This Weekend March 25-26: Special Second Collection for “City of Goodness”

Throughout Lent, the Service Commission shared the story of City of Goodness with you. We've told you how, on February 24, 2022, people all around Ukraine woke up to air raid sirens and bomb explosions and their lives changed forever. We told you how, in response, City of Goodness has transformed from a social service and support center into a shelter for Ukrainians fleeing war and violence. It is now a home that gives security, comfort, and love to women with children (and their pets!), elderly and disabled people, and evacuees from orphanages – children from birth to 7 years ...
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Telling the Story – Part 3: Building a New History of the City of Goodness

Since the onset of war over a year ago, City of Goodness has become a shelter, a home that gives security, comfort, and love for women with children (and their pets!), elderly and disabled people, and evacuees from orphanages – children from birth to 7 years. They are now in the process of constructing additional buildings so hundreds more children and moms can be safe. Photos from their Instagram account @misto.dobra show some of the work in progress: This place will become a rescue for those who lost their home due to war... for those who have no parents waiting ...
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Telling the Story – Part 2: Ukraine One Year Later

It has now been just over a year since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Army expected quick victory, but instead were met with fierce resistance from the Ukrainian Army and Ukraine’s many citizen militias. Russia has received widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations General Assembly condemning the invasion and demanding a full withdrawal of Russian forces. The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and instigated Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, turning more than 8 million Ukrainians into refugees, with another 8 million people displaced ...
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Telling the Story – Part 1: Introducing Ukraine Forward and City of Goodness

As you know, one of the ways in which our Collaborative observes Lent is by making a significant gift to support an organization or group which seeks to alleviate suffering. Over the last few years, local, regional, and national issues have come to the forefront as the Service Commission works to select a gift recipient. Last year, we made a very significant gift to Boston Health Care for the Homeless Project, and the year before to our own SJSP Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This year, international tragedy suggests itself as being an appropriate way to ...
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Announcing Our 2023 Collaborative Lenten Gift: City of Goodness in Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, people all around Ukraine woke up to air raid sirens and bomb explosions. Their lives changed forever. Russia has bombed hospitals, kindergartens, and densely populated residential areas. Civilian infrastructure has been destroyed and people are cut off from sources of food and water. Many people have been left homeless and are hiding in basements, subways and bomb shelters. City of Goodness is a social service and support center that was originally established to care for women and children fleeing domestic violence. With the onset of the war, City of Goodness has become a shelter for women ...
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