Nizhny Tagil: For more than two decades, the Vincentian Sisters have quietly served some of the most vulnerable people in Russia, offering food, care, and a sense of belonging to children and adults living on the margins of society.
The mission began in 1997 in the industrial city of Nizhny Tagil, when priests of the Congregation of the Mission arrived to serve a region where Christians form a small minority. What started as a simple effort to feed hungry children soon grew into a long term ministry of compassion.
Moved by the sight of children roaming the streets hungry and cold, Fr Tomaz Mavric worked with parish members and local school authorities to provide daily meals to students who could not afford lunch. Parishioners began paying for school meals for dozens of children, laying the foundation for a wider outreach.
In 2000, sisters from the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul arrived from Slovakia to support this work. They opened a children’s club that became a safe space and second home for many local children. What began with weekly meetings soon expanded to five days a week, helping more than 1,500 children over the years.
Sr Antonia Lednicka, who has served in Russia for more than 20 years, says the aim was to give love, stability, and guidance to children who often lacked all three. Children from Orthodox and Muslim families were welcomed equally, with care shown through daily presence rather than words.
One former beneficiary, Ulyana, now 34, remembers the club as a place of warmth and happiness during a difficult childhood. She says the care she received helped her grow as a person and develop her talents. Today, she works as a designer and remains grateful for the support she received there.
The sisters’ mission goes beyond children. They serve homeless people every day, visiting shelters, helping with hygiene needs, and assisting in the repair of living spaces. They also work in a state tuberculosis hospital, where many patients arrive without documents. The sisters help them secure legal papers, access social support, and attend medical appointments, often covering travel and other costs themselves.
To encourage regular medical checkups, the sisters provide food once a month at tuberculosis clinics. Alongside this social work, they remain active in parish life through catechism classes, pastoral visits, and community gatherings during major feasts.
Their charity work is supported through grants, local donations, and annual food collections. According to Sr Antonia, people give generously because they trust that all support reaches those in real need.
In 2010, the mission expanded to the Siberian city of Omsk, where the sisters now serve in parishes, charity centers, and outreach programs for homeless people and tuberculosis patients across long distances.
Despite ongoing challenges such as poverty, fear, and family hardship, the sisters continue their work with quiet dedication. For them, hope lies in seeing children grow into adults and witnessing lives changed through simple acts of care and compassion.