Aid to the Church in Need launches campaign to help UkraineHow does the Church in Poland help Ukrainians?Father Mateusz Adamski is a Polish priest, currently parish priest of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kiev (Ukraine), as well as vice-rector of the Redemptoris Mater seminary in the same city. At the beginning of the invasion, he kept dozens of people safe from the bombardment by placing the parish cellars at their disposal.
Last February 24 marked two years since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Recently, Aid to the Church in Need has launched a campaign to help the Ukraine in these difficult times.
Father Mateusz explained in the presentation of this campaign that, despite the harshness of the war, this time has also been "a time of grace", in which "we were able to really touch the living God" and "feel Paradise with our hands".
In this interview, he tells us how his parish in Kiev is living through this period of war and how one can pray for one's enemies even in the midst of pain.
How is the situation in Kiev at the moment, has it changed at all compared to the beginning of the conflict?
The situation is currently at a very delicate point because on the one hand we do not know when the conflict will end. On the other hand, people are psychologically tired. The men are afraid of the mobilization, which is becoming more and more intense. There are also so many who were on the front lines and because of the attacks their whereabouts are unknown. It is true that in Kiev the situation is calmer. However, with sporadic bombardments. That makes it live in constant tension. We have several parishioners in the army and, according to what we are told, the physical and psychological consequences will last for a long time.
People try to live normal lives, as work and income are necessary to live, but with constant fear in their bodies.
How has the war changed your work there?
At the beginning of the war, a significant part of the parishioners left Kiev. Nowadays, most of them have returned. Practically, since the beginning of the war, we have been helping parishioners and refugees with humanitarian aid received from abroad. An important new development is that the number of children for first communion and post-communion catechization and the youth group has increased. We see how this situation is bringing so many people who did not come before. We have prepared a good number of people for the sacraments. We have also formed new pastoral groups for the youth, which meet every Friday. We have a group of older people who meet once a week to pray for peace and to talk about different topics that help them to deepen their faith. Thus, we see how the Lord continues to call people in his love and zeal for their salvation.
How do you live your call to the priesthood in the midst of such a conflict?
I, as treasurer of the diocese, am working with documents and projects to help people in need. But this situation requires me to live today, in the grace of praying so as not to lose hope, and it also requires me to reflect on the commandment to love the enemy, which touches me strongly in this time of war and which manifests itself especially in the common prayers with the people of God for our enemies.
Does living through this painful situation affect the faith of parishioners in any way?
This situation has caused the parishioners to pray more fervently and the commandment of the Sermon on the Mount to love one's enemies is purifying them in their faith journey, even if it means going against themselves. This is strengthening them in faith through common prayer. And I see, as I said earlier, that it is helping them pass on the faith to their children by bringing them to parish catechesis.
