PRAYER AND SUPPORT: FOUR YEARS OF STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
Text: Walentyna Polozowa, PFCF community center resident
February 24, 2022 — a date that forever changed the life of every Ukrainian. The sky ignited with fire, tearing apart the last peaceful dawn, and an unspeakable pain settled in people’s hearts. Russian aggression brought death and destruction, forcing millions to seek safety. The largest wave of refugees headed to Poland.
It was here, at the Aid Center at 1 Chopin Street, under the care of the Foundation’s president, Father Marek, that more than 70 Ukrainians found shelter. They are elderly people, persons with disabilities, mothers with children — those whose lives were cruelly shattered by the war.
Among the residents of the center is Ms. Larysa from Mariupol, who shared her memories of surviving in the occupied city:
“Mariupol welcomed February 2022 under a hail of Russian missiles. First, critical infrastructure, and later the city itself, turned into ruins. The blockade tightened around us, causing a deep humanitarian catastrophe: no electricity, heating, gas, or communication. We collected rainwater and melted snow just to have something to drink and to cook. Those who dared to go far for spring water under shelling often never returned — they were killed. The worst happened when a missile hit my building, which burst into flames. In panic, I tried to save at least some food and warm clothes, as March was cold. I managed to escape that hell and leave for Poland. But the joy of survival was overshadowed by bitter news: my burned-down home was demolished. Now I have nowhere to return,” Ms. Larysa recalls with pain.
The fates of people driven from their native land by war testify not only to profound suffering, but also to extraordinary courage in overcoming life’s trials.
One such story was shared by Ms. Oksana from the settlement of Pokrovske, who also lives in the center:
“For almost a year and a half, amid the sounds of sirens and explosions, my son Dmytro and I lived in constant fear,” she says. “Missiles flew over the settlement almost every day, as active fighting was taking place just 30 kilometers from the front line. Every time the alarm sounded, we ran to the basement, taking icons with us. Only prayer and hope in God helped us calm down, even a little.”
It was this faith, which became a source of strength for Ukrainians, that united us in the small chapel of our center. A Holy Mass was held there to mark the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The service was celebrated by the president of the Foundation, Father Marek. In his homily, he noted that the heroism of the Ukrainian people reflects God’s love: just as the Creator once gave His Son for the salvation of humanity, so today Ukrainian parents give what is most precious — their children — to defend their neighbors. God is one for all humanity. Despite differences in religious traditions and cultures, we all turn to the same God. In this spiritual unity, we find the strength to endure and to strive for peace.
Within the chapel walls, a special atmosphere prevailed — we united pain and hope in a shared prayer, asking for one thing: an end to the war. Psalms resounded as the strongest weapon and shield against evil, becoming an act of living solidarity with those who are fighting for freedom on the front lines. The service concluded with the solemn singing of a Polish religious hymn, uniting everyone present in a common call for peace.
