Even as Christmas approaches, then, there are millions of stories of pain that continue to shake our consciences. Just when it seemed that we were over the worst of the pandemic, the bombings in Ukraine began. Since then, the whole world has suffered the consequences of the war in the heart of Europe.
Among the many stories is that of Daryna, who left Dnipro at the end of February, with the first bombings, and returned there in the summer with her three young children. Her father and husband are still fighting away from home, and she has no resources to face the winter. "The house is damaged and the windows have been broken by shrapnel," she explained, "we spend whole days without heating and hot water, and there is nothing left in the supermarkets. It is too cold for the children and we want the war to end now," she continued.
For this reason, Salesian missionaries, with the help of Mission Offices and Salesian NGOs, are continuing the "Ukraine Emergency" campaign. Fighting the cold by distributing insulating and warm clothing and helping to fix homes, collective spaces, and schools have been priorities in recent months.
"This Christmas we will remember last year's holidays, when we were all together celebrating. Circumstances have changed, but we do not lose hope that the birth of Jesus will bring us peace and that we will soon be united again," Daryna added.
And while the war in Ukraine continues, economic crises, the severe consequences of climate change and, unfortunately, more wars still rage worldwide. There is fighting in Syria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, and Nigeria. Then there are the dramatic stories of millions of children in street situations or trafficking victims, children deprived of their freedom or forced to sell their bodies in order to feed themselves. There are refugee children, migrants, orphaned by the pandemic, and unable to attend school. There are millions of stories, one for every person that Salesian missionaries care for around the world.
For all these reasons, "Misiones Salesianas," Madrid's Mission Office, continues to work with the goal of "turning these situations around, to continue to bring help and hope to the most disadvantaged and suffering groups. We want to fill the places where we work with good news and sow peace in every painful situation we face."
Source: Misiones Salesianas
