Liverpool sends aid to Ukraine

Bishop Neylon with some of the volunteers before they left for Ukraine

Source: Archdiocese of Liverpool

Two trucks left Liverpool heading to the Polish border, loaded with aid for the people of Ukraine last Saturday. They are being collected by Bishop Gregory Komar, and students for the priesthood from the Holy Spirit Seminary in the Ukrainian diocese of Sambir-Drohobych, who will take the goods for distribution in the Lviv region of western Ukraine. Bishop Gregory is the auxiliary bishop of the diocese and has a close association with the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

The consignment includes medical supplies, baby products, toiletries, camp beds, bedding/sleeping bags and rucksacks and is the result of an appeal launched across the archdiocese on 11 March.

Before the truck left, last Saturday, Bishop Thomas Neylon and Father Taras Khomych, chaplain to the Ukrainian community, celebrated Mass at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool, L17 1AA. The Mass was attended by many of the volunteers who have spent days sorting and packing the goods for Ukraine.

Bishop Neylon also serves on the Bishops Conference Department for International Affairs and said: "As we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine the aid which we are sending today is a physical expression of that prayer. The generosity of people throughout the archdiocese has been a truly amazing statement of the solidarity which we have with Bishop Gregory and the people of Ukraine."

The consignment is being taken to the Polish border by Mike Sharkey and Andy Coley from Greenmount Projects, Wigan, and Dave Lyon and Chris Joynt from Wigan Council and Wigan College respectively. Mike said: "It's fantastic to be able to reach out to the people of Ukraine and assist with transporting the many specific items that Bishop Gregory has asked for. It will be a privilege to be able to see first hand the difference that these much needed supplies from the #liverpool4Ukraine archdiocesan appeal will make. They will give comfort and assistance to the Ukrainian people in their hour of need and strengthen unity between our countries."