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!
Our 2022 Newsletter
Here is the CONU 2022 Newsletter. Please see the featured stories about our new Executive Director, Father Tom Jamka, and the trip to Ukraine by our Vice President, Ken Rackers.
Update from Mirgorod and Father Stanislav
Below are photos from Father Stanislav Tanatarov in Mirgorod, Ukraine. The name of the new church, funded by an anonymous donor to CONU, is Church of Jesus of Divine Mercy. Father Stan says the church is the most beautiful building in the city. It’s in a prominent location on the main highway through Mirgorod. The church also continues to serve the war victims and refugees. One day this fall, over 400 war victims refugees received aid. When Ken Rackers, CONU’s board VP, visited in October 2022, Father Stan introduced him to about 120 refugees attending mass and receiving aid. Ken spoke 2-3 minutes in Russian during mass. After mass, 4 or 5 older ladies (babushkas, grandmothers) came up and kissed him on cheeks, hugged him with tears in their eyes, thanking CONU and Americans. Three dedushkas (grandfathers) also thanked him and shook his hand. Father Stan later took him to a refugee center (very dilapidated housing likely frigid in winter). Later he took him to lunch at the apartment of a refugee couple. They put on a typical generous feast. They also showed pictures of the apartment building they left behind in the war area of Donbas. It had been shelled by artillery the morning they fled. It was later completely and horribly ransacked by Russian soldiers.
The basement chapel of the Mirgorod church was filled with food and supply donations stacked taller than Ken, some from CONU, likely the rest is from Poland and international donors including the USA. Ken asked Father Stan where it all came from. He coyly responded from CONU, only CONU. He responded it was like that “fishes and loaves” from Jesus in the Bible. While CONU is not a big or rich organization, it contributes to the welfare of 1000s in cities and regions across Ukraine. Father Stan is a great leader of his parish and flock, and a honest and impeccable steward of CONU’s contributions… as are all the other with whom we work in projects across Ukraine. This is the second church Father Stan built with support from CONU. The other is in the city of Konotop.
Outside of the remodeled church in MIrgorod
Supply distribution
Supply distribution
Refugees line up for distribution
Extract from a gratitude letter from Father Chomiak in Lutsk
… let me express to you the words of our sincere and deep gratitude for your kind and open heart and support for the needy people in Ukraine… Every day we live under the terrifying sounds of sirens, see deadly rockets fly by and hear the sounds of explosions. However, amidst this gloom of darkness, we also see and feel the strong and strong support we receive from sincere people with big hearts! Your personal support and the support of your entire organization CONU is an invaluable help in our daily lives, because it is because of you that people are able to get the help they need… we live in conditions without electricity, water and heating. This difficult and harsh Ukrainian winter has become a new test that we have to pass. However thanks to your help, needy people who find themselves in extremely difficult circumstances feel that they are not alone with their problems. … thanks to the kindness of your hearts, we are able to implement the campaign “Kitchen for the poor and needy” and warm needy people with hot lunches. … May God’s grace and mercy always be in your homes and hearts. We pray that the Lord will bless you with His blessings and express our sincere gratitude for the fact that he has rewarded you with kind hearts! We would like to wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas. So that the light and joy of the Lord’s birth always accompany you, and the Christmas star indicates only the right path of life’s path!
Distribution of goods in Lutsk
Gratitude Letter from Lutsk and Fr. Chomiak