Baby Michael sleeps peacefully on the lap of these nuns at a convent at Mukachevo in Ukraine. A Keralite religious nun Sister Liji Payyappalli and the other nuns sing lullabies for little Michael, a toddler who was born on 22 February, a day before the invasion of Russia to Ukraine. Now, these nuns become foster mothers to everyone who is still being at their convent from the warfare. Many foreigners, especially the people and students from India, have been sheltered here at the convent and traveled to the safest place with the help of these sisters. Now the convent is full of refugee women and children from Ukraine. A selfless act made this convent heaven of comfort for those who are fleeing for their lives.
Baby Michael Sleeps Peacefully in the ConventÂ
Michael was saved by Sister Liji and the team while his mother was fleeing with him. Although the nuns had operated many resue operations, Sister Liji reveals that it is the most heartwarming experience of her mission was being able to save the baby.
“With the help of our prayer team, their families were rescued from the war-torn areas and brought to our convent. They were rescued from Kyiv. Michael’s mother ran with him just after hours of her delivery. She has fleed to a bunker. After resuing from the Bunker, the toddler and his mother had to travel for a long to reach the convent in Mukachevo. It was reminiscent of the exodus of Joseph and Mary from Bethlehem to Egypt with their infant Jesus,” Sister Liji shared to Catholic News.
Now the convent became an Asylum for 80 Ukrainian women and children and about 50 elderly people in their nursing home. Michael’s father also accompanied them to the convent in Mukachevo. However, he was forced to return to Kyiv shortly after the Ukrainian government’s request that all men fight for their country.
Baby Michael is one of the few children of this age who was saved from the war and found a safe place. More than 40 children have been killed in Ukraine since the war began.
“The first thing we did was to rescue the Indian students. Now that we’re almost done, our next goal is to rescue the Ukrainian mothers and children. Where can they go? These people who have become refugees in their own country and neighboring countries have nowhere to go,” Sister says with pain.
Woman of Courage Award
On March 8, the Delhi-based Distress Management Collective honored Sister Liji with the ‘Woman of Courage award for her service to the people trapped in Ukraine. This is an international network of volunteers from various religious backgrounds spread across 100 countries. She never worked for honors and awards. However, the Sister revealed that the award will be accepted as a token of appreciation by the world so that more people can be part of this mission.
Refugees Need Help
The night temperature in Ukraine is minus 7 degrees Celsius, and most of the refugees are women and children who need a heater. Financial assistance is needed for their affairs when accepting refugees. Hundreds of people lost their homes, jobs, and money. Sister says that they would love to take care and give the warmth of safety at least to those who come to them.
Holding baby Michael in her arms, the sister Liji says: “This baby gives us more hope and confidence. There are many who are suffering.” Sister Liji and her companions are worried about such children and their mothers.
Meanwhile, the last Indian student arrived at Sister’s convent on 10 March. The sister helped them to cross the border with the help of many others. Those who have returned to India remember this Keralite nun and her fellow nuns with great gratitude.
Sister Liji and other nuns have a very busy schedule as they are the guardians of many Ukrainian lives. And also now they have another responsibility; They have to sing soulful lullabies for little Michael for not letting him hear the terrifying sound of shelling.
Sunisha V.F.