Immaculate High School Community Responds to People of Ukraine

As part of its effort to demonstrate support for those suffering in Ukraine, students and staff have been meeting in the Chapel at 7:00am to pray the rosary with the school’s chaplain, Deacon Jeff Font. On Thursday, March 10, the school welcomed Father Ihor Vorontsov, a priest from the Byzantine Catholic Diocese of Mukachevo to speak with our students. Born and raised in Ukraine, his family still resides in the western part of Ukraine in a town called Zakarpattia. Father Ihor has been in the United States for six years and currently serves at St. Nicholas Church in White Plains, New York.

In his address to the students and faculty, he shared, “There is such a disaster in our country. Churches are doing a great job helping particularly women and children. Seminaries have become refugee camps.” Students were able to ask their questions about NATO and the U.S. positions as well as about the Diocese of Mukachevo. “The Diocese is located in the western part of Ukraine near the Romanian, Hungarian and Slovakian borders and is for now somewhat protected because of its mountainous location. We need everyone to not remain indifferent. I thank the Immaculate community for its prayers and for wanting to help the people of Ukraine,” stated Fr. Vorontsov.

Student Olivia McDonough '25 also has family ties to Ukraine. Her maternal grandparents were born in Ukraine. The war brings back terrible memories for Olivia's grandmother, who remembers when Olivia's grandfather was taken from his home in Ukraine and sent to a concentration camp. Having several family members still living in Ukraine has been very difficult for her family. Olivia decided that she wanted to do more. She said that "there has to be a way to raise money for Ukraine and at the same time to keep this war in the minds of all non-Ukrainians."

In response to the need expressed by Father Ihor, students hosted a blue and yellow dress down day, along with selling Olivia's bakery-style cookies and collecting additional free will donations. Their efforts raised $7,040 for the Diocese of Mukachevo. Funds are being sent directly to the Diocese of Mukachevo to feed those people who are on the border waiting to leave the country and those who are in the diocesan churches and rectories waiting for their fathers and husbands to return. For more information about the Diocese of Mukachevo’s efforts, visit https://munkacs-diocese.org/en/2022/03/05/announcement-on-assistance-to-alleviate-the-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine/ or contact Father Ihor Vorontsov directly, frvorontsov@gmail.com

Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School also allows students to focus on academic excellence, spiritual development, service to others, and personal goals. Located in Danbury, CT, Immaculate High School is a Diocesan-sponsored independent school.