EUROPE/UKRAINE – The war does not stop the summer activities organized by the Orionines in Lviv for 120 young people

EUROPE/UKRAINE – The Orionines in Lviv continue to organize summer activities for 120 young people.

Lviv (Agenzia Fides). 120 children and young adults participated this year in the Happy Holidays, a traditional summer event organized by the priests from Don Orione in Lviv. The religious continue their activities, which are addressed to all who come to them for help and support, even though the war has been a significant part of their lives. This initiative, which has characterized the summers for many children and young people in Ukraine over seventeen years, has not been interrupted by war. It all began in 2005, according to Don Moreno Cattelan of the “Don Orione”, Monastery, Lviv. We decided to create a summer center, which we named “Le Allegre Vacanze” (Happy Holidays). “With the help and support of some young animators, the initiative was launched,” he says. It attracted over 400 young people and children. Because there were not enough rooms available to accommodate everyone, we had to work double shifts. As the performances of the various teams at the summer center were being performed, a group mothers approached us and said, “Now don’t forget us!” Keep taking care of our children’ was their cry as parents. It was a blessing. This was all we needed in order to understand the’sign of times’ and how to move, even when faced with the many difficulties involved in starting a mission. Seventeen years have passed since that heartfelt appeal. Despite the war, the religious at Don Orione have continued to fulfill the promise to that small group, as well as to many others who have accompanied them over the years. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 15/7/2022)

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