Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) with an appeal to support the Albertine brothers in Zaporizhzhia and Lviv

“In eastern Ukraine, the number of homeless, maimed, refugees and vulnerable people awaiting support has increased,” wrote Bishop Jan Sobiło of the Diocese of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin responds to the appeal: “Together with the Albertine Brothers, we will help to give bread to the poor.”

The Albertine Brothers have been ministering in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine for 20 years. They are very involved in helping the people of Ukraine, including in Lviv. They run bakeries, a shelter for the homeless, and an open kitchen for the poor, from which they dispense a plate of warm soup every day. Before the war, it was 150 portions a day. Currently, with the war going on, it is up to 1,500.

The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, was informed about the situation in war-torn Ukraine in recent months by the Albertine Brothers from Krakow - Brother Franciszek Grzelka, Superior General of the Albertine Brothers’ Congregation, and Brother Tomasz Pączek. Both the brothers travel to Zaporizhia in small lorries and deliver food to the local kitchen.

Being as good as bread

“The Albertine Brothers are very involved in helping the people of Ukraine, especially in Zaporizhia and Lviv. The ministry of the Albertine Brothers is welcome. “Some say that it is a drop in the ocean, but it does a lot of good, and I think that also the continued commitment of the Albertine Brothers will bear great fruit,” Fr Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski added.

Regular shipments of food

Brother Franciszek Grzelka, the Superior General of the Congregation of Albertine Brothers, emphasized that the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) supports the brothers' activities directed towards the poor, including refugees. "There are very many of them there, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zaporizhzhia is a large city, with a current population of around 900,000, which has - fortunately - not been captured by the Russians for almost a year of the ongoing war. The Russians only reached the vicinity, seizing a nuclear power plant about 50 km from the city,” he said.

“The city is still free, including access to it from Poland via Ternopil, Vinnitsa and Humana. Zaporozhye has become the first stop for internal refugees from the occupied territories, including from cities such as Berdyansk, Melitopol and Mariupol,” Brother Grzelka recounted.

He added that the organization of regular food shipments from Poland, the purchase of which is supported by people of goodwill, and institutions, is crucial in bringing aid to the people of Zaporizhia.

To serve as well as possible

Helping Ukraine is dangerous. Last October, in Zaporizhzhia, there was rocket fire at a site just 400 meters from the Albertine friars; one of the missiles hit an apartment block and killed 24 civilians and many wounded.

“Certainly everyone experiences fear. I remember one of the travels, back in March. There was a difficult situation with fuel, which started to run out. There was some fear and apprehension, but by the grace of God I had such a desire in me to simply be there and to go, despite this fear and the apprehension that sometimes arose. There is also this inner courage that I give all to God and God will do what he wants; and I want to serve him as well as I can,” shared Brother Tomasz Pączek, the bursar of the Congregation.

They will not survive without aid

Bishop Jan Sobiło, who serves in the Kharkiv-Zaporous diocese, addressed an appeal to those who would possibly like to support the Albertine brothers in their ministry in Ukraine. In a letter to the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, he pointed out that many people ask Catholics for help, without which they would not survive in the situation of warfare and severe weather conditions.

“For 20 years now, the community of Albertine Brothers at the Shrine of God the Father in Zaporozhye has been working with great commitment among the poor and excluded. The supplies we accumulate diminish very quickly. Hence my heartfelt plea for support, without which we will not be able to help people in extremely difficult life situations,” wrote Bishop Jan Soblova.

Those who would like to respond to the appeal for help can make donations to the account number of the Society of Friends of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL): 23 1240 5497 1111 0011 0311 8537, with the note: Donation to help Ukraine.