PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP! We continue to be deeply saddened by the daily news of the continuing catastrophes unfolding in Ukraine. We at CONU are hearing directly from our front-line missionaries about the resurgence of devastation and terrible attacks on innocent families, women, children, elderly, and the handicapped. At the same time, we’re inspired by the tenacity and bravery of the Ukrainian people. CONU remains steadfast to help keep safe the Ukrainian people in three of our dioceses that have been in the center of the madness. Again we see an increased need to assist refugees with protection and care for war victims placed in harm’s way. Therefore, we continue to ask for your prayers. Here is a recommended novena: Novena for Peace and Healing. We appreciate all financial support for our brave brothers and sisters in Ukraine. To learn more about our mission and history, please visit our website at https://conuhome.org/ There’s a top menu option to donate to our charity. 100% of donations are used to support current needs while doing our best to continue our humanitarian causes to provide healthcare, single-mother support, and revive Christianity in the Ukrainian people.
Help us help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine! Thank you and may God bless you!
Update from Mirgorod parish
/in Uncategorized /by Jim DalrympleFrom Father Stanislav in Mirgorod (about 110 miles west of Russian border)
11/26/24: From Father Stanislav: I want to congratulate you on the election of a new president. May God bless you. Lord bless America. We understand that there will be new political challenges in the world. I would like your president to end the war in Ukraine. People are dying in the war in large numbers, many are wounded. In the parish in Lubny (Father Stan’s satellite or 2nd parish), one man went missing in the war. And I see that in time, mobilization threatens almost everyone. … I think that if the war does not stop in the next six months, then everyone will have to fight. Yes, everyone, because there will not be enough people for the war. Thank God, they are not bothering me to go to war. Your (CONU) money is used in the following way. Products come first. Prices for products have risen very much. Almost everything has become more expensive. We buy bread, sugar, sunflower oil, canned goods one by one. We try to ensure that those in need receive a set once a month, and one type of product, almost every Mass. Sometimes shampoo. Also, medical care (medicines, examinations), services by car, and services by mail. Housing payments are assisted for several families. (These are normally supplements to the meager government allowance to rent an apartment or such; not the entire rent). Without your help, we cannot imagine our life here, during the war. We hope that your affairs are going blessedly. Every day in private prayers, in church, people pray for you.
You are in my heart and in my Services. With prayer and love, Stanislav
10/28/24: Cold weather is coming and the amount of rain is increasing, and we would like this winter to be not very cold either…. I will say that the regions of our country bordering the aggressor Russia are bombarded every day, and many people move to more peaceful places. Therefore, new settlers appear constantly.
Your money (CONU funding) is spent as follows:
1 – the first place is now occupied by spending on products [groceries]. Recently, the prices for the necessary products have risen very much, and we are trying to help people in this matter. Bread, sunflower oil, canned goods prevail in helping the needy.
2 – this is a different type of medical care: pills, examinations, diagnostics and other services.
3 – purchase of necessary things and clothes for specific people in second-hand stores.
4 – transport services and postal services,
5 – the payment for housing rent has decreased slightly [Father uses CONU funds to supplement the government stipend for rent for refugees make it affordable for them]. People have learned to adapt to the conditions. Someone who [cannot afford the “city rates”] moves from the city to the village.
It is very difficult to defeat the enemy ….
With God’s help, with your help, we will defeat the external and internal enemies.
Thank you very much for your help.
We have the opportunity to live more humanly, thanks to your help.
You are in our prayers at home, in the temple, in the heart.
With love and prayers, Stanislav
10/14/24: May the Lord bless you and your loved ones for everything you do for us in this difficult time of war. I remember you every day and many times a day in our lives and constantly thank the Lord for you. I ask the Lord to use your help correctly. The cold weather is coming. I look at what is happening in the world and I think that a world war may begin.
You are in our hearts, prayers.
Update from the Single Mothers Home (House of Hope)
/in Uncategorized /by Jim DalrympleFrom Sister Kamila, at the House of Hope (Single Mother’s Home) to CONU VP Ken Rackers on 9/19/24.
Thank you very much, our good friend… the situation in Sumi [about 100 miles north of Single Mothers Home] has become very aggravated. Today I met with a neighbor who came to us from there [Sumi] and he says that there really are people living in the basements again, hiding, that there are like the eyes of the shelling, but for now, thank God, everything is more or less [alright] but there are arrivals [attacks] in Kharkov (The Single Mothers home is about 15 Km west] … the children have started school, only now at our house [The facilities of the Single Mothers Home… Local kids don’t go to school, it is online] … Some of our mothers left for Germany… we are waiting for others — new [mothers and children] to come. … I am a little worried, we will buy firewood for the winter because it is not clear what will happen with this electricity. For now we have [electric power], thank God, and in our houses … that we’ll heat with firewood and the house will be warm. So I think we’ll manage somehow. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you. We also pray for peace because this war is destroying everything. People in Russia don’t have anything. And everyone dreams that it will end …. Say hello to all our friends … we also always pray for you every day for … help mainly from you [CONU].
CONU Newsletter!
/in Uncategorized /by Jim DalrympleHere is our latest newsletter. It highlights the past year including a visit to Colorado of three of our Ukrainian guests and a trip to Ukraine by two of our board members. Enjoy the stories and links inside the newsletter to even more.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HDjGw4V_HdSF0T5lWAv_2Cj7qmil1MLJ/view?usp=drive_link