Sister Lucia Murashko, a member of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, recently traveled from frontlines of the war in Ukraine to share her experiences with U.S. Catholics.
Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, where her monastery is located, experiences up to 400 military strikes per day, like this one below.
Her country is among the many war-torn places that Pope Leo XIV has expressed concern about in recent days, including his Palm Sunday homily in which he spoke of Jesus as the “‘King of Peace’ who rejects war,” and “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”
He used his first Easter Sunday message as pope to urge that “we cannot continue to be indifferent” to worldly conflicts: “On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil.”
Sister Lucia shared that in spite of the death and destruction, she and her fellow sisters witness every day they have not lost hope.
She shared this message with Catholic Extension Society following a string of attacks on Ukraine:
Read her heartfelt speech below, delivered on March 22, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenview, Illinois. The photos show her ministry to victims of the war in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine:
I am Sister Lucia Murashko. I belong to the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great. Our sisters work in the United States and in Ukraine.
I would like to thank Father Jerry, your pastor, for partnering with Catholic Extension Society this Lent and allowing me to return to Our Lady of Perpetual Help!
I want to talk to you about hope in a seemingly hopeless situation in Ukraine. After all, isn’t that what we are preparing our hearts for this Lent? To discover our God who promises us new life, even though we must first pass through the pain of death, just like Lazarus in today’s Gospel.
Last month marked four years since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Our monastery is in Zaporizhzhia, which is near the frontlines. I regret to inform you that since my visit here two years ago, our situation has not improved. In fact, Zaporizhzhia has remained one of the most heavily attacked areas in Ukraine. Each day in the city where I live there are up to 400 military strikes against us, sometimes missiles, sometimes bombs, sometimes drone attacks, or artillery fire. Yes, 400 strikes a day in my city. People die every day.
We are walking the way of the cross. In a situation like this, we don’t make long-term plans. But we do know one thing for sure: God has not abandoned us.
These days, when I pray to God, I simply ask him to give me an opportunity to do as much as possible for others with the resources that are available.
Our monastery continues to serve as a shelter for people running from battle zones, especially mothers with children and the elderly.
We also continue to minister to our soldiers, some of whom are just boys. They are wounded physically, emotionally and spiritually. Many have lost their lives.
You might wonder why I have not left, why I stay there.
We realize that as sisters, we are a sign of hope to our people who are suffering. We stay in Zaporizhzhia as a reminder that God has not abandoned them.
There have been many times during these past four years that I have thought I would lose my life.
It makes me realize that every moment is a gift from God, and with every moment that we have, there is an opportunity to let God’s light shine through us. We know that God’s power can even overcome death. As he says to the prophet Ezekiel, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them.”
But we cannot do this work alone.
First, we count on your prayers. Please continue to pray for us. Knowing of your prayers and your concern for us gives us strength. You remind us that we are not alone. In the shadow of war, we must walk by faith.
Secondly, we thank you for your support of our sisters.
… Finally, please continue to pray for us. We believe in the resurrection, and God’s promise to renew the face of the earth. So, let there be peace, and may peace begin with all of us.
God Bless you, God Bless America, and God Bless Ukraine!
Catholic Extension Society gave the Lumen Christi Award to the Basilian sisters in 2023 for their work serving war refugees in Ukraine and the United States. Our Lady of Perpetual Help partnered with Catholic Extension Society this Lent to support the brave ministry of these sisters.
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