From the Community of Lviv, the FMA communicate that they are well and that their house is open to welcome the many people fleeing to save themselves from attacks, especially mothers with small children. And when they are in the shelter, they pray the rosary with the people, “This is our weapon! We thank in prayer those who are giving their lives to defend us and we thank God who has given us another day of life.”
Also, the Communities of Kiev and of Odessa are in solidarity with the population, in a mutual exchange of concrete help and encouragement.
The FMA Communities of Poland, in collaboration with the Church and Catholic associations, offer welcome and support to the many people who cross the borders to put themselves in safety with their families.
From Slovakia, the Provincial, Sr. Monika Skalová, communicates the commitment of the FMA to welcome in their Houses and to be present on the borders with help for translations and concrete service, especially for children exhausted by long waits. With the Salesians of Don Bosco, they are united in initiatives to request material aid for the FMA and SDB of Ukraine. Furthermore, on 2 March 2022, in addition to the fasting requested by Pope Francis, they organized 24 hours of adoration, in which they ensure a chain of prayer for peace.
Mother Chiara thanks for the closeness expressed so far and encourages all the Educating Communities to remain united in prayer and in the initiative of solidarity, with the insistent and unanimous request for the gift of peace, for Ukraine and for all areas of the world in conflict, in which the FMA share the fears and sufferings of the people.
In a previous communication the Mother General of the FMA had in fact stressed: “It seems to me important at this time to support our sisters and the population with some concrete initiatives: praying the Rosary together, with the explicit intention of asking for the gift of peace; the personal and community commitment to live an attitude of peace and benevolence, of reciprocal tolerance and acceptance.
When Don Bosco composed the prayer ‘O Mary, Host Powerful Virgin’, he called it ‘the prayer of difficult times’. Faithful to his inspiration, we can invoke with faith the ‘powerful’ intercession of Mary, to free humanity from the danger of wars wherever there are burning fires and help to appreciate and build the priceless gift of peace.”
Source: CGFMAnet.org
