My dear brothers and sisters,
We are all united with Ukraine and with our brothers and sisters there. We forward to you this urgent request for help for the needs of the people of Ukraine. At this moment I ask you for generosity in prayer and also for the contribution you can make. Thank you very much.
God bless you.
Miguel Márquez, Superior General
Kiev, 27th February, 2022
«Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God» (Mt 5:9).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
On behalf of the Carmelite communities in Ukraine (the nuns of Kharkiv and Kiev, and the friars of Berdyczów, Kiev and Gwozdawa), I would like to thank you for all the signs of care and support that come to us from Poland and from the whole world. This really strengthens our spirit.
We are fine, although last night in Kiev was difficult because of the bombings. We heard the noise and our house trembled. But God protects us, with the angels and Our Lady. We have not suffered any damage for the time being. We pray and ask for your prayers for Ukraine and especially for Kiev, which is suffering a terrible attack.
Our main task is to pray for peace, but also to be present for all those who turn to us for help. People know that they can feel safe within our walls during the bombings, so we try to be prepared to help families (especially the elderly and mothers with children). We buy water, electricity generators, wood stoves and medicines. In the church of Berdyczów, with its old walls and large space, we have organnized one of the bunkers for the city. Even the poorest families are asking for help to organize their escape to Poland, which is a difficult task, faced with such an avalanche of people fleeing war and less and less available petrol. We are aware that in time, essentials will end in the cities: food, drinking water, medicines, electricity… we want to be even more ready to respond, like a biblical Samaritan, to those affected by war.
Our friars in Poland have begun an initiative of creating a fund for material aid for the communities of our friars and nuns in Ukraine, and especially for people who are coming to us or will turn to us in the near future. We would be very grateful for your help in this difficult time. Please bring the donations to our monasteries in Poland or pay them directly to the account of our Delegation with the annotation: «For those affected by the war in Ukraine».
I am in constant contact with Fr. General and Fr. Provincial, and they will be the first to know should the situation in our monasteries change. Thank you again for praying and remembering us. In this is our strength and victory! We believe that God will soon put an end to this madness of war and that He will teach us to use this difficult experience for the good of Carmel, the Church and of all Ukraine.
In the name of the friars and nuns in Ukraine,
Fr Józef Kucharczyk, Provincial Delegate in Ukraine.
P.S. Here are the details of our bank account (in different currencies):
🇵🇱 For payments in Polish Zloty:
Name of the bank: Santander Bank Poland S.A.
Name of a/c: KLASZTOR KARMELITÓW BOSYCH W BERDYCZOWIE
IBAN: PL46150016341216300373770000
SWIFT Code of the bank: WBKPPLPP
With the annotation «For those affected by the war in Ukraine»
🇺🇸 For payments in USD:
Name of the bank: Santander Bank Poland S.A.
Address: Al. Jana Pawła II, 17
Name of a/c: KLASZTOR KARMELITÓW BOSYCH W BERDYCZOWIE
Address: ul. Karmelicka 1
37-700 Przemyśl
Polska (Poland)
IBAN: PL27150016341216300453690000
SWIFT Code of the bank: WBKPPLPP
With the annotation «For those affected by the war in Ukraine»
🇪🇺 For payments in EUR:
Name of the bank: Santander Bank Poland S.A.
Name of a/c: KLASZTOR KARMELITÓW BOSYCH W BERDYCZOWIE
IBAN: PL29150016341216300452680000
SWIFT Code of the bank: WBKPPLPP
With the annotation: «For those affected by the war in Ukraine»
