The Jesuits in Khmelnyckyi, Ukraine turned a retreat house into a stopping point for people fleeing war zones at the beginning of the war. Now, every day 70 people arrive at the point for the night. They are provided with good conditions: beds with fresh bedding, access to bathrooms, and food.
For many of these people, this is the first place where they can feel safe. This is usually a difficult moment for them, because they can feel their emotions so strongly. Most of these people lost everything while fleeing the war zone.
The center in Khmelnyckyi itself requires constant commitment, so it could not function if not for the sacrificial work of parishioners, students from the academic ministry and other volunteers. This is work under difficult conditions: because the situation is precarious. Every day there are several bomb alerts, often at night, and everyone has to go down to the shelter. There have been cases of the arrival of a person suspected of sabotage.
Despite all this, Fr. Bartek, who works in Khmelnyckyi points out the extraordinary things that are happening around. He talks about incredible mobilization and unity. He asks us to pray and says:
The Word of God guides us. We know what to do, we know what God wants from us. No one is planning here to run away. There is no panic. There is here a definite readiness to be oneself: not to be afraid, but to be oneself.
