On 5 March 2014, the Pauline missione in Ukraine began. Two Pauline priests, Fr. Mariusz Krawiec and Fr. Wojciech Kuzioła from the Region of Poland left to begin the apostolic activities in that country. The day before, after the Holy Mass, they received the missionary mandate, with the solemn benediction from the Regional Superior Fr. Bogusław Zeman.
For years the Paulines in Poland have been thinking of a presence in some country of the ex-Soviet Union. During the Regional Assembly two years ago we have decided to take this step as our contribution to the celebration of the Centenary of the Pauline Family. After a long preparating the departure had been fixed for March 2014. Unfortunately the conditions is not what we have wanted: the threat of civil war and the ambition of the Russian regime on Crimea created a climate of fear and doubt. Encouraged by the Archbishop Msgr. Mieczysław Mokrzycki however, we decided to proceed likewise with faith.
Welcomed by the bishop of Lviv, the Paulines will termporarily reside in the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Lviv. Their first apostolic task will be to organise a bookshop in the curia of the Lviv and start an editorial activitiy.
We ask all Paulines in the world to remember in prayer the new foundation. The political situation in Ukraine is very critical, with strong risk of war, much similar to those in the '70s when our Congregation was starting in Poland. With faith, we entrust our confreres Fr. Mariusz Krawiec and Fr. Wojciech Kuzioła under the protection of Mary, Queen of Apostoles and of St. Paul, the Apostle. We hope that their apostolate will bring good fruit for the country of Ukraine.
Ucraina