HONG KONG (SE): The Claretian Missionaries in Hong Kong received further news from Father Piotr Bęza [see story here], on the assistance being rendered to Ukrainian refugees
HONG KONG (SE): Father Piotr Bęza, the provincial superior of the Claretians [CMF] in Poland [Polska], the provincial superior in Poland, has reported that they are continuing to give aid to refugees—over two million of them as of March 18—fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Assistance is being provided to over 300 people—210 of them children in Łódź, Wroclaw and Warsaw. Items include food, personal hygiene products, medicines, school supplies for children, clothing and footwear, necessities for newborns and infants, as well as school lunches.
Brother Tadeusz Lihs CMF, the provincial treasurer, together with many volunteers has been coordinating the efforts.
The Missionary Sisters of St. Anthony Mary Claret and the Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul have brought aid amounting to Polish Zloty [PLN] 6,500 [$11,925] and PLN 5,000 [$9,173], respectively, directly to Ukraine.
Brother Lihs reported that as of March 17, PLN 55,000 [$100,908] had been spent on humanitarian aid in Poland.
“While showing support, we can see that refugees need every little help, which often means satisfying their basic needs to live a normal life, Brother Lihs said, adding, “Of course, this is not the only help we give. In fact, each of our communities help according to current needs, which often change almost from day to day or hour to hour.”
Father Bęza expressed gratitude for the spiritual and material help, for “every word of support and encouragement.”
He called to mind the words of Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland said that while Ukraine lost its brother, Russia, it regained a sister whose name is Poland. He said that “although the history of Polish-Ukrainian relations is complicated and convoluted, in the face of the drama of war, these issues become entirely irrelevant, and perhaps it is the war, paradoxically, that will lead to lasting reconciliation.”
Father Bęza said, “Although it is a challenging time, extraordinary things are happening, and may we be grateful to God that we can participate in them, even in a small way.”
