Sisters Anne and MarieTherese write of their experience in the Ukraine:

We arrived in Slavutich in 2005, without having any specific ministry to undertake, but being fully aware of the spirit of hope which had kept the parishioners praying for Sisters to come to the Parish since the Church was built and a Parish community founded, some ten years ago.

 After all, previous to the building of the Church, they had been praying for their own Parish and Priest, a prayer which had been answered, so they had no doubt, that their prayer for Sisters would also be answered, however long it took. Certainly, people were living in a spirit of hope, and still do. Their eternal, sure hope, is a very  humbling example, especially bearing in mind the recent history of Ukraine, where Christianity was severely repressed and Christians were persecuted under the Communist regime.

Slavutich was purposely built, shortly after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, to house the personnel of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and their families, who had been evacuated from the abandoned city of Prypyat.  It is now mostly home to the survivors of the disaster, who had to be relocated from the evacuation zone around the reactor, among them about 8,000 people who were children in 1986.  As a result, the number of people who have some radiation-related illness is rather high. Although the power station was shut down in 2001, many inhabitants still work at the site of the former plant for monitoring, maintenance or scientific purposes.

Slavutich has about 25,000 inhabitants. The city has a uniquely high birth rate, as well as a surprisingly low mortality.Therefore the average age in Slavutich is by far the lowest of any city in Ukraine.  More than one third of its inhabitants are children.

Ministry slowly evolved, and probably the most important aspect of this is our presence.  Our being here, and our availability; to join with the people in prayer, at. “house” rosaries, or in their houses, on the death of their loved ones, etc; to respond to their requests for prayers and other forms of help (and these come not just from the parishioners, but from the wider community). A presence that they know they can rely on, whether it is just to ask the times of Masses, explanations on how to use the Office Book, or for deeper discussions on faith, or other matters.  As is usual in most places, they sometimes find us easier to approach than a priest, they consider us “one of them”.                       

Because of the frequent absence of our Parish Priest on mission or giving Retreats, a further ministry has evolved, that of taking care of the Church when OMI matters necessitate both the Parish Priest and the Brother, being away at the same time. Among other things, this involves opening the Church when required, and providing hospitality to the visiting OMIs   (we have become quite adept at preparing meals at short notice!)  We were also pleased to provide accommodation and hospitality to a group of German students on a fact finding mission, to further understanding and integration between the youth of Ukraine and Germany. 

Our voluntary help in the Language School and our regular visits to the Children’s Home,  gives us valuable contact with the local population over a spectrum of ages and backgrounds, the common factor to all, being the Chernobyl Power Station. Through this contact, (especially with the younger students) and in building up friendship and trust, we try to give witness to our beliefs, and instill a different set of values, in a society where corruption, in all areas, is very much the norm.  In discussions with the students, one can see the general desire for a better future in the efforts they make to improve their qualifications,  in the hope that they can help to “change” the way things are.                             

It is our policy to give a warm welcome to people coming to our home, for whatever purpose; we especially enjoy the company of the youngsters we have got to know, and are always glad when they call to see us, however they are dressed!

We also meet regularly with an “ecumenical” (ranging from Mormon to Communist) group of English speaking western wives, whose husbands work on the project to “cap” the Chernobyl reactor, and at times have interesting faith sharing sessions.  There is no attempt to “convert” one another, but a mutual respect, interest, and companionship.

In all the above, we see the Holy Spirit at work, giving hope, for the people, and for ourselves, in what we do, or, rather are, here.  We are at home, feel very accepted and integrated and are grateful that we have been called to this place where other women religious did not wish to go.

 A departing western worker said she would miss the sisters very much. On being asked why, as she hardly ever saw them,she replied
“but I knew they were there”.