Sister Paula Jagoda has been volunteering in Przemyśl for Caritas Poland for three days. A native of Poland, she has lived in Ukraine for 27 years. It was difficult for her to leave her country of choice. She has tears in her eyes. A week ago, she left the convent in Malyns’kyi near Kiev. Together with five sisters, she drove to the Polish border. Only two sisters and two postulants stayed behind. Once they reached the border, they were stuck for 25 hours.
Paula Jagoda finds it difficult to accept not being able to help in Ukraine. She cannot bring herself to move far from the border. Working for Caritas keeps her mind off of this: she feels needed, performs different tasks. She carries luggage, plays with children and travels to the border to support volunteers and motivate others. For her, it is obvious that when the war is over, she will be the first to go back to Ukraine.
Philipp Spalek for Caritas