The Catholic Church in Poland is among those stepping up to welcome and care for for them and is encouraging all Poles to do the same.

Poles as one are responding with open arms.

The result: every town in Poland has Ukrainian refugees.

Extraordinarily, despite the million-plus refugees, there is not one refugee camp in the country.

The Poles have seen to it that there's no need. They're housing them themselves.

Right from the moment the refugees enter Poland they are welcomed with a greeting from the Border Patrol: "You are safe now."

One refugee describes her journey to Poland saying: "It was scary - there were planes flying over our heads. Some of our friends had to stop on the way because there was a shooting in the fields."

Then she crossed the border. "Here in Poland, I really felt what fraternity is" she says.

Bishop Andrzej Jeż of Tarnów is one of those hosting a growing number of people.

Last Friday he had a family of four, then on Saturday another family arrived.

Kraków hotelier Jerzy Donimirski is also hosting refugees. A Catholic and member of the Order of Malta, he has 45 living in his 4-star hotel.

Besides hosting refugees, the Church is helping in other ways.

Dominican Sisters from central Poland, for instance, are officially running a humanitarian corridor with trucks moving regularly between Poland and Ukraine, where their sisters serve near L'viv.

"We load trucks of food and supplies, and a minivan always accompanies them - it has several seats. They never go back [from L'viv] empty. We take those that want to flee," one says.

While Poland has opened its doors to those fleeing Ukraine, a constant influx of refugees may become challenging soon.

"It is only the beginning," says Bishop Krzysztof Zadarko, head of the Council for Migration of the Polish Bishops' Conference.

"Poland needs to work immediately with migration experts from other countries because, with what we still see in Ukraine regarding war devastation, we need to be ready for many more refugees."

Donimirski agrees. Hosting 45 people isn't easy, even for a hotel owner.

He's had to ask for help to feed them.

"But we need systemic help and for sure, after a month, we will have to think of relocating those families to apartments and more permanent places of stay so that they can integrate fully."

Despite the warm welcome, Ukrainian families would rather be at home - if their homes haven't been destroyed in the meantime.

"One day you just wake up and the life you had to this moment is gone," one woman says.

"And then you realise the most precious thing you have is the people you love and can take with you."

Source

• Crux Now
• Image:ReliefWeb

Camilla and her husband Prince Charles heard how the Russian invasion had ripped apart the Ukranian refugees' families and lives at home.

A spokesman said yesterday: "No one could fail to be moved by the appalling scenes of Ukrainians fleeing their homes and the duchess wanted to help in whatever way she could."

Camilla embraced Inna Prystaiko, the wife of the Ukraine ambassador, telling her that she was "praying" for her and her countrymen.

The royals were accompanied by representatives of humanitarian charities of which Charles is a patron and a supporter.

Leaving the Cathedral, the Prince of Wales accepted a "Stop Putin" sign from a small child and was moved to pay tribute to the "extraordinary bravery, generosity and fortitude of the Ukrainian community," making an impromptu speech to the crowd gathered.

In the course of the speech, Charles said his "thoughts and prayers, however inadequate they may be, are with all of you at this most critical time."

One of Charles' reasons for visiting the cathedral was to find out how he could assist in the emerging Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.

Among those he met at the Cathedral were Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family, Vadym Prystaiko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.K. and Ukrainian relief workers and children

Nowakowski says the visit represented a "very important day" for the Ukrainian community.

"They had an opportunity to be in the cathedral to light candles and say a prayer ... they were able to meet Ukrainian volunteers who have been working very hard since the beginning of the war eight years ago, but especially in these last few days — organizing humanitarian packages, organizing rallies and being with other people.

"What I think was most meaningful for me was the Prince also encouraged a few of the humanitarian organisations that he is patron of to join us as well."

"The fact that they spent so much time reassuring and expressing their solidarity with us, it was a very important day for us."

Source

• Catholic News Service
• MarieClaire
• Image: Daily Express

Stuff reports the 69-year-old grandmother, returning to her homeland is unthinkable at the moment, but her visa expires at the end of March.

Dragomyretska​ is worried she will be forced to leave.

She was in New Zealand when Covid-19 hit and while her visa expired in 2020, it was automatically extended three times because of Covid. She has since successfully applied twice for a visitor visa, but that expires soon.

If Dragomyretska was not allowed to stay in New Zealand, she would have to apply for refugee status from another country. Staying in New Zealand illegally was not an option for her.

"My life is here now. I have friends here," she said.

She has no close family in Ukraine.

Immigration NZ (INZ) is aware of this, so is encouraging anyone from Ukraine in New Zealand with a visa due to expire soon, to get in touch to discuss their options.

Border and visa operations general manager Nicola Hogg​ (pictured) says INZ realises these people may be unable to return immediately to their home country "due to circumstances beyond their control."

They may be able to apply for a further visa to enable them to stay, she says.

Each application would be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant and available information.

Hogg says INZ will "be taking a pragmatic approach in these circumstances."

The National Party however says the Government needs to do much more to help Ukranians.

National's Immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford says her party is urging the Government to create a special humanitarian visa for immediate family members of Ukrainians who have settled in New Zealand.

"The situation in Ukraine is worsening by the day and Ukrainian Kiwis will be extremely worried about the safety of their family members back home," she says.

"This is something New Zealand can do now to support our Ukrainian Kiwis to bring their immediate family members here. There are approximately 1500 Ukrainians living in New Zealand, so this could benefit thousands of people in desperate situations.

"The Government should also fast-track existing visa applications for Ukrainians, as Australia has done.

"New Zealand's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine so far has been lacking compared to the rest of the global community. We urge the Government to make this a priority."

Source

• Stuff
• NZ National Party
• Image: Stuff

"Today all of humanity has been placed in danger — that the powerful have a right to impose themselves on whomever they wish, with no regard for the rule of law," he said.

"It is our natural right and sacred duty to defend our land and our people, our state and all that is dearest to us: family, language and culture, history and the spiritual world," he said.

Shevchuk said Ukraine "is in danger again," and said "the treacherous enemy" has broken the basic norms of international law, "stepped on Ukrainian soil, bringing with him death and destruction."

"At this historic moment, the voice of our conscience calls us all as one to stand up for a free, united and independent Ukrainian State," he continued.

"The history of the last century teaches us that all those who started world wars lost them, and the idolaters of war brought only destruction and decline to their own states and peoples."

Archbishop Mokrzycki said the Catholic Church all across Ukraine was preparing for the possibility of a wave of Ukrainians being displaced from their homes, especially from the eastern area.

"We are ready to welcome people into our churches and provide them with food and water," he said. "We have organised first aid courses for priests, religious and laity, so that in an emergency they can care for the wounded".

Some eastern Ukrainians have already moved to the west, he said, and "we have already rented some empty houses that will provide accommodation for them".

The archbishop added that the prayers and support of people around the world had profoundly moved him.

"We are most grateful to the entire universal Church, and especially to Pope Francis who has issued a worldwide appeal for prayer for Ukraine," he said.

"I would like to repeat this appeal: Continue this prayer. Keep on praying, until the final peace comes".

Meanwhile, Catholics in Poland are being asked to continue praying for peace but be prepared to welcome refugees from Eastern Ukraine.

Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, president of the Polish bishops' conference, has appealed to Poles to help the refugees.

People displaced from their homes are already arriving in the western part of Ukraine.

A representative of Catholic Relief Services said the US Catholic international aid organisation is also prepared to help.

The Polish archbishop made his appeal on the bishops' conference website after news that Russian-allied separatists in Eastern Ukraine had increased artillery and mortar attacks.

Reports say a kindergarten was hit last Thursday while the children were in the building. According to reports, none of the children was injured, but three staff members were.

"Everyone has the right to live in peace and security. Everyone has the right to seek for themselves and their loved ones conditions that will ensure a safe life".

He said Poland has been opening its doors to newcomers from Ukraine for some time. They "live among us, work with us, pray in Polish churches and study in Polish schools".

Supporting Caritas Poland and their local parish Caritas agencies to help refugees is one way Poles can help.

Caritas is making plans to increase refugee support programmes "in case of further escalation of tension and military action", Gadecki explained.

Source

• National Catholic Reporter
• CNA
• CNA
• Image: BBC