With great sadness, the Sisters of Charity and Associates learn daily of the Ukrainian people’s suffering in the current war. We express our solidarity with them in their faith in God and love of democracy. We pray for the refugees, for those who must remain in peril and for those bravely defending their land. May God’s mercy inspire the aggressors to embrace a peaceful solution. May soldiers on both sides in this and all conflicts around the world soon be able to lay down their arms.

We share with you this text from a great Ukrainian poet, Lessia Oukraïnka (1871–1913), which speaks of the spirit of this people:

No, through my tears, I keep my smile,
And I sing amid misfortunes,
Beyond all hope, I nonetheless want to hope,
I want to live: away with you, thoughts overwhelming me! 

On the steep slope of the mountain,
As one carries the cross, I will carry my stone,
And climbing with the heavy burden,
I will nonetheless sing a song of joy.

Yes, through my tears, I keep my smile,
And I sing amid misfortunes,
Beyond all hope, I nonetheless want to hope,
I want to live: farewell, thoughts that overwhelmed me

By Sr. Margaret O’Brien, SC