Dear Friends from CONU. Thank you very much for your wishes! Thank you for always being close to us! Yesterday was Christmas. At 6:00 a.m. the shelling of Kharkov and its surroundings began and two rockets hit the electricity and heating station near us. We all got scared because it had been quiet for quite some time. We were without light until almost the evening. However, we decided that we would not let the joy of Christmas be taken away from us. In the morning there was a Holy Mass and then the children set off to sing Christmas carols to the neighbors. They handed out small gifts. Misha wished everyone with his loud voice. Then we had a candlelight dinner. We managed to cook it thanks to the generator. 😊 Everyone received gifts and there was really a lot of joy. It is a paradox – that during war everything is experienced somehow more deeply, more authentically, and relationships with people become closer and warmer. Children are joyful and full of energy, which they can infect everyone around them. We are sending you our childish joy. The children sang this song with you in mind! We remember you in our prayers. We always pray for the people who make it possible for our House of Hope to function. We are extremely grateful to you and grateful to God for taking such tender care of us and providing everything we need, and often even more, so that we can share with the children of the village. We hug you tightly, tightly! May GOD bless you!!! Sisters, Mothers and Children from the Houses of Hope

From Father Stanislav in Mirgorod  (about 110 miles west of Russian border)

11/26/24: From Father Stanislav: I want to congratulate you on the election of a new president. May God bless you. Lord bless America. We understand that there will be new political challenges in the world. I would like your president to end the war in Ukraine. People are dying in the war in large numbers, many are wounded. In the parish in Lubny (Father Stan’s satellite or 2nd parish), one man went missing in the war. And I see that in time, mobilization threatens almost everyone. … I think that if the war does not stop in the next six months, then everyone will have to fight. Yes, everyone, because there will not be enough people for the war. Thank God, they are not bothering me to go to war. Your (CONU) money is used in the following way. Products come first. Prices for products have risen very much. Almost everything has become more expensive. We buy bread, sugar, sunflower oil, canned goods one by one. We try to ensure that those in need receive a set once a month, and one type of product, almost every Mass. Sometimes shampoo. Also, medical care (medicines, examinations), services by car, and services by mail. Housing payments are assisted for several families. (These are normally supplements to the meager government allowance to rent an apartment or such; not the entire rent). Without your help, we cannot imagine our life here, during the war. We hope that your affairs are going blessedly. Every day in private prayers, in church, people pray for you.

You are in my heart and in my Services. With prayer and love, Stanislav

10/28/24: Cold weather is coming and the amount of rain is increasing, and we would like this winter to be not very cold either…. I will say that the regions of our country bordering the aggressor Russia are bombarded every day, and many people move to more peaceful places. Therefore, new settlers appear constantly.
Your money (CONU funding) is spent as follows:
1 – the first place is now occupied by spending on products [groceries]. Recently, the prices for the necessary products have risen very much, and we are trying to help people in this matter. Bread, sunflower oil, canned goods prevail in helping the needy.
2 – this is a different type of medical care: pills, examinations, diagnostics and other services.
3 – purchase of necessary things and clothes for specific people in second-hand stores.
4 – transport services and postal services,
5 – the payment for housing rent has decreased slightly [Father uses CONU funds to supplement the government stipend for rent for refugees make it affordable for them]. People have learned to adapt to the conditions. Someone who [cannot afford the “city rates”] moves from the city to the village.
It is very difficult to defeat the enemy ….
With God’s help, with your help, we will defeat the external and internal enemies.
Thank you very much for your help.
We have the opportunity to live more humanly, thanks to your help.
You are in our prayers at home, in the temple, in the heart.
With love and prayers, Stanislav

10/14/24: May the Lord bless you and your loved ones for everything you do for us in this difficult time of war. I remember you every day and many times a day in our lives and constantly thank the Lord for you. I ask the Lord to use your help correctly. The cold weather is coming. I look at what is happening in the world and I think that a world war may begin.
You are in our hearts, prayers.

Here is our latest newsletter. It highlights the past year including a visit to Colorado of three of our Ukrainian guests and a trip to Ukraine by two of our board members. Enjoy the stories and links inside the newsletter to even more.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HDjGw4V_HdSF0T5lWAv_2Cj7qmil1MLJ/view?usp=drive_link

The House of Hope (aka the Single Mothers Home) holds a Christmas celebration for the children. In pic 1, Sisters Kamila and Renata join Father Stanislaw (filling in as Santa Claus) to bring joy to the children. In pic 3, the children who received art craft supplies show their gratitude. Thanks to your contributions to CONU such wonderful celebrations are possible! Merry Christmas indeed!