The first ever meeting of the Vincentian Family in the Ukraine took place in Uzhgorod on the border with Slovakia the weekend of August 1-3, 2008. It was held in tandem with the annual meeting of the A.I.C., which has been active in the Ukraine for ten years and is already organized nationally.
Of the 70 participants, some journeyed 27 hours from Kharkov to be part of this inaugural Vincentian Family session. Others made the 17 hour train trip from Kiev or came a day’s journey from Bukovina. The meeting was held in the Greek Catholic seminary, where the participants were warmly received.
Each group made a report on its activities, practically everyone using PowerPoint presentations. The A.I.C., the Vincentian Youth, the Vincent de Paul Society, the Depaul Trust, the Daughters of Charity, the Vincentian priests of the vice-province of Cyril and Methodius were all represented. Representatives of the Depaul Trust in Slovakia participated. The Greek Catholic Sisters of Charity, founded in the 19th century, and the Sisters of Mary of the Miraculous Medal, who work side by side with the confreres in Kiev, were also present describing their missions and apostolates.
The A.I.C.’s Anne Sturm, Past-President and now member of the Board, and Christa Foelting, also a member of the International Board with responsibility for Formation in Europe, were present and spoke, continuing their frequent presence in the Ukraine. Father Hugh O’Donnell, C.M., the Director of C.I.F. in Paris, on Vincent’s Journey to Freedom and to the Poor.
One participant remarked on the joy, youth, energy and vitality of the group, which was doubly touching when it was pointed out that it has only been sixteen years since the Ukraine has been a country of its own and the Catholic Church is no longer suppressed and banned.
The A.I.C. and the Vincentian Family in the Ukraine
