The sisters in Poland have been feeling it since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine: their most urgent task now is to help the refugees and support them wherever they can. Through but not only because of the geographical proximity to Western Ukraine, their efforts are directed towards the people in the surrounding area. It's about the bare essentials: distributing food, cooking hot soup, organising places to sleep. A warm blanket is a survival aid for many who have only what they could take and carry in a hurry. Lviv has become an important hub for refugees fleeing Ukraine. Trains and convoys of vehicles arrive here from all over the country to prepare for the final leg to safe Poland.

The women, children and elderly people arriving in Poland are exhausted and many are only now beginning to understand the full extent of the war and their flight. Sister Noemi of the Polish Salvatorian Sisters is deeply moved by how great the willingness to help is on the Polish-Ukrainian border. "So many families open their doors and houses to the refugees. My heart swells when I see how people spontaneously meet and start actions to help," says the superior of the Polish community of sisters.

Many helping hands and support from outside are needed to ensure that the refugees are well looked after. The Provincial House of the Salvatorian Sisters is about 200 kilometres from the border.

Immediately after the outbreak of the war, all the rooms that were not needed were prepared for the accommodation of families and old people. The refugees are not only provided with food and clothing by the sisters. They come to a place of peace and safety. The sisters listen to them and offer them help for their time in a foreign country. "We don't know yet how long this will last and how it will go on ", says Sister Noemi.

In the beginning of December 2022 Sister Noemi wrote:
"We startet to support the people of Ukraine directly in different parts of their country. I have been doing interviews where and what is urgently needed. From the Conference of Major Female Religious Superiors I received addresses and accounts of Sisters from other religious congregations working in Ukraine. There is a need for warm clothing, medicine and – most of all – money to buy generators, so that people can prepare a meal and to warm up. The best way to reach the Ukrainian population is through the sisters and priests who live there. Sisters and Priests divide the money and give it to the needy.We transferred tranches of money to the Josephite Sisters, Servant Sisters of Starowiejska, Sisters without a habit – who run orphanages, kindergartens, care for the sick, support soldiers with medicine, etc. We supported the Church Aid Team for Catholics in the East, Salvatorian priests and Caritas Poland."

In the beginnung of January 2023 a mail from Sr. Noemi reached us:

Dear friends,
I am sending more information about our aid in Ukraine. We have received feedback from the nuns working there
on what the money has been used for. They purchased:

– For the elderly; quilts, pillows, underwear, food
– For families with many children; beds, mattresses, dresser, tables for feeding children
– Medicines for soldiers, required clothing

At Christmas we invited a family – who used to live with us –
for dinner. All were given a modest Christmas gift.