17 March 2022
Fr Gerry Devlin, Chaplain, and Miss Mirin Niekirk, Chaplaincy Assistant
The Chaplaincy team would like to thank everyone who has donated so generously to our special collection to help the people of Ukraine. We are working closely with the Polish community in Balham, and all the much-needed donated items are now safely locked in a truck and making their way to help people still in Ukraine, and so many others who have been forced to flee their homes, in urgent need of food, water, safe accommodation and accurate information. Thank you also to all the Woldingham parents who generously gave £550 to our appeal to help with transportation costs to Ukraine.
We are continuing to work with CAFOD, part of Caritas International, which has people now working in Ukraine, Moldova, Poland and Romania helping children and families with aid they need and providing psycho-social support at Ukraine’s borders as people wait to leave the country.
We highlighted the need to help the people of Ukraine during our whole school assembly and Years 7 and 8 made Peace Cranes in the Ukrainian national colours, which are on display in the School Chapel. We will continue to pray for all who are involved in the conflict when we celebrate Mass, at Night Prayers with the boarding community, and when staff, students and parents gather together in Lectio Divina groups.
Thanks again to parents, students and staff for all your generous giving at this time. We are most grateful for all your support.
With prayers and best wishes.
A Prayer for Ukraine
Loving God,
we pray for the people of Ukraine,
for all those suffering or afraid,
that you will be close to them and protect them.
We pray for our world leaders,
for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.
We pray for the world, that in this moment of crisis,
we may reach out in solidarity to our sisters and brothers in need.
May we walk in your ways, so that peace and justice
become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world.
Amen
