UKRAINE: Donors have kept Faith alight during four years of war
AS the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year, a Catholic charity has revealed that more than €30 million (£26 million) in donations have supported the Church’s ministry to the suffering.
Following the February 2022 invasion, cities and villages have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 3.3 million displaced, leaving families facing deep material, emotional and spiritual hardship.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has revealed that, thanks to support from its benefactors, the Church in Ukraine has been able to come to the aid of those devastated by the war.
Over the four years of war, the charity supported 1,256 projects, totalling €30.35 million, allowing priests, religious, and faithful of both the Roman and Greek Catholic Churches to bring hope, stability, and pastoral care during ongoing conflict.
Donations helped provide heating systems, insulation and essential repairs for parishes, convents and Church institutions facing damage and extreme winter conditions.
Sister Franciszka, from the Little Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Odessa, south-west Ukraine said: “In a city marked by blackouts, bombings, and floods, your help provided generator fuel, heat, light and the possibility to continue catechesis and prayer.
“Thanks to your support, a Sister-doctor received professional training to assist wounded civilians and soldiers. Much of your aid also covered medical treatment for the Sisters themselves.
In 2025, 47 vehicles were provided enabling priests and Sisters to reach isolated communities to provide vital pastoral care, humanitarian aid and the sacraments.
Other support includes Mass stipends for 4,285 priests, who celebrated 127,197 masses. A total of 515 seminarians and 150 novices received formation aid.
Around 4,000 children and young people participated in holiday camps – and thousands of adults and children alike have benefitted from seven trauma healing projects, including the building of two trauma centres in Lviv and Ternopil.
Father Oleksander Ryepin of St Joseph’s parish, Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine said: “From the first few months of the invasion, the parish organised concrete aid – food, medicine and hygiene supplies for the most vulnerable.”
He added: “Our mission is simple and profound – to unite practical help with the Gospel in action. God is present even in the simplest gestures of help.
“And slowly, something remarkable happens. The pain does not disappear – but it is transformed. Tears cease to be only despair and become prayer.”
He concluded: “In a city marked by destruction, your compassion becomes shelter.
“Your generosity becomes dignity. Your faith becomes hope.”
Fr Romuald Zagurski in Konotop, north-east Ukraine said: “I sincerely thank all benefactors who are not indifferent to the suffering of Ukrainians during this war.
“May the Lord reward each of you a hundredfold with the graces you need.”
With thanks to Filipe d’Avillez
