Back in December, Dorota shared with us an update from Poland and the many ways your generosity and prayers continue to make an impact. Below are a few of her personal experiences from her visit. Click the link for the beautiful letter of thanks to YOU, our parishioners for your most generous donations of money and goods from our Concert for Ukraine and other efforts throughout 2022. Thank you!
Hello Sara,
I am sharing with you a letter that came yesterday in an email from my sister-in-law and her coworkers from Poland.
I have translated it the best I could.
I also realized that I never shared that during my summer trip to Poland I visited the transition home in Chorzow that serves the refugees who are coming to my hometown. This is often their first stop after a long trip. They can stay there during the time they need to receive their Polish ID and find jobs and independent apartments. The social workers help with enrolling kids into the school system, with job searching, establishing health care, and all basic needs. They can also participate in Polish language lessons that are organized there for adults and children.
Each family usually consists of a mother and her children. At the time I visited they housed 15 families, one senior couple and one couple with a man using a wheelchair, and her wife a psychologist from Ukraine who spoke decent Polish and helped everyone with translation.
Families were placed together in one-room suits. There was a big kitchen and dining room on both floors. Families were able to prepare meals by themselves but every day they could choose to receive a full dinner provided by a local caterer. There was also a big TV room, library, laundry room on each floor, and a nice big fenced backyard. The furniture, unfortunately, reminded me of an old hospital but when I spoke with some of the ladies they said it is much better than it was in the temporary shelter at the local school where they have to use cots and communal bathroom with two showers for almost 200 people.
Across the street from the building were a bus stop and a small convenience store. The building is located around 3 miles from the downtown of Chorzow.
When I spoke with the ladies they said that it is such a blessing to be there while learning Polish and trying to find a Job. Those who worked were helping each other with taking care of young children because they were trying to work different shifts so few of them were always in the building watching the kids. They also emphasized how important for them was the help they got from social workers with enrolling kids in school, finding a family doctor, or helping with all paperwork needed to receive Polish documents.
They were smiling, trying to have small talk with me but their eyes were so sad.
I brought with me well over one hundred St. Benedict medals that Karen Howel (our parishioner gave me). She made all the effort to have them blessed by Fr. Abbot and bring them over to me on time before I departed.
I was not sure if the Ukrainian ladies are religious however when I told them about the medal they immediately wanted it for themselves and their kids. The news traveled from room to room so within 10-15 minutes all of the ladies came to the library to get the medal.
For the entire time, I spent in Poland I was surprised by how quickly my home country has turned into a bilingual country. I visited my mom in November 2021 and everything was just so "Polish". This last summer everywhere I went - to the grocery store, doctor's office, school, church, or railroad station, I saw all information provided in both languages. Most of the Polish TV stations provided Ukrainian subtitles. I could hear Ukrainian conversations at almost every corner of the town.
I am attaching some pictures from my visit to the transition house.
Best,
Dorota
