At the end of January, the 146th shipment of humanitarian aid departed for Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion. The day before, we traveled to the Ukrainian Basilica of Saint Sophia, Rome’s operational center for sending supplies.
Nearly 9 kilometers separate the Vatican from this church. Many might think that upon arrival there would be a large warehouse, but they'd be mistaken. It all began four years ago, when Ukrainians in Rome started mobilizing. And the epicenter was this: nothing more than a circus tent.
Fr. Marco Yaroslav Semehen
Rector, Ukrainian Basilica of Saint Sophia (Rome)
It is a large tent donated by the Rony Roller Circus in the first days of the war, when we found ourselves in a situation where people were bringing and donating so many things, and it started to rain and we couldn’t store them—we had no warehouses—so they donated that large shelter to us.
Just days after there came a surprise. A collection was announced for January 21. One week later, this was the people's response: kilos and kilos of food, medicine, and warm clothing.
Here, everything is sorted according to the current priorities, placed into piles, and finally loaded onto this large truck. This was what people were donating at the time.
Fr. Marco Yaroslav Semehen
Rector, Ukrainian Basilica of Saint Sophia (Rome)
They donate everything: medicines, food, canned goods, personal hygiene items that are in great demand, baby food—what you see around—even, let's say, for sick people: wheelchairs and other medical equipment, because in war everything is necessary.
In the most recent period, we have sent three trucks almost full of instant soups because, if there's no electricity, with a bit of hot water people can always prepare something to eat.
And one of the main donors has been the successor of Peter. First Francis and now Leo—both have donated large shipments of aid through Cardinal Krajewski, the pontiff's head of charitable works.
Fr. Marco Yaroslav Semehen
Rector, Ukrainian Basilica of Saint Sophia (Rome)
We can say that Krajewski is one of us here—of this warehouse, of this very warehouse—because he often comes personally to bring aid from the Holy Father.
The Pope's donation in this shipment consists of dozens of duvets and blankets to fight the cold. Kyiv has seen temperatures as low as –13°F. Many buildings have no gas, and power outages create problems even for preparing food.
Fr. Marco Yaroslav Semehen
Rector, Ukrainian Basilica of Saint Sophia (Rome)
Everything depends on electricity, so now we are sending warm items—that is, warm clothing—whatever can improve a person's situation.
Food that can be eaten or heated quickly, or simply eaten as it is—for example, chocolate, various fitness-type snack bars, things like that. If a person has nothing to eat or cannot heat or cook food, at least they can save their life.
But what is considered essential material? For orphaned children, or for those who fled their homes or have not seen their parents for an extended period of time, in the midst of tragedy, this could be all they have left: a Spider-Man figure and a dollhouse from Rome. A toy can help pass the hours while they wait for the announcement that everything is finally over.
CA
