The sisters in Ukraine belong to the Slovak Province.
There are CJ sisters working in three places in Ukraine, all founded since the fall of communism. Two are close to the Slovak frontier, and the third is in the capital, Kyiv.
The sisters here are involved in pastoral work and teach Religion. In all the communities the main ministry is social work.
Since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the sisters have been supporting internally displaced persons, helping families who have been particularly affected by the war, as well as children in kindergardens, the elderly and sick.
“Mary Ward would not leave and stay with suffering people…” This is a deep conviction of our six CJ companions in Ukraine. Since the war has begun they decided to seek God in that situation and serve him through their availability towards those in need. As they say, God is very close to them and they experience it every day. So they can bring consolation, support and every possible deed they might be capable of to help the others.
Marietta CJ is a quite important channel of distributing the aid arriving mostly from Slovakia to those close to the frontline and providing material and human support to the internally displaced families who arrived to Uzhhorod from the East of Ukraine.
Villana and Anastasia meet the very poor people in Kyiv, witnessing God’s closeness and care for them.
They are very grateful for your prayers and assurance of your support. We do good and we do it well together!
We are an international multicultural congregation of around 1,800 sisters present in more than 40 countries around the globe. Founded in 1609 by the Venerable Mary Ward, we are a group of unenclosed apostolic religious women, rooted in the Ignatian Spirituality.
We are working in different areas and projects – not out of ourselves, but because we allow ourselves to be sent by God. We form our sisters to be mobile and available, willing to go wherever they are sent. We expect them to strive, like Mary Ward, to have that inner freedom to respond to the call to leave all and follow Christ with passion and compassion.
“Vocation” – a word that tastes of MORE, of what Saint Ignatius of Loyola called “THE MAGIS”: Longing, meaning, fullness of life, a task and the experience of being needed. It sounds like someone who is calling me personally and with whom I can give my life a unique shape.
People all over the world are inspired and enthusiastic about Mary Ward and her way of following Jesus. There are different ways to join our network and become part of the wider Mary Ward Family.
Mary Ward once said: “I listened to God’s deep dream for me and felt a longing to respond.”
In this spirit, we invite you to pray with us. We offer a variety of prayers and material for reflection.
