Bishop Philip Egan of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth says, “Our thoughts and prayers
are with all those affected by this terrible situation in the Ukraine.” He encourages us all to
follow the words of Pope Francis that our Lenten observances of prayer, self-denial and
almsgiving be offered to help the Ukrainian situation, so that all the parties involved refrain
from any action that would cause even more suffering to the people, destabilizing
coexistence between nations and bringing international law into disrepute.
As the dreadful events unfold in Ukraine, we stand in solidarity with our Caritas colleagues,
(who work as the Diocese’s outreach organisation) in Caritas-Spes as they continue to
assist those vulnerable and in need in Ukraine.Caritas-Spes had been working in Eastern Ukraine with the displaced families from the
ongoing conflict in the disputed territories, including in Avdiivka which has been under heavy
shelling.
If you would like to support Caritas work in Ukraine, please donate by visiting their website
https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/europe/ukraine-spes/.
Locally our parishes are also supporting efforts by fundraising and by acting as collection
points to support Ukraine:
St Mary’s Church in Alton, which holds a regular free clothes bank service, has teamed up
with a local Polish group sending clothes to Poland for Ukrainian refugees. Anne Bothwell,
one of the local co-ordinators said, “We had so much that we were able to pack up about
500 items of warm clothing and get it sent off. It should be leaving in a lorry on Saturday. It
was so good to be able to help.”
Immaculate Conception parish in Portswood, Southampton is supporting the amazing efforts
of the Southampton Polish Social Club, who are co-ordinating regular collections of much
needed goods and deliveries to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Holy Cross church in Eastleigh will act as a collection point to support the Southampton
Polish Social Club and will be open for donations. Please check their website for when the
church is open https://www.stswithunwellsparish.org.uk/ .
For those who need a time to reflect or pray, to find a church near you please go to:
***ENDS
Notes for Editors
• Accompanying Photos:
• Boxes of goods ready to go at Immaculate Conception, Southampton and
• Volunteers at St. Mary’s, Alton sorting warm clothes ready for transportation to
Ukrainian refugees on the polish border.
About the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth
The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth covers Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Isles,
and parts of Berkshire, Dorset, and Oxfordshire. There are 87 parish communities, each with
a number of schools, Churches, hospital, prison, and university chaplaincy. The diocese
covers a population of 3.2 million people with over 235,000 baptised Catholics, 128 priests,
86 religious communities and 76 schools educating 35,000 children.
