News of the war in eastern Ukraine has been reaching us since 2014. The conflict, which was "frozen" for several years, escalated with great brutality in February 2022. Many people are suffering from the occupation, human rights violations, the death of loved ones, the difficult humanitarian situation in the areas affected by the hostilities.

Dehonians have been present in Ukraine since the early 1990s, and in 2013 we took on the mission of running a parish in Irpin. Previously, it was cared for by the Carmelite Fathers, who lived in Kyiv and came to Irpin only to celebrate Sunday Mass. Irpin is located 27 kilometers from the center of Kyiv. Proximity to the capital and a large number of students are the reasons why Irpin has become one of the main drug production sites in Ukraine.

Drugs and students are not a good combination. We try to show the young people - students who live in our charity center - that it is possible and worthwhile to live without it. In addition to giving them a roof over their heads, we also offer them in-depth religious formation.

- says Fr. Tadeusz Wolos SCJ, parish priest of the parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Irpien.

Currently, the city, known as Kyiv's "bedroom city", is home to nearly 100,000 people. The number of residents, and thus the faithful in the parish, is growing all the time. Dehonians have decided to expand their charity center and church. Although the growth of the Catholic community in Irpin is impressive, the parishioners cannot afford to finance this work. Therefore, we decided to support the local Catholics.

Let's help them build a church that will be their refuge of faith and hope for a better tomorrow!

Photo visualization of the charity center and church in Irpen.

UPDATE

Although the ongoing war brings constant threats, for the sake of preaching the Gospel, we have decided to continue supporting the construction of a church in Irpen near Kyiv. On November 25, 2023, the construction work for the roofing of the temple was completed: the roof structure was prepared for insulation, the tower and the signature tower were completed, and most importantly - all of this was covered with tin roof tiles.

"I would like to thank our Benefactors very warmly, because it is only thanks to your help that we were able to bring the construction of the temple in Irpen, Ukraine, to completion, meaning to cover the whole thing with a tile roof. I write 'to the end', although there is still so much work left to do, because indeed covering the roof is some kind of crowning achievement of the building shell. Without the help of the Donors of the Secretariat for Foreign Missions of the Priests of the Sacred Heart from Poland, we would not have brought the construction to such a state on our own. A big, warm thanks to all of you! We pray for you, our Dear Benefactors, especially on every first Friday of the month by celebrating Mass in your intentions. Also our parishioners are praying  grateful for your help, especially on Wednesdays during the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help" - Fr. Tadeusz Wolos SCJ writes.