New bread maker strengthens the Albertiners’ emergency aid in Saporischja

In the midst of war‑torn Saporischja, just a few kilometers from the front line, the Brothers of Albert have been providing steadfast emergency aid for years. A central part of their work is the daily distribution of food to the population - above all freshly baked bread, which has become a vital staple for many people.

In June 2025, a new, modern bread oven was put into operation in the monastery bakery. The device came from Poland and was made possible by the Csilla von Boeselager Foundation and the Papal Almoner’s Office. On the feast of Saint Albert, the oven was solemnly blessed - and that very same day, the first freshly baked loaves were delivered to those in need in the city.

The new oven is a tremendous relief for the brothers. The old oven had recently become unreliable and posed a significant risk to the smooth running of the bakery. Now, at the monastery the four brothers of Albert at the monastery can once again produce around 1,200 loaves per day, five days a week. They are supported by two women from the neighborhood, who are permanently employed and take on much of the baking with great dedication.

Food distribution takes place on four to five days each week: bread, canned goods, and hygiene items when available. Bread is distributed, among other places, next to the church “To Our Merciful Father” in the city center, where 1,500–1,700 people gather daily—a number that continues to grow. Among them are elderly people with small pensions, single individuals, internally displaced persons, large families, and people with disabilities. Many come regularly because the bread has become essential for their survival.

The new bread oven offers not only technical support but also a sense of security in uncertain times. And for the people who hold a warm loaf of bread in their hands each day, it symbolizes hope, dignity, and a sign that they have not been forgotten.