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A Ukrainian Caritas delegation visited Fulda: When handing over a vehicle, the guests reported on the war in their homeland.
Fulda – A delegation from the Ivano-Frankivsk Caritas Association from western Ukraine visited the Fulda Diocesan Caritas Association. When a vehicle equipped for disabled people was handed over on the cathedral square, the guests vividly described the situation in their homeland after more than four years of war, the diocese of Fulda said.
The vehicle from the Caritas inventory Main-Kinzig is already the sixth that the Fulda association hands over to its Ukrainian partners. At the handover, Caritas director Pastor Volodymyr Chorniy and Pastor Roman Darmogray emphasized that all of the vehicles received so far were in use and functional for people around the clock. The cars are “visible signs” of connection and solidarity.
Sixth aid vehicle for Ukraine from Caritas Fulda
The two clergymen reported on the difficult living conditions in Ukraine because of the Russian war of aggression. People have just survived the harshest winter in many years with extremely sub-zero temperatures. They described the suffering of the population: countless deaths had been reported, many people were traumatized or seriously injured. “It’s a war of drones,” said Chorniy, referring to the constant threat from the air. Nevertheless, they know they are not left alone in times of need and are deeply grateful to the Diocese of Fulda and Caritas.
Diocesan Caritas Director Dr. Markus Juch described the vehicle as “another visible sign of close solidarity”. One could not have imagined that the war would have lasted so long. The Caritas association in Ivano-Frankivsk does important work for the local people and has already been able to help many. Juch also thanked the marketing and communications department of Caritas in Fulda with Ann-Katrin Jehn and Kristina Trupp, who organized the vehicle handover.
Maintaining solidarity with Ukraine and filling it with life was also emphasized by Prelate Christof Steinert, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Fulda Diocesan Caritas Association. Cohesion is shown in visible signs such as this vehicle handover, but also in prayer.
Steinert remembered the recent ordination of the native Ukrainian Ivan Kolodii in the Fulda parish church according to the Byzantine rite. Likewise, he led the visit of Demetrius Bohdan Hryhorak OSBM, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishop of Buchach in western Ukraine. A few days ago he visited Auxiliary Bishop Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Diez.
As part of their visit, Chorniy and Darmogray also found out about the work in child and youth welfare at the St. Elisabeth Youth Welfare Association in Fulda-Maberzell and about the Fulda Caritas Association's commitment to sustainability. They also took part in the Hessen-Caritas annual reception, where they made new contacts.
The Fulda Diocesan Caritas Association has had a partnership with Caritas in western Ukraine since 2009. Initially it was primarily about help structures for people with disabilities, but since the start of the war on February 24, 2022, there has been ongoing support in emergency aid.
