(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Catholic parish in Evergreen Park is making a big contribution to the Ukrainian refugee relief effort.
“This is putting your faith into action,” said Father Benedykt Pazdan, pastor of St. Bernadette Church on 93rd and Francisco, a parish of about 400 families.
In about an hour Wednesday morning, dozens of volunteers loaded onto a truck 600 boxes of everyday supplies donated by area parishes and schools. The items included diapers, socks, toothpaste, shampoo and soap, the priest said.
“I was born and raised 60 miles from the border with Ukraine, and I wanted to do something and give our parishioners and community an opportunity to help out, too, in a very concrete way,” Fr. Pazdan said.
Ordained in Chicago in 2006, the priest says he visited Ukraine in 2001 when Pope John Paul II traveled to Lviv and then came to the United States shortly after that.
Rotary International has secured cargo plane space for free to get the donated supplies to the people who need it in Poland, says the organization’s Debbi Ross.
“We witness things beyond our control. It’s outrageous. It’s beyond understanding, so this is something that I think we can physically do,” she said.
Among the many volunteers who made short work of the truck-loading were students from Brother Rice High School and St. Xavier University and Evergreen Park firefighters.
“It’s great helping people in Ukraine, even though you can’t be there,” Brother Rice freshman Jay Jilek said.
Evergreen Park Fire Chief Ron Kleinhaus said Fr. Benedykt is the fire department’s chaplain. He’s there for them, so the firefighters had no trouble supporting him, Kleinhaus said.
“Here we are,” he said.
Fr. Pazdan says that, in addition to donations from his parishioners, there were contributions of supplies and thousands of dollars from Most Holy Redeemer Church, Queen of Martyrs Church, St. Cajetan’s School, St. Germaine Church and Evergreen Park High School.
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