Miles Jesu’s communities in western Ukraine are composed of members of the Greek Catholic Ukrainian rite, a rite of the Roman Catholic Church whose rituals and discipline find roots in the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and other influences of the East.
Beginning in 2004, Miles Jesu operated a home for orphaned or semi-orphaned girls. Girls as young as 7 were accepted into the home. They came for various reasons, such as alcoholism or drug use of parents, mental illness of parents, disappearance of parents, abandonment by parents after birth, difficult financial situation of the family, or deprivation of parental rights. Members of the Miles Jesu women’s community, with the assistance of several hired professionals, provided the girls with a stable home environment, education, medical care, meals, and entertainment.
In 2024, the last ward graduated from our girls’ program in Birky, Ukraine, becoming a student at the Lviv college. Over the 20 years we operated the Girls’ Home, 47 children from different families were educated in the house. Also, during the last two years with the war in Ukraine, we took in several children who arrived from the war zone.
Due to the difficult circumstances in Ukraine, together with the Miles Jesu Consecrated Ladies of L’Viv, we have made the decision not to foster any more orphans. The Ladies will be focusing on their mission of being “leaven” in their society which is longing for the peace that only our Blessed Savior can give.
The Miles Jesu Ladies will continue the Soup Kitchen Mission in downtown L’Viv for the influx of war refugees who continue to arrive.
We are deeply grateful for all your support for our orphanage which has helped many girls – now young women – to get a solid start in their lives.
Our Work in Ukraine
Read more about what we are doing in Ukraine.
