A House for the Capuchin Fathers in Ukraine 

Some time ago, the Capuchin Fathers who have worked in Lviv, Ukraine since 2021 asked us for our help with a major problem. They needed a house to live in, since they were all crammed into a small two-room apartment. An old storeroom served as a tiny chapel, and the kitchen had to double as their sitting room. There was no extra space to accommodate guests or meet with the faithful. So, most prayer meetings, counseling sessions, and Eucharistic adoration took place in private homes or public guesthouses. Meanwhile, the need for pastoral and spiritual counseling has only further increased during this time of war and crisis. Lviv has largely been untouched by the fighting, but it has had to make room for about 300,000 refugees from other parts of the country, who need consolation and housing. 

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to give $53,638 so the Capuchins could buy an old house and renovate it. And Brother Serhii Kippa, the Custos of the Capuchin Friars in Ukraine, has written to thank us: “As soon we bought the house, the brothers converted the garage into a chapel and began to engage in active pastoral work. The people are already coming here to pray with the brothers and hear their words of hope and support. There is also night-time Eucharistic adoration. And we have done some cosmetic repairs to the building and adapted it to the needs of the Capuchin community. Now, the house is a monastery, where the brothers can live in circumstances befitting their life and prayer. Once again, many thanks for your help!“  

Code: 438-04-19