Russia's military action in Ukraine has opened a new wound to humanity. A wound that leaves a lasting impression on every person, regardless of where in the world they are.
In these difficult times, in which many innocent people suffer, we received the appeal from Mgr. Hristo Proykov, President of the Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria: “Let us try to be united in our empathy and support for those who suffer from war and with God's help to provide them with the support they need most ”.
In this spirit, we have also started the time of Lent. In collaboration with all the religious communities, male and female and Caritas they had the coordination for their accommodation.
On March 13, the first refugees arrived by bus. They were hosted in different religious communities, we also welcomed 4 families, women with children, who were with the intention of temporarily staying in Bulgaria with the hope of finding a job in the near future. In the same days another request from Caritas arrived for other families, small children with mothers.
As soon as the people are arrived we have hosted them as a new family.
When they settled down and rested, they told us that they were only looking for peace. The first few days they told us about their experiences of the constant sirens that stressed them. After a few days, they even started joking, especially the children, who instead of sirens hear the sound of the bells of the Church, which is located next to our convent, in the morning and in the evening.
Now, almost two months of stay among us, they have started the Bulgarian language course for all refugees in Rakovski. Later two of the mothers started work and the other two take care of the children following the online school in Ukraine. We currently have 5 children of the following age: 2; 4; 7; 9 and 12 years and four women. All entered into daily life, into the life of the parish following the hours of catholicism, the Sunday masses.
The local children we work with, from the moment they learned that there are refugees in the convent, come in the afternoon and with a full voice under the windows of the Ukrainian children call them to play.
Two joint initiatives have organized the “Hristo Smirnеnski elementary school, where we teach religion, and the“ Cyril and Methodius ”Cultural Center, with which we collaborate in various initiatives. At the school in front of the principal's office they put up a charity box for the families who stay with us. Instead, the culture section presented tradition, culture, customs of the city ending with a fraternal dinner.
We can also share a few words about material and humanitarian support. First the people of our parish, as well as other parishes, raised funds and various basic food products.
The financial bills for heating were paid by our benefactors in the city. Electricity and other documents and health costs are committed by Caritas.
The Italian community of Plovdiv is committed to organizing a visit to the museums and knowledge of the history of our area especially for children. Of course, at the end of such a day, financed by the Italians, pizza and ice cream cannot be missing! We thank the Italian store chain - Оutlet for their constant help with sportswear and food products.
“… I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you dressed me, sick and you visited me, imprisoned and you came to see me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you as a stranger and we hosted you, or naked and we dressed you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and came to visit you? In reply, the king will say to them: Truly I say to you, whenever you did these things to one of these least of my brothers, you did it to me ”. Mt 25, (35-40)
Sisters in Bulgaria