Letter from Br. Błażej: Night 207

September 19, 2022

Another night and a new day, this time in Kyiv. It’s peaceful back home but there’s still war in eastern Ukraine. More graves, places of torture and tragedies of the civilian population have been discovered in occupied territories. Izyum. This is a new site of the drama of this war.

The Word… “For there is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.”

As I read, listen to the word, I again return to the city of Izyum, where graves are being discovered, places that someone may have thought would not be discovered. The Gospel, is being fulfilled here and now before our eyes. “Be careful, therefore, how you listen.” In this context, the truth that “God is love” is difficult to accept, but it is the truth. God is love!

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

Brother Stanisław Mański celebrated his name day yesterday, September 18. Stasiu, may God’s love ignite you to continue your fruitful service to brothers and people. Cheers! With the gift of prayers and best wishes.

Martin Izyk, our angel, came to the brothers in Dnipro on his way back from—among others—Izyum. (photo)

Let the word of Fr. Pio, which I received from my sister Margaret from Wałcz, Poland, be an encouragement to us in difficult moments, war life: “Trust, and do not worry….”

In Starokostiantyniv, the opening of a new school year in the Polish language class. Children and young people gather at our Capuchin monastery. The class is taught by the noble Mrs. Iryna, our parishioner. (photo)

In Lviv, in the “Capuchin gardens” meetings with supporters of our monastery. (photo)

Krasyliv:
Peace! Today, in our church in Krasyliv, the blessing of the memorial plaques commemorating the repressed Poles (Catholics) by the Stalinist regime in the 1930s took place. The dedication was performed by Bishop Radoslav Zmitrovich in the presence of the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Vinnytsia, Mr. Damian Ciarciński . Also present were Mrs. Nila Ostrovska, chairwoman of the Krasyliv OTG (city major), Mrs. Irena Morozovich (city secretary), and others. The atmosphere was very family-like and warm, despite the rain outside.
Later, there was a tasty dinner and long conversations at the table, which went until 9:30 p.m. Mr. Consul stayed for the night, and one of the brothers went to pray the rosary to pray, among other things, for vocations to our order with the hope that there will be brothers in the future (probably called from Lviv or Uzhgorod) who will bury us, old ones, in 40+ years. Greetings to Br. Stanislaw M. on the occasion of his name day !

May God protect us….