A Letter from Sister Maria Oksana Zhovnir

An update on Felician Sisters' aid to Ukraine: 300+ parcels distributed in Kherson despite ongoing conflict.

Thank you for your support of the Felician Sisters in Poland. I am writing to provide you with an update on how gifts we receive are being used for the people of Ukraine.

The week before Christmas, together with a group of volunteers and Fathers Mirosław Lech and Tadeusz Kupczyński, we visited Kherson to provide humanitarian aid and gifts for the children from St. Nicholas. We visited three housing estates and distributed more than 300 parcels including food, warm clothing and toiletries. We also had sweets for the youngest residents of the frontline zone.

We helped Santa Claus give gifts to a group of 70 children. Many were girls between the ages of three and 15. The girls meet in the shelter each week for dance lessons. The joy of the children was great. With your help, we were able to give them a short moment of happiness.

If you do not know, Kherson is under constant Russian shelling. It is one of the most dangerous cities in Ukraine. Despite this, more than 60,000 Ukrainians still live here, including many children. Life goes on at its own pace and the children were awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, even one without a beard.

This was an extraordinary trip and I thank God for the time I spent with the people at the front and for our safe return home. I thank all the sisters who embraced us with their prayers, as well as those who bravely packed parcels for families. Sr. Agnes Maria Trojnar, a temporary professed Felician Sister from Our Lady of Hope Province, joined us while visiting family in Poland.

Thank you for remembering Ukraine. It is through your generosity that we can purchase food and gifts for the children and families of Kherson.

May God reward you all!

Sister M. Oksana Zhovnir, Przemyś
Provincial Councilor in Poland

P.S. On December 29, I learned that the building where the children were having dance lessons had been bombed…please continue your prayers for peace and for the people of Ukraine.

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Serving where needed since 1874

Founded in Poland in 1855, the Felician Sisters are a congregation of women religious inspired by the spiritual ideals of their foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, and Saints Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi and Felix of Cantalice. Arriving in North America in 1874 following Blessed Mary Angela’s directive “to serve where needed,” they helped to weave the social service system. Today, the Felician Sisters founded, sponsor or support through the presence of our sisters, more than 40 ministries – all continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the people they serve.

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Felician Sisters of North America