Last November, a delegation from St. John of God traveled from Spain to Poland and Ukraine. They were composed of Brother Ăngel LĂłpez, director of the Office of Missions and International Cooperation of the General Curia of St. John of God in Rome, and Gonzalo Sales, director of Juan Ciudad NGO. Both visited the Brothers and some of their centers to show their support for the realities of refugees fleeing the war.
As Gonzalo Sales stated upon his return, "The purpose of the trip was to showcase the brotherhood of the Hospitaller Order in Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy with the Brothers of Poland and Ukraine who are on the front lines, carrying out the Juandedian mission on behalf of Ukrainian refugees..
On November 13, the delegation landed in Warsaw, where they were welcomed by Brother Francis Salezy, Provincial Superior of the Hospitaller Order in Poland and Ukraine, and other Brothers and members of the St. John of God Emergency Commission for Aid to Ukraine. In their first meeting, Brother Ăngel LĂłpez expressed the gratitude of the Superior General of the Hospitaller Order, Brother JesĂșs Etayo, for the efforts and commitment of the Polish Province to the vulnerable people affected by the war, "putting into practice the charism of Saint John of Godâ.
The next day they traveled to Krakow, where they had a very moving meeting with families experiencing the tragedy of war, the separation from their loved ones, and the difficult experience of knowing that life will never be the same as they knew it. In fact, all the refugees long for peace and the ability to return to their countries, where they can begin rebuilding their lives, even though their homes have been destroyed.
The testimonies of these people are heartbreaking. Since the beginning of the war, the Brothers' community in Krakow has hosted a group of refugees who fled Mariupol. Alina recounted how she had to flee alone with her three children, as her husband stayed behind to fight at the Azovstal steel mill. There, he was captured by Russian troops and imprisoned. She hasn't heard from him for half a year, and doesn't know if he's alive or dead.
Anna, however, was able to flee with her three children and her husband, Sergey, who has a disability caused by an accident. Many family members and friends were left behind. Svetlana's story, which was sobbing as she recounted her experience, describes how she fled with this group at the beginning of the war, while her husband stayed behind to fight. He was wounded and had to have his leg amputated, so he is now recovering in a Ukrainian hospital, which has barely any medical staff or medicine. They have two young daughters, and although she is desperate, she knows that at least her husband is alive.
Their greatest concern, like that of the rest of the Ukrainian people, is the uncertainty of not knowing what their lives will be like in the future. In this exile, this group has forged bonds that they don't want to break when they return.
Another consequence of the war is that Ukrainian youth are overwhelmed, as the shock of the conflict has been brutal and has devastated the lives of millions. The Brotherhood estimates that six million people have passed through Poland, and 1.5 million have remained in the country.
âThousands of these refugees have been cared for in the Saint John of God centers both in Ukraine and in the neighboring country. Sometimes with a meal and a shower to recover and continue on their journey, other times with accommodation in the Brothers' more than 10 centers in Poland. âexplained Gonzalo Sales. In Ukraine, where we also visited the Drohobich center, food, medicines and other essential items are distributed several days a week, and an orphanage school in Dolhe is supported.â.
The delegation, which crossed the border under a period of great tension due to a missile explosion on Polish soil, continued with the meetings and encounters, always accompanied by Brothers Francis Salezy and Pawel Kulka, First Provincial Councilor of the Polish Province. In Drohobich, they met Brother Lawrence Iwanczuck, superior of the community, and Brothers Kazimierz, Jan Grande, and Jonasz, who live there.
They also visited the Parish of St. Bartholomew the Apostle and Father Miroslaw Lech, who works closely with the Brothers to ensure that aid reaches as many people in need as possible. They also met with the Mayor of Drohobich and then with the head of the Military Administration, who expressed their deep gratitude for the support they are receiving from the Hospitaller Order in assisting refugees. This town has grown exponentially since the war began, and food and other basic goods are in short supply.
On November 17, before leaving Ukraine, the delegation traveled 40 kilometers south of the country to learn about the valuable humanitarian work of a school-orphanage in the town of Dolhe, with which the Hospitaller Order also collaborates. There, 200 refugees live there, 80 of whom are children, most of whom do not know the whereabouts of their parents.
During the trip, Brother Francis Salezy stated that âThe lack of electricity, sirens and other difficulties have not diminished the strength of the Ukrainian people or the Brotherhood's desire to serve in the face of this situation.â.
Back in Poland, the delegation visited the St. John of God Mental Health Center in Iwonicz, and from there traveled by road to Warsaw, in heavy snowfall, where they boarded a plane back to Madrid.
After the experience, Brother Ăngel LĂłpez recapitulated that âWe don't know when the war will end; hopefully soon, but rebuilding the country will take a long time and a lot of money. Let's hope the psychological and emotional toll it's taking on people and how to rebuild them isn't forgotten: mothers without husbands, children without fathers, families without homes, jobs, or livelihoods. Those who cooperate with them in Ukraine and Poland need our support, and they need to know we're there and that we haven't abandoned them.â.
Therefore, the Hospitaller Order will continue to work with the St. John of God Emergency Commission for Aid to Ukraine, and thanks everyone for their support of this campaign.
