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

Lviv (Agenzia Fides) – 120 children and young people are taking part this year in “Happy Holidays”, the traditional summer event organized in Lviv by the priests of Don Orione. The religious continue their activities which, in these times marked by war, are aimed above all at those who come to them in search of help and support, both material and moral. The war did not interrupt this initiative which has characterized the summers of many children and young people in Ukraine for seventeen years. It all started in 2005, says Don Moreno Cattelan, from the “Don Orione” monastery in Lviv, when we decided to organize a summer center to which we gave a happy and appropriate name: “Le Allegre Vacanze” (Happy Holidays ). “With the help of some young volunteer facilitators, we launched the initiative,” he continues. It attracted more than 400 children and young people. We had to work double shifts because the few rooms that the neighborhood school had made available as a collection point for the various activities were not enough to accommodate everyone. At the end of the great experience, while the performances of the different teams that had participated in the summer center were taking place, a group of mothers approached us: “Now don’t leave us alone! Keep taking care of our children” was their cry as parents. We welcomed it as a blessing. It was all we needed to understand this ‘sign of the times’ and how we should move forward, even amidst the many difficulties of starting a mission.” Seventeen years have passed since that call from the bottom of their hearts and, despite the war, the religious of Don Orione continue to carry out the promise made to this small group of mothers and to many others who have followed them over the years. years (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 15/07/2022)

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