Ukraine Information

  • Ukraine Relief – The Sisters of Saint Basil the Great received Catholic Extension Society’s 2023-2024 Lumen Christi Award on Feb. 22 for their relief work in Ukraine.   Sister Lucia is Superior of the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Zaporizhzhia and has been profiled numerous times. Learn more about her work through this video.  To learn more about the Sisters and to donate please visit: https://stbasils.com/
  • Lenten Almsgiving for Orphans in Ukraine – As we begin the Lenten season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, let us recognize our blessings and reach out to the less fortunate.  Helping Hands of St. Ann’s is asking parishioners to once again open their hearts to needy orphans in Ukraine.  The Basilian Sisters continue the mission begun by +Sister Mary Bernarda Arkatin over 30 years ago to bring food, clothing, medicine and other necessities to orphans throughout Ukraine.  Currently our sisters are working with sisters in Ukraine to provide assistance during this time of crisis in Ukraine.  As part of your Lenten almsgiving, consider making a donation to this worthy cause.  A poster of Sister Bernarda’s efforts and thank you drawings by the orphans to our parish for our donations will be on display.  Donation envelopes are available next to the display and Donation Box. Please make checks payable to St. Ann Church and write Orphans in the memo line.   God Bless you for your generosity!
  • Donations for Refugee Family – A Ukrainian refugee family, new to the area, is in need of pots and pans. Please contact Angela Sedun if you have any donations. Thanks for helping!

  • Ukrainian Donations 
    • For the past two years the parish has made collections for the Church in Ukraine. We are supporting two different parish priests and provided funds to complete renovations for another parish in Kurst.   
    • We have also collected donations for the humanitarian mercy war efforts for the Ukrainian people. We sent $7,000 toward the purchase of tourniquets for civilian use in stemming of blood flow of civilian casualties.
    • The total collections for the past two years have totaled $30,467.  Gifts made to the Ukraine during the same period totaled $16,350.  Plans are being made for the transfer of more of the remaining balance before the end of the year.
    •  I wish to thank all of our parishioners for their generous gifts and prayers offered to the Ukrainian people. 
    • Fr. Taras
  • Another refugee family is Arriving from Ukraine – they are in need of dishes, silverware, pots and pans, working washer and dryer, linens.  If you or someone you know can help, please contact Angela Sedun or UniVitaeHealth@gmail.com.  Two more families arriving soon will also be in need of setting up their home.  God bless you for your generosity! 
  • Please Pray for Ukraine.   We continue to collect monetary donations and humanitarian supplies for relief efforts in Ukraine and for refugees.

Thank You for Your Kind Gift
A Letter from a Ukrainian Family

We wish to thank you for your kindness and generosity towards our Ukrainian cousins, Katya, Zhanna and Rymma.  I have include a personal thank you letter from Katya below:

“Hello.  I am writing you a letter and there are a lot of emotions in my soul.  I’ll tell you a little about myself.  I was born and raised in Ukraine, my parents were wonderful people.  My mother instilled in me a love for nature and plants, she taught me needlework and told me about the values and traditions of our family.  My dad read interesting stories to me and taught me to love books.  I miss my parents, I know that they are watching me from heaven.

I became an adult and always tried to be a good mother to my children.  We lived in our cozy house, studied, loved, cooked our favorite food, met guests, dreamed, made repairs, worked… The girls dreamed of going to university in Odessa… For several years I developed my flower business, worked a lot, but this occupation brought me joy and satisfaction, some of my customers have become my friends.  We loved our home, school and work.

But on February 24, our life was no longer the same … we woke up from the sounds of rocket explosions.  On the first day of the troops’ invasion of our country, all airports were blown up, including the new airport in our city.  It is impossible to describe in words… My heart was shrinking and trembling with anxiety.  I understood one thing – I need to do everything possible to protect my children.  After a week of the war, we managed to get on a secret train, it traveled through the whole of Ukraine and we were able to get to Poland.  It has been a difficult and disturbing journey.

Now my past life flashes through my mind like movie credits.

My dear, words are probably not enough to express my feelings of gratitude to you.  Thank you very much for your kind heart.  I understand that you have your own worries, family and work, but you found the time and opportunity to take care of my children and me.  Thank you for being not indifferent and helping us escape the war.  I want to hug you and thank you for everything you have done for us.  I know that all your kindness will return to you with love, joy and blessings.  Be happy and healthy!  May your wonderful dreams come true!
 As a mother, I feel a great sense of gratitude, thank you for helping me protect my children, I send you rays of good from the bottom of my heart.

 With love and gratitude, Katerina Rybak.”

Church organizations call attention to worsening plight of Ukrainian refugees
The Primate of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, Major Archbishop Svietoslav Shevchuk, has urged continued humanitarian support for more than 12 million people uprooted by the war in his country. At the same time, church organizations in Europe have also appealed for increased aid.
“Intensified hostilities are now causing a new wave of refugees and internally displaced persons, as people leave everything behind and head into the unknown,” Archbishop Shevchuk said in a message on Monday.
“Whether or not you know these people, I ask you with pain and sadness in my heart to surround them with prayer. Just as prayer unites a mother with a son on the front line, or a man and woman separated by war, so prayer also unites and helps all those lonely today.”  Read More

In Ukraine, ‘God wipes away people’s tears’
Anatolii Babynskyi Jul 11
No matter where you live in Ukraine, you can’t escape the war.

The fighting is now mostly in the country’s eastern regions, but the war is everywhere. War is on tv, it’s on the radio, and online.

Soldiers stand on street corners.

Daily death rolls report the names of relatives or friends, sirens announce the danger of air raids.

War is the reality of Ukrainian life. Which means it has become the Church’s reality — pastoral care, priests and religious across the country told The Pillar, means helping people hold on to faith, to themselves, and to a sense of being a human. Read More

  • Please Pray for Ukraine –  Dear Parishioners, please Pray, Pray, Pray for peace in Ukraine and the world . . . “Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the priests, to our civil authorities (in Ukraine and Russia), and to all Your people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from you the Father of lights; and we render glory, thanksgiving, and worship to you Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.” (The Ambo Prayer)                                                                          Father Taras
  • Special Collection for Ukraine – We continue to take up a special collection for relief efforts in Ukraine. Donations are still being accepted. Checks should be payable to Saint Ann Parish. Please be generous and mark Ukraine Collection on your donation.