SAVED, TO SAVE | KAIROS GLOBAL | JUNE 2022

Author: Sr Ligy Payyappilly

Intro: Sr Ligy Payyappilly, superior of the Sisters of St Joseph of St-Marc convent at Mukachevo, Pavshyno speaks about her calling to serve in Ukraine. 

About Ukraine

Ukraine is the second largest country in Eastern Europe, after Russia. Its capital is Kyiv, located on the Dnieper River in north-central Ukraine.

When Ukraine was part of the former Soviet Union, a policy of Russian in-migration and Ukrainian out-migration had been in effect. Still, ethnic Ukrainians make up more than three-fourths of the population. Russians continue to be the largest minority, less than one-fifth of the population.

More than two-thirds of the population live in urban areas. By 1996 Ukraine had achieved a measure of economic stability. Ukrainian is the language spoken by vast majority of the people. 

Historically, most adherents belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Now more than two-fifths of Ukrainians do not follow any religion.

Sr Ligy Speaks

The people of Ukraine were under Communist rule till 1991. This could have contributed to the erosion of traditional faith among the people. Re-evangelisation by missionaries is bringing back the lost glory, and the huge response to retreats and other faith-related programmes is truly surprising. I have noticed people travelling thousands of kilometres just to take part in a retreat or prayer service. It demonstrates the inherent inclination they have towards the Catholic faith. Moreover, they have gradually realised the need for God and religion after a century of spiritual dryness in Europe.

Ukraine is a beautiful country set amidst diverse landscape, well-preserved culture and tradition. Every year the picturesque arrival of spring reminds us of hope, which trails behind every frozen experience of life. War has struck us hard now. But we are hopeful in Christ, looking forward to a better tomorrow. The large demography of educated and independent youth of the country is its asset. So, we are keen on imparting faith to mould a virtuous generation to lead the nation.

In this war, Russia is not being humanitarian. We often see forces specifically attacking food and medical supply vehicles, shelter homes, and even orphanages. It was shocking to hear about the old age home attack in Mariupol, which killed almost 56 inmates. But the patriotism of the Ukrainians challenges us, they are ready to give up their lives to save the nation.

Vocation and Calling

I come from a large family, hailing from the state of Kerala in India. I owe most of my virtues to the thoughtful upbringing of my parents and experiences of sharing among my 8 siblings. My father was an ordinary man running a grocery shop in the village, and my mother was a homemaker, but they had extraordinary faith and virtues that challenged us all. We used to wake up hearing the Rosary at 4am in the morning and we joined them daily in prayer. My mother would prepare breakfast and lunch before heading to church for morning Mass at 6.00 am. My parents prayed together, worked hard and generously helped all who came to them. This laid the foundation of our family.

My father used to tell us often about humility saying, ‘water flows into low-lying lands and that is how it is for God’s mercy too.’  

My desire to serve others attracted me to this vocation, where we can be fully available to others without any liabilities. I joined the congregation of Sisters of St Joseph of St-Marc, and by God's grace, I was sent for the Ukrainian mission. But things were not as easy as I thought. Everything in the new country, from climate to food took a toll on me; it was only my vow of obedience that helped me continue. Soon after, I was severely affected by spinal tuberculosis, and was in bed for almost a year. I went back home as the doctors had lost hope. Those were days I felt utterly desperate and low.

After almost 3 months, one day I heard an inner voice talking to me, which I recognised as coming from God. I recall praying almost 10 hours a day before the Blessed Sacrament during my illness. This daily conversation with God opened my eyes. He made me realise the hardships of the Ukrainians and his purpose in sending me there. He constantly reminded me of how blessed I was and how much he expected of me. I told the Lord that I would commit myself to his mission in Ukraine happily if he would cure my illness. God heard my prayer and healed me.

The doctors couldn’t believe my improvements and even after treatment was completed, they told me that I would have to wear waist belts all my life, and that I would not be a healthy person anymore. But I believed in the promise of my faithful God and had no doubts about my health. I headed back to Ukraine with confidence.

It was not just the healing of my illness but of my convictions and attitude too. My mind was cleansed and I was made new altogether.

A totally new me reached Ukraine for the second time in 2004. Everything seemed so beautiful about the country on my second arrival. I loved the people, their food, their tastes, I enjoyed the extreme climatic conditions and even the language seemed closer to me.

I was driven by the Bible verse, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well from Matthew 6:33. I started a new community and decided to work without a salary. Every day, I strive hard to share God with the people here. Now, on a daily basis, we receive around 400 people from all over Ukraine, who come to our convent and the adjacent retreat centre for prayer.  

Oftentimes people surprise me by travelling 1000 miles, sometimes even 2000 miles to attend the prayer service at our place. These instances show me how much God needed me to do this for his people in Ukraine. We have retreats every weekend too, where participants come from neighbouring countries like Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, etc.

We have 15 Ukrainian sisters in our convent who joined us out of pure interest and missionary zeal. We have never had any vocation promotion camps or recruitments, they came on their own. All our Ukrainian nuns are professionally qualified in various fields too. Adoration and service are our mission; all our initiatives are intended to introduce the Blessed Sacrament to people. We always promote confession and other sacraments among the people who attend our services. Most of the inmates of our old age home were communists and hence atheists. We share the Gospel with them, and genuinely desire to bring them back to faith and Christ before they pass away.

War…

Wartime has challenged us. Since the war began on 24th February, the Russians have targeted the main cities of Ukraine killing many civilians and triggering mass exodus.

We worked round-the-clock to help stranded students and others fleeing war-torn Ukraine. We saw the face of St Joseph fleeing with Mary and Baby Jesus on the faces of the fleeing refugees, and couldn’t help ourselves from doing all that we could.

We provide food and accommodation to the distressed students, besides helping them cross the Ukrainian border to escape to countries including Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Having been in Ukraine for over 20 years, there are many contacts and networks I know that have helped me carry out this mission so far, and I cannot forget the generous help of my Ukrainian friends and neighbours.

Many Ukrainian refugees stay at the convent, which they consider a relatively safer place, instead of going to another country. All our sisters are involved in helping the stranded. Some work in the field, some cook and others bring the students to the convent, or take them to the border in vehicles. Most of the students reached us in a desperate state. They had neither eaten food nor bathed for many days, were mentally shocked and physically weak. So, our first priority was to give them a comfortable stay before taking them to the border. Once they cross the border safely, we consider the mission accomplished and look for other lost ones in Ukraine. 

Whenever someone seeks help, I believe they were sent to me by God, who knows me inside out. When he sends people to us, he blesses us additionally every time to provide them with adequate help. I feel so proud and happy to be the hands, legs or shoulders of God here. I thankfully remember those days when foreign students were being evacuated from Ukraine. I could remain awake and available 24x7 on call, and without fatigue, which is not possible otherwise. I believe I was held upright by the Lord to be at his service.

Why we didn’t save ourselves

How can we say that we love them if we are unwilling to accompany them in their days of trouble? We are called to this vocation to wipe tears and lend our shoulders to the needy. I am the superior of this convent in Mukachevo, Pavshyno and the system allows me to save my life and escape to my homeland, but my convictions hold me back. We have 15 Ukrainian sisters in the convent, 20 inmates in our old age home, and 80 refugees in our shelter home now who don’t have a place to escape to. As long as I stay faithful to my vows as a nun, I cannot abandon them. I take it as my moral responsibility to stay back with them and do my mite. As we read in Matthew 25:35-40:

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

As long as I serve my Heavenly Master, I cannot close my eyes towards the suffering and needy. It is not something extraordinary or unusual, rather, I have done my duty for I was called to serve. 

God had saved me from death 20 years ago and is using me now to save lives in Ukraine.

Sr Ligy Payyappilly is the delegation superior of the Sisters of St Joseph of St Marc, Mukachevo, Ukraine. She is also a retreat preacher and missionary at the service of Catholic Church.