Despite the continuing difficult situation in Ukraine and incessant anti-aircraft alerts, life in Balta (a town in southern Ukraine’s Odesa region) continues. Thanks to prayer and Divine Providence, there have been no airstrikes, although rockets and drones frequently fly over the town.
Our Blessed Sr. Josephine Nicola Day Care Center comes alive anew every day, welcoming children and young people of all ages. They come to experience the safety, joy and warmth of this community. They participate in a variety of educational, artistic and relaxing, sports activities that help them develop their skills and discover their passions.
Every day at the Day Care Center brings new challenges and joys. Every day we meet with children who bring with them a lot of emotions, desires, hopes, and fears, which they express while praying together. Many families have members involved in the war effort. Due to the alerts, children spend most of their time at school in shelters. Our role is not only to create a safe space for learning, but also to help them understand each other, express their feelings, respect each other, and most importantly, draw closer to God.
Our ministry is not limited to the “walls” of the Day Care Center. We care for their entire families who are struggling with various forms of poverty: material, spiritual, moral and by visiting them in their environments. We are also attentive to their spiritual life. We organize formation meetings for parents and caregivers. This is a time that gives space not only to pray together but also to talk, exchange experiences and enrich each other, over a cup of tea. Though these meetings may be small, they become an essential part of our pilgrimage. We also experience together feasts and celebrations that are important to us.
One of our recent celebrations was the Remembrance of Blessed Sr. Josephine Nicola, the Patroness of the Day Care Center. It was a special day for everyone, filled with prayer, reflection, and shared joy. Blessed Sr. Josephine is not only our Patroness but also a model of kindness, hope, love for others, and full devotion to God in the service of our neighbour. We began the celebration with a solemn Holy Mass, giving thanks for the holiness of Blessed Sr. Josephine’s life and asking for her intercession and light in our daily ministry.
After the Eucharist, we extended the celebration in an atmosphere of warmth and joy at the Day Care Center. A presentation was given recalling the life story of our Patroness. Parents had the opportunity to learn more about her, and the children eagerly joined in the narrative, adding details from her life. After this inspiring part, it was time for a joint lunch and sweet refreshments. A special place was taken by a cake with the image of our Patroness, which became not only a feast for the palate but also an expression of gratitude for her spiritual presence among us.
At the end of the meeting, a mosaic of Blessed Sr. Josephine Nicola was presented – an image formed from photos depicting daily life in our Day Care Center. It was a meaningful sign that she continues to watch over us, and her spirit of unity, love and service continues to guide us.
As “Pilgrims of Hope,” with faith, love and joy, following the example of our wonderful Patroness, we strive to implement the current, especially “here and now” Vincentian charism, putting the person we meet on our way first in every encounter.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their prayers and support. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors who support our projects, we can not only meet material needs but also nurture the spiritual and emotional development of our “Friends.” We can bring the light of hope to places where it seems to be fading. Every act of support gives them a chance for a better tomorrow, to rebuild hope and a sense of dignity.
May the Lord be the reward for every good done and guide us on the path of realizing the Vincentian Charism.
S. Monika Mrowca SM
