I am back in the USA now after two weeks in Paris and London co-leading our Vincentian Values and Leadership course. I always enjoy these days and this year was as good as they get.
Today marks the beginning of the third year of these stories—the first coming on April 5, 2020. I had no idea when I started that I would still be writing. Thanks for your support.
Back to Ukraine. My friend and confrere, Vitaliy, is moving around Ukraine driving trucks and riding trains to move tons of medical supplies and food to Ukrainians. My boss, Mark, is on his way to meet Vitaliy but will have to travel to Ukraine because Vitaliy is in danger of being conscripted into the Ukraine Army if he tries to cross the border into Slovakia—because he is male, less than 60 years old and has no wife and children. They will talk about building a village for Ukrainians fleeing to Slovakia—we have the money for it.
Mark showed the map at left to see the flow of refugees as of 17 March. Things are more desperate today. Last week was the first time that the Ukrainian invasion was not the lead story on the BBC news. The map is sobering. Biden announced the US would accept 100,000 refugees. But they keep fleeing; everyone keeps praying. Thanks for the contributions you have sent, as Vincent said, “There is great charity.” We are trying to organize it.
Fr. J. Patrick Murphy, C.M., Ph.D., is Emeritus Professor of Public Service at DePaul University and Values Director for Depaul International, an organization that serves homeless people in seven countries.