FOR the many displaced Ukrainians who have fled to Limerick and Ireland for refuge, life has to go on almost two years into the war at home.
Now the Ukrainian faithful in Limerick have their own priest to minister to them and provide support and friendship in their native tongue.
Fr Roman Lahish arrived in Limerick this month and has hit the ground running. Already he has around 100 families attending Mass in Ukrainian each Sunday in Mount St Alphonsus, the Redemptorist Church on South Circular Road.
And, delighted members of his new flock have already booked one wedding and a baptism.
“So many people have come to Ireland from Ukraine and the Irish Redemptorists, including in Limerick, have done such a fantastic job at helping the community. Now they need their own priest,” Fr Roman told the Limerick Post.
Born in western Ukraine, the 42-year-old pastor has been ordained for 16 years and was been ministering close to the Ukrainian border before he arrived in Ireland.
He said Ukrainians are “preparing for a hard winter. Utility providing centres are being bombed and there are long periods of blackout and no power.”
He hopes to help those who have come to Limerick settle in in their new home.
“We know that so many people, thousands of people, coming to Ireland can be a problem. We encourage them to do all they can to build new lives here, to learn English and get a job, to not to depend on this country but to be responsible for themselves,” Fr Roman said.
Fr Roman is currently meeting with his countrymen and women in their emergency accommodation.
“We want to help them integrate and become part of the Irish community. A parish gives us a platform to work with this.”
The Ukrainian priest says he himself has had a great welcome in the city, as have the Ukrainians who have come here.
“They tell me people in Limerick have been very welcoming, kind, and friendly. I have visited the hotels where people are staying and the centres and spoken with the managers who say it is very nice that they are here and they have been warmly welcomed.”
One of Fr Roman’s first festival engagements promises to be a very happy, noisy one.
“We are preparing for St Nicholas Day on December 10, which is a special day for the children and we’re hoping to organise some entertainments for them,” he said.
Other events, training, and religious devotions are also being organised. Mass is at 10am each Sunday. All details can gotten by contacting the Redemptorist Church.
