“We have to love each other”: Winnipeg Ukrainian community holding onto to hope through faith, fellowship – Winnipeg
February 24th, the day Russia invaded Ukraine, and the day her life changed forever.
“February 24 changed our lives for all Ukrainians,” Mykhalyk told Global News.
“We didn’t know what to do and were panicking.”
The panic has since subsided, but the pain is still raw.Mykhalyk moved to Winnipeg with her two children three months ago. Her husband is still in Ukraine.
“(He) is missing and I want (he) to come as soon as possible. We are waiting for that time and it will be free,” she said.
“No need to fight, no need to die”
She said she moved to keep her children safe and can’t wait for her husband to join them here in Manitoba.
“I am glad Canada has made this choice to protect our children. I could have been there with my husband, but my children, especially my son, We are terrified by the alarms that surround us every day,” Michaliku said.
“And you don’t know what to do because anything could happen at any moment. A rocket could come into your apartment and you could be destroyed or die.”
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“[My son]had always seen white on his ears and face, so I had to do something. I had to[remove]them,” she added.
“My son misses him so much. He always tells me, ‘I dream of seeing him when he comes through this door.'”
Mykhalyk says he can’t wait for the day the war ends.
“I dream of the final days of this war, but I could never have imagined that this would happen in the 21st century,” she said.
“We must love each other. We don’t have to kill each other.”
Mykhalyk is currently working at Sts. Vladimir & Olga Cathedral, Ukraine Her Catholic Her Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg’s McGregor Street has been supporting new Ukrainians and many other Ukrainians in what she says is a place.
“Here we can feel at home,” she said.
Pastor Ihor Shved says he never expected the war to last this long.
“To be honest, we are used to pain, but it still hurts,” said Shved. “We are still in fear and do not know what the future holds, but[but]I believe that Ukraine will win.”
According to Pastor Ihor Shved, many newcomers say coming to church feels like coming home.
Jordan Pehn / Global News
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Shved says the church was a place many turned to at the start of the war and still does today. According to him, the church hosts almost hundreds of Ukrainian refugees and sees about 200 new faces every Sunday. The church has also helped refugees by providing clothing, food, kitchen and household items.
But most importantly, the church provides a place where people can find a sense of community through fellowship and faith.
“[Religion]gives us hope and gives us spiritual strength. The church is always a place of worship, the Christian church is where we worship Jesus, who is our hope and strength. department,” said Shved. “But church is also a place where people meet and help each other, and where God helps people through people.”
“Many[of people who come here]say, ‘I feel at home. I’m moving to Canada, but I come to your church once a week and it feels like I’m in Ukraine.’ would say
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