leaving.” In fact, they had a car, but they gave it to some religious sisters who needed to escape in order to avoid falling victim to Russian depredations. The Marians make do with a bike, which they use when they go and try to get food. So far, there’s been enough food to go around, but there have been shortages, especially of medical supplies for first aid and treating the wounds caused by the invaders. The Divine Mercy Nursing Home in Gorodok, Ukraine, has been at max capacity for some time. “We have a house for around 80 people,” explained Fr. Wojtek. “There are many elderly and disabled people brought by their children for safety.” Relief efforts In response, you, the Marian Helpers, have swung into action. So far, substantial funds have been raised for immediate needs as well as the long-term rebuilding of the Marian parishes and ministries in Ukraine, and fundraising efforts continue. Just ask Dr. Bryan Thatcher, founder of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM), and Nurse Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN, founder of Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy. Both have medical training as well as years of experience practicing and promoting the Divine Mercy message and devotion under the guidance of Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC. Wasting no time, Dr. Thatcher and Nurse Marie both set to work from the earliest days of the conflict, making phone calls and trying to figure out how they could help. “Both of our ministries have many contacts in Poland. I have been to Ukraine and have friends there. This is a real humanitarian crisis,” Dr. Thatcher noted. “We need to move and act, all done in a spirit of Christian love, out of love of God.” For 25 years, he and EADM have been filling shipping containers with medical supplies and sending them to populations in need across the world. All that experience, along with partners like the charity Project C.U.R.E., has paved the way for a remarkably quick response to a world historic crisis. Also, Nurse Marie’s experience coordinating pilgrimages with major airlines has expedited the process. Coordinating daily with the Marian Helpers Center in Warsaw, Nurse Marie was able to utilize her experience in air logistics and treating catastrophic injuries to source the critical medical supplies needed. With Dr. Thatcher and Project C.U.R.E., she has been able to ship more than 30 pallets and 100 Stryker beds for the sick and injured. We still haven’t seen the final fulfillment of the promise of Our Lady in Fatima that, “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.” According to Sr. Lucia, St. John Paul II consecrated Russia to Mary’s Immaculate Heart on March 25, 1984. The USSR fell shortly afterwards. And yet there’s still not peace in the world. Why? Ask yourself: Have most of us been faithful to her requests, especially the First Saturdays of Reparation? What are the Five First Saturdays? First Saturdays in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary include the following elements, performed with the intention of reparation for blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart, for at least five consecutive months: • Confession (shortly before or after the First Saturday — so long as the person receives Holy Communion in a state of grace); • Holy Communion received on the First Saturday of each month; • the Holy Rosary, five decades recited sometime during the day; and • meditating for 15 minutes on the Mysteries of the Rosary (one or more). Let’s make these devotions a part of our prayer life each month! You can join the livestream of the Marians in prayer every First Saturday at 11 a.m. EST on YouTube.com/DivineMercyOfficial Following Fatima: The First Saturdays
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==