“I implore you to stop the armed attacks, that negotiation and also common sense prevail and international law is respected again” (Pope Francis)

Message to all of the LLER COMMUNITY

Dear sick people, co-workers, relatives, volunteers, benefactors, friends and sisters, I wish to reach out to you all with a greeting of Peace.

In this time in which humanity is suffering due to many wars in different places throughout the world, and especially due to the crisis caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine, I would like to invite us all to join in the various initiatives that are taking place inside and outside our Institution, to assist the more than one million refugees who have been forced to flee from the war.

Specifically, the Solidarity and International Cooperation Service of the Congregation, through the Benedict Menni Foundation, is promoting a campaign to help the refugees. In particular, we would like to collaborate with the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, who through their communities in Ukraine and Poland are helping the multitude of refugees who leave their country every day.

From our centers, health care facilities or our own communities, we can all contribute to this or to other campaigns.  However, I invite you to contribute to and show your solidarity with this initiative by sending your donations to the following account of the Benedict Menni Foundation: ES41 0049 5217 6927 1607 6461.

The aid will be mainly directed towards providing refugees with social assistance and health care as well as basic necessities.

Let us also unite in prayer for peace, that the Lord may convert our hearts and those of the rulers of the nations most directly involved, so that true reconciliation is achieved proactively, “by forming a new society, a society based on service to others, rather than the desire to dominate; a society based on sharing what one has with others, rather than the selfish scramble by each for as much wealth as possible; a society in which the value of being together as human beings is ultimately more important than any lesser group, whether it be family, nation, race or culture” (cf. Fratelli Tutti, 229).

May St. John of God, whom we celebrate today, help us to grow in that compassion that does not remain indifferent to the pain of others, to the pain of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.    

I confide in the generosity of all and send you warm greetings,

Anabela Carneiro, Superior General