February 24, 2024
It has been 2 years of full-scale war in Ukraine. The war is far from being over. But today, I ask everyone to pray for Ukraine everyday – ask God to help Ukraine overcome this tragedy. I would also like to thank all of you for the support and monetary donations over the past 2 years. For a small parish like ours, we made a huge contribution to help our men and women fighting in Ukraine. This week we sent out 14 packages including all hand, toe, body warmers and an entire pallet of military fleeces that we purchased for $1500 on GovPlanet auction. The shipping costs totaled $907.20.
Thank you for all of your donations! A special thank you to Lockheed Martin employee Chad Spencer who is not our parishioner, but donated 11 laptops and 6 tablets. Another huge thank you to Taras Stets who is constantly purchasing military supplies since the war started.
In the past 2 years we were able to purchase 27 bids out of GovPlanet auctions with the total cost of $19,495.00 not including shipping costs. We purchased items such as military thermals, fleeces, knee and elbow guards, boots, uniform pants, and much more. Also, we spent approximately $10,000.00 purchasing quick clots and tourniquets. Besides that, as you know, we earlier shipped 4 full containers of supplies. Separately we shipped 308 packages with military and medical supplies, clothes for orphans, and so on.
A few months ago, we purchased for brigade #71 an evacuation bus which is displayed on the poster boards in the church basement. We also purchased night vision monoculars, tactical glasses, earmuffs, bulletproof vests and many other items. Please see the attached photos from the past month’s shipments that have arrived in Ukraine.
Thank you again and please continue to pray for Ukraine.Paragraph
Many have asked how they can help with the current events unfolding in Ukraine. Our parish asks first to pray! Prayer if the best immediate and long-term assistance anyone can provide. Besides that, there are many good, verified and reliable organizations that have been around for years. Below are two letters from our bishops in the US with links to those organizations. You may also donate directly to us. You may also donate using the button below. You may bring or mail your monetary donations to the rectory.
Christmas Container to Ukraine
Next month we are sending a stocked Shipping Container to Ukraine just in time for Christmas. This humanitarian mission will directly support orphaned children and children internally displaced in Ukraine, and the hospitals treating the many victims of war.
During war time, basic needs are a true gift. We are stocking the container with:
- dried foods such as oatmeal, rice, ramen, cereals, nuts, dried fruits, tea, coffee, chocolate
-nutrition bars and drinks like ensure
- baby food
- hygiene products: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, hand towels, shaving cream, razor
- diapers - children and adult
- medical supplies: such as crutches, walkers, braces, ace wraps, antibiotic creams, gauzes, wound care products, cold and flue medicine.
Please no toys or books. If you have a question if the item is needed, feel free to contact us.
If your organization is looking for a good will project, please contact us. We appreciate everyone's help in filling the container by the end of November.
An Amazon wishlist can be accessed here: Amazon.com
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Good will projects:
create Hygiene kits: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, hand towel, shaving cream, razor
create medical kits: two gauze pads, coban, six bandaids, antibiotic cream, four alcohol pads, two pairs of gloves, 2 surgical dressings 5x9, 2 acetaminophen (tylenol).
Christmas cards for the kids
packing boxes for container
work day of filling the container
May God bless you for your help! Please forward this message through all of your friends and neighbors!!
THANK YOU!! ДЯКУЮ!! for your support!!! MAY GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
Слава Ісусу Христу! Glory to Jesus Christ!
As we are all aware, the unthinkable has happened and Ukraine is at war once again, with an aggressor who desires to enslave and destroy her. The Ukrainian army is putting up a valiant defense, but the ravages of war are already being felt.
Our television screens are already filled with images of destroyed buildings, and long lines of people leaving their homes and fleeing to Western Ukraine and countries beyond for refuge. Soldiers and innocent civilians are being killed and injured. A humanitarian crisis of immense proportions is unfolding before our very eyes.
As Christians we must offer material and financial aid to our suffering brothers and sisters. Many of you have already turned to me asking for direction in forwarding aid to Ukraine.
I propose three safe and reliable avenues of help: the first through the auspices of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolia of Philadelphia and another two recommended by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (УККА).
The bishops of the Metropolia of Philadelphia have created a special fund entitled: “War Victims and Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine”. The fund can be accessed through the website of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia: www.ukrarcheparchy.us
Two other avenues of providing aid have been offered by the Ukrainian Congress Committee. They can be accessed at the following websites: https://www.gofundme.com/f/humanitarian-aid-to-victims-of-war-in-ukraine and https://www.mightycause.com/story/M1wzpf
Please make the information contained in this letter available to your parishioners and encourage them to make use of these means of providing aid. They are safe and reliable and through them we are confident that the financial aid will be directed to where it is needed most.
May God bless you and your faithful for their prayers and generosity during this tragic time. Слава Україні! Героям Слава!
Sincerely in Christ,
+Paul Chomnycky OSBM
Eparch of Stamford
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, Reverend Monastics and Beloved Faithful of the Philadelphia Metropolia!
On Thursday morning, February 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s military to invade Ukraine. The attack began with a launch of ballistic and conventional missiles, followed by ground and coastal operations. Soldiers of the Ukrainian army showed wisdom and excellent preparation for meeting the enemy. Unfortunately, we hear about a lot of damage to buildings, wounded and killed people. We know and believe that the war will end soon, but it will take a lot of effort and resources to restore everything.
Our Metropolia invites you to make donations to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for Ukraine. This can be done as follows:
- Write a check to the “Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia” and send it to the office at 810 North Franklin Street, Philadelphia PA 19123. Please write on the check “Humanitarian Aid Fund for Ukraine”;
- When the pastor announces the collection in the parish, leave your donation in the parish basket, which will then be transferred to the Philadelphia office along with other donations;
- You can donate on the Philadelphia Archdiocese's website www.ukrarcheparchy.us, and click on Donate through PAYPAL and select "WAR VICTIMS AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN UKRAINE
- 4. Encourage local financial and other institutions to make contributions.
There are no small or large donations. But your donation can change someone's life for the better. The Lord God will repay the happy donor a hundredfold. Pray for the people of the war victims! May the Lord bless you and our brothers and sisters in Ukraine!
Most Reverend Borys Gudziak
Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians
Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States
Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy
Auxiliary Bishop for the Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Dear Donors,
You can make a difference by donating to UUARC's mission of providing humanitarian aid to the victims of war in Ukraine 2022
United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Inc (UUARC) was established in 1944 and started fulfilling its mission of “Brother-to-Brother” by assisting Ukrainians in refugee camps during and after WWII, and then helping to resettle more than 70,000 of these refugees in the United States.
Since its beginning, UUARC has endeavored to provide aid where the need is the greatest, as well as assisted countless Ukrainians throughout the world.
Currently UUARC is raising funds to provide humanitarian aid to the victims of war in Ukraine after further invasion of Russia onto Ukrainian soil and conflict escalation.
With millions of potential victims in Ukraine, UUARC is fundraising to provide vital medical supplies to victims, care for the injured and refugees, as well as shelter and food to those affected.
UUARC is working closely with UCCA, UWC, US Aid, and the Ukrainian Embassy in the coordination of aid.
Donations can be made directly to United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Inc. 1206 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111
or at www.uuarc.org ‘Donate Now’
or Go Fund Me https://gofund.me/d17cab63
UUARC is a non-profit organization recognized by the IRS under Article 501(c)3, every gift is tax-deductible and the donor receives an acknowledgement for the donation.
CAU launches https://www.mightycause.com/story/M1wzpf
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s (UCCA) Council on Aid to Ukrainians (CAU/RODU) has launched a nationwide fundraising campaign to support our brethren in Ukraine, in the event of Russia’s further invasion and escalation in Ukraine If deterrence fails, Ukrainian officials estimate between 3 to 5 million Ukrainians could become refugees, with many children caught in the middle of an armed conflict. Even as we pray for Ukraine, UCCA’s CAU/RODU has already reached out to “AICM-Ukraine” Foundation (Association Internationale de Cooperation Medicine) to partner in planning for the provision of vital humanitarian aid to this population, as well as to the front-line defenders. AICM-Ukraine, under the coordination of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has secured warehouses in several oblasts in the east, south and north of Ukraine, where prepositioned humanitarian aid supplies can be securely stored. CAU/RODU will assist AICM-Ukraine by earmarking your donations for the purchase of WHO-standard NCDK medical kits and WHO-standard IEHK or TESK pharmaceutical kits.
To donate, please send a check or money order, made out to: “UCCA-CAU” and mail to: Ukrainian Congress Committee of America 203 Second Avenue New York, NY 10003
Donations can also be made online https://www.mightycause.com/story/M1wzpf
