shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, like the waters that overflow the sea. On that day it shall come to pass.”
Come Lord Jesus, that this prophecy may come to pass, and here on this Earth, in Ukraine. “Come, Lord Jesus!”

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Vovchans’k:
More destruction of buildings, dwellings of the Ukrainian population. (photo)

Kherson:
Terrorists do not spare homes of simple people. (photo)

Vinnytsia:
Meeting of our custos, Br. Sergey Kippa, with Ms. Teresa of the Renovabis Foundation and Ms. Larysa Kravec, executive director of Clara Studio. Something new is coming. Thank God. (photo)
Meeting with children who gather at our monastery and parish. (photo)
Yesterday was the funeral of br. Igor’s sister’s husband. The brother-in-law’s name was Victor. May he rest in eternal peace. Br. Igor came to the funeral from Kyiv.

Lubicz, Poland:
Our angels in action again. They came to Ukraine with gifts and prayers. (photo) We pray for our Benefactors.

Kyiv:
Men’s Rosary. Mass in the dark, without electricity, but in God’s light. (photo)
Meeting of participants of the Alpha Course. (photo)

News from the brothers:

Lviv (Br. Kazimierz Guzik):
Night vigil in Lviv. (photo)

Kamianske (Br. Leonid Majewski):
Always with me. (photo)
Our parishioner who, thanks to God and Padre Pio, stayed alive after a bomb exploded next to him.

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 3, 2022

This morning was generally quiet. Our people have a lot of patience and live humbly without light, i.e. it’s often in the cold. This is just the beginning of winter. Regular war in the East. God, give us peace!

The Word… Yesterday there was a prophetic Word for Lebanon, today for the people who inhabit Zion in Jerusalem. There is a prophecy for Ukraine, for us living in this war. “… The Lord will bind up the wounds of His people and heal their bruises from the ravages.” I recall the word: “only God can bring good even out of war for us.” “God didn’t leave Ukraine,” he said. “The kingdom of heaven is already near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out evil spirits. Freely you have received, freely give.” God is love!

Come, Lord Jesus!

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Dnipro:
Yesterday around lunchtime, alarms and explosions were heard.

Zaporizhzhya:
Premises of sensitive infrastructure near Zaporizhzhya are burning. (photo) God, give us peace.

Vatican City:
“Destruction of civilian infrastructure during wartime—it is an international crime.” (Pope Francis)

Kyiv:
“We are deeply touched by your constant kindness, solidarity and very concrete help,” reads a special Letter of the Roman Catholic Episcopate of Ukraine addressed to the clergy and faithful of the Catholic Church in Poland.

Wałcz, Poland:
A pleasant surprise: Br. Piotr Stasinski, general councilor, visiting the brothers in Wałcz, came to visit the Sowacz family (Teodor and Małgorzata)—my sister and brother-in-law. “Thank God for our great family.” (quoted by Brother Peter)
To God and to you Peter, thank you. (photo)

Nikopol:
Night shelling of civilian houses in the Dnipro region. (photo)

News from the brothers:

Kyiv:
Brother Konstantin Morozov asks for prayers for Alexander, his own brother, who has been drafted to the army: “Please pray for my younger brother. They are taking him to the army. One ‘Ave Maria’ for Alexander.”

By the way, let’s also pray for br. Igor Mularsky’s (Vinnytsia)  brother, and br. Volodya Procko’s (Kamianske) nephew. Ave Maria. !

COME LORD JESUS !

December 2, 2022

Terrorists attacked Zaporizhzhya and Kharkiv at night and in the morning. (photo) The civilian population, ordinary residents are suffering. In the area of Bahmut regular fights.

The Word… I listen to the Word and think more about Ukraine than Lebanon especially the biblical one.  “Will not in a short time already Lebanon turn into a garden, and will the garden be considered a forest? In that day the deaf will hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind, free from gloom and from darkness, will see.”
May this Word prophecy of an already “short time” be fulfilled on Ukrainian soil, so that people will see and hear that God is love and loves them.
Ps 27. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, *.
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord the defender of my life, *.
before whom should I fear?”

Come, Lord Jesus!

We live I war, we do not live by war!

Vinnystia:
Good shepherd, Br. Joseph, freely you have received, give freely too.
Joseph brought gifts from Poland. We thank our Polish benefactors. (photo)
A majority of children at a Rorate Mass during a spontaneous prayer of intercession pray for the end of war and for peace in Ukraine.
Parcels are already waiting for our needy children for the Feast of St. Nicholas, for the elderly when when we them with the Sacraments, and for other people in a village near Vinnytsia.
Once again let us pray for our Benefactors from Poland and the Capuchin World. (photo)
Brother Sergey Kippa, as custos of the custody of Ukraine, came to visit our community. (photo)

Starokostiantyniv:
Our Br. Patrick evaluated our new high altar with the expert eye of an artist. (photo)

Krasyliv:
Br. Andrew’s name day was attended by Brother Custos from Kyiv with his brothers and brothers from nearby fraternities. The Capuchin sisters and the Josephite sisters celebrated with us. (photo)
In being together we were not disturbed by alarms throughout Ukraine.
God, grant peace to us and to Br. Andrew as well.

Kharkiv:
Catechesis for the beginning of Advent in one of the houses in Kharkiv. A miracle of Divine love is the fact that there was light in that house at that time. Among those preaching was Br. Vladislav from Kamianske. (photo)
This is what our wartime reality looks like. (photo)

War joke. Winter is coming—we are chopping wood. Mr. Nikolai, the man in the photo is the donor and maker of the altar. (photo)

Echo of the Poland-Argentina game. We are talking about Wojciech Szczesny, who has already defended two penalties at the World Cup in Qatar.
NOTE!
Let me just add that Wojciech’s spouse is Mrs. Marina, a Ukrainian from… Vinnytsia. As a two-year-old girl, she left with her parents for Poland. (photo)

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 1, 2022

We have survived another night. What will the day bring? We are waiting! We keep vigil! God, give us peace!

We received warm greetings from Br. Piotr Stasinski, general councilor. This is another sign of our fraternal unity and solidarity with the entire Capuchin order. Brother Piotr, we sincerely thank you.

The Word… A house built on the Word, a life based on the Word, is the fulfillment of this very passage of the Gospel. “Everyone, therefore, who listens to these words of mine and fulfills them, can be compared to a prudent man who built his house on a rock.” Which Word is being referred to?—”Hear, O Israel…” God is love and “thou shalt love….” and ” thy neighbor as thyself.” The foundation of your happy life even in war and with the daily cross! Come, Lord Jesus!

We live in war, we do not live by war!

Bucha:
Unusual photos from Bucha… The war against the occupying forces is being waged, through the reconstruction of destroyed residential houses. Glory to Ukraine! Слава Україні!!! (photo)

Kyiv:
There is still not enough electricity. The lights are being turned off, which greatly affects the economy of the city and the daily life of the residents including our brothers. God, give us peace !

Lviv:
We have a double invitation from the brothers from Lviv. “Marian Night of Vigil” and “Prayer of Worship.”

Vinnytsia:
The first house chapter was held in our new fraternity. Br. Joseph Chromy, guardian and pastor, presided.

Vinnystia:
World Cup game between Poland and Argentina experienced during war time. We in Vinnystia watched without interference, other brothers, primarily in Kyiv, Krasyliv, had no electricity, no internet. Our realities, even in such perhaps insignificant matters… war.

Come, Lord Jesus!