Reception of Ukrainian refugees by the Daughters of Charity in France

The birthplace of Saint Vincent de Paul welcomes Ukrainian refugees
Thursday 16 June 2022 02:00
Province Belgique/France/Suisse
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Since 19 March, at the request of the Prefecture and in partnership with the Red Cross, the Oeuvre du Berceau de Saint Vincent de Paul has been welcoming Ukrainian refugees. For the feast of Saint Joseph, it is a wink from the Lord. In his birthplace, Saint Vincent must be delighted by the arrival of these poor people.

The Red Cross gives itself without counting the cost in preparing, welcoming and accompanying these families. Beneficiaries of the emergency reception have put themselves at the service of the reception of the refugees: cleaning, fitting out the rooms, supervising the play area, cooking... One of them told us that he was happy to make his heart work! Another said that putting himself at the service of others gave him sunshine in his head! The poor evangelise us.

While waiting for these families, we set up a place of meditation with icons and towels embroidered in the Ukrainian style.

A first group of about fifty people including twenty children arrived. A few days before, a company had given us a large quantity of chocolates. It was a great joy for the families to find chocolates when they arrived in their rooms. For us this was a sign that Providence was encouraging us to welcome them.

Since then another group has arrived. At present we welcome 84 people, 38 of whom are children. In spite of the language barrier, we manage to understand each other and to create links with these families. We have witnessed the great surge of generosity that these arrivals have provoked. Many people offer to bring us donations (games for children, clothes, hygiene products, etc.) and volunteer to help. We contemplate the smiles of the children and the mothers. "God be blessed" would say Saint Vincent.

A partnership with the Vincent de Paul school complex is being set up: the pupils of the hairdressing section will offer haircuts to people who want them, the boarders will come and play with the young people and children, some of the schoolchildren will bring their old bikes or scooters. Some Ukrainian children will be welcomed in the classes.