Poland: Women religious assist thousands of Ukrainian refugees

Image: Fot. zakony-zenskie.pl

Source: Polish Bishops Conference, Caritas Polska

Religious sisters in 924 convents in Poland and 98 in Ukraine, are welcoming refugees, providing them with spiritual, psychological, medical and practical help. It is estimated that since the beginning of the war, each one of the nearly 150 religious congregations in Poland and Ukraine has provided aid to up to 18,000 people.

Accommodation has been arranged in 498 religious houses in Poland and 76 houses in Ukraine. As of Thursday, 3,060 children, 2,420 families and more than 2,950 adults have received shelter. More than 600 places for orphans have been prepared in 64 facilities, and almost 3,000 places for mothers with children are waiting in 420 facilities.

Since the beginning of the war, the Sisters, working with state and church institutions, have been involved in the preparation and distribution of hot meals, food, cleaning products, clothes and blankets. They help in transporting people from places affected by hostilities, mediate in looking for jobs in Poland, create additional jobs in their centres, coordinate help children from Ukraine get into Polish schools, act as interpreters and also organize activities for children and mothers who come from Ukraine. The institutions run by the sisters are also providing shelter for the elderly and disabled.

In Poland, religious communities constantly collect food and hygiene products, which are sent to Ukraine, issued to refugees or transferred to assembly houses and other centres where aid is provided to war victims. The sisters also donate their own funds and the funds of the foundations they run.

Currently, there are also 332 sisters from Polish religious orders in Ukraine.