Karol Darmoros
Winter without electricity
The destroyed energy infrastructure means that in many regions of Ukraine, electricity is only available for a few hours a day. As Mother Judyta Kowalska, Superior General of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, emphasizes in an interview with Vatican News, the living conditions of the sisters are very difficult. “In the sisters’ apartments, it’s 10 degrees,” says Mother Kowalska, adding that in Kyiv, there are even problems with preparing meals. Although generators help in workplaces, weakening of the body and illnesses are becoming increasingly common.
Where it’s most difficult
The Honoratian communities are present not only in the capital but also in Kharkiv and Odesa. The sisters – as Mother Judyta emphasizes – are not in a privileged situation. “The sisters suffer just like other people,” she notes, quoting Sister Kamila Karmaluk, superior of the Vicariate of St. Michael the Archangel in Ukraine. “And how are we to be different from others who are just as cold as us?” asks Sister Kamila. This awareness means that the Honoratian sisters do not withdraw from their ministry but share the fate of those they serve. As part of their sacrificial ministry, they reach out to the elderly, the sick, and large families, especially in rural areas, regularly providing them with food, chemical supplies, and essential warm clothing and footwear. Their presence is based on deep solidarity with the civilian population.
Hope and presence
Prayer and community remain a source of strength for them. “It is only strength in prayer and in our unity among ourselves,” says Sister Alina Kucolapska from Berdychiv, one of the important Marian centers in Ukraine. The sister also emphasizes the importance of family relationships, whose strength is particularly evident in such difficult times. Support for the sisters and local communities also comes from Poland, including from Częstochowa, where humanitarian aid packages are prepared. As Mother Judyta emphasizes, for the inhabitants of Ukraine, the very awareness that they have not been forgotten is of immense importance.
How to help the Honoratian sisters?
Support can be transferred to the account: Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bank PKO BP 16 1020 1664 0000 3302 0158 5389. With the note “Aid for Ukraine”.
