Parishioners from Holy Cross, St Helens recently gathered to review their humanitarian mission delivering essential winter supplies to the victims of the war in Ukraine.

The appeal was launched after parishioners, reading in the Catholic Pictorial article about a similar activity last year, embarked on a collaboration with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church community at St Sebastian’s in Kensington, Liverpool.

A donation bin was set up in the Church foyer, with a poster encouraging the congregation to drop off any warm clothes, blankets, nappies, and other supplies. 

Parishioner Anthony Holland remarked, “I left the bin thereafter Mass one Sunday, thinking it might be half full the following week. Butwhen I got there the following Sunday, the bin was completely submerged withbags and bags of donations.”

In addition to the many high-quality items donated, special thanks go to Yvonne Allen at the Hope Pantry and the Hygiene Bank in St Helens, who provided vital sanitary products and baby food. Our thanks also to Fr Kevan O'Brien and Fr Jino Arikkatt for their enthusiastic support. 

A key role was also played by Fr Taras Khomych from the Ukrainian Church in Kensington, who connected the team to the Catholic charity Caritas in Lviv, Ukraine. Fr Andreii Seneiko and Operations Manager Vasyl Zelenko managed logistics at their end, ensuring a smooth entry at the border. 

Caritas in Ukraine operates nationwide providing a variety of services to those in need, including home help, food banks, and mobility and psychological support. This work has expanded dramatically due to the number of people forced to live in displaced persons camps and now includes makeshift schools and sports facilities. Their intervention also helped to make sure that every blanket and nappy was accounted for and will not end up on the black market.

Beyond its humanitarian impact, the trip strengthened ties between Catholic communities in the UK and Ukraine. The parish continues to pray for peace and hopes to contribute to rebuilding Ukraine in Christian unity. 

The 2025 campaign is already underway, with another trip planned for the summer. While Holy Cross in St Helens will be the main hub, anyone wishing to donate, especially wheelchairs and mobility aids, can contact us at:

Holy Cross Organiser: Anthony Holland

Email: praypalsuk@gmail.com

Whatsapp: 07379026055

Website: sites.google.com/view/praypals

Caritas Lviv: caritas-lviv.org