Solidarity Does Not Sleep

July 1, 2024

North American Knights provide spiritual and material support to Ukrainians suffering from war

By Columbia staff

July 1, 2024

Father James Gould, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Purcellville, Va., leads members of St. Francis Council 11136 in a daily rosary for Ukraine in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. (Photo by Matthew Barrick)

In the first days of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly pledged that the Knights would support its victims for the long haul. Two years later, that pledge was renewed: “Our commitment to the Ukrainian people runs deep because our brother Knights and their families are part of the communities that are suffering,” the supreme knight affirmed in a message to members Feb. 22, 2024, the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. “We will continue to support you and stand with you, and we will pray for you every day that Our Lady of Victory will deliver to you a lasting peace.”

Just as Ukrainian Knights continue to deliver aid to their compatriots, and Polish Knights continue to serve refugees through parish-based Mercy Centers, Knights in the United States and Canada continue to offer both spiritual and material support to those affected by the war. Here are just a few examples:

♦ St. Anne Council 10551 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, helped to welcome the thousands of Ukrainian refugees who arrived in the city in 2022, providing food, coats and other supplies, and supporting English-language classes established by the Catholic Women’s League. More than two years later, the council continues to donate regularly to the Order’s Ukraine Solidarity Fund to support brother Knights doing similar work in Poland. “The Polish Knights have done a superb job of welcoming Ukrainian women and children, so we’re very happy to contribute a little bit of money to help,” said Grand Knight Don Dubik. Most recently, the Knights donated $4,000 raised by its 2024 Lenten fish fries at St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church.

♦ Father James Gould, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish and chaplain of St. Francis Council 11136 in Purcellville, Virginia, has led a rosary for peace in Ukraine before the Blessed Sacrament almost every night since late February 2022, livestreaming the prayer on the parish website. Knights participate regularly, assist with preparing for the livestream and help lead the rosary when Father Gould is unavailable. “Our Lady has made it clear — the rosary is the most powerful weapon we have against evil in our time,” said Pasquale DiBari, a member of the council who frequently joins Father Gould. “We’re called to solemn perseverance in prayer and solemn trust.”

Led by 9-year-old Vivian Vecchio, children of members of Father McGovern Council 10494 in Apple Valley, Calif., sell baked goods to benefit the Order’s Ukraine Solidarity Fund.

♦ Nine-year-old Vivian Vecchio, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Desert Parish in Apple Valley, California, was moved to do something for Ukrainian children after a discussion about the conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land with her father. Daniel Vecchio brought her idea for a fundraiser to Father Oliver McGovern Council 10494, setting things in motion for a parish bake sale on Pentecost Sunday. The Knights made the first donation of $500, and cupcakes poured in from council families. Vivian and her helpers — whose dads, like Daniel, belong to Council 10494 — had a busy day selling treats after three Sunday Masses, ultimately raising more than $3,000. Vivian explained that she wanted to “provide for the needs of the children of Ukraine so that they wouldn’t suffer as much.”

♦ At the suggestion of council member Robert Hehn, the Knights of Pope John Paul I Council 7565 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, put together a “spiritual bouquet” of 222 Masses and 260 rosaries for the intentions of the Ukrainian people and the end of the war. “I couldn’t imagine how difficult it was for these people to live under that constant threat of death,” Hehn said. “We all wanted the Ukrainians to feel they had our support. We need to show our brotherly love for our fellow Knights and fellow Christians.” The Knights arranged for a card symbolizing their prayers to be given last fall to Ukraine State Deputy Youriy Maletskiy.

♦ St. Volodymyr the Great Council 9557 in Ottawa donated $6,500 to the Ukraine Solidarity Fund at the end of 2023, proceeds from a Ukrainian dinner the Knights organized for the second year in a row. The fundraiser drew a near-sellout crowd, including many people from outside the council’s parish of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine. Grand Knight Paul Kozak said, “It’s not only something near and dear to our heart because we’re a Ukrainian parish, but now we’re also a home for those who are fleeing the war.”

*****

Mary Christie contributed to this report.

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Solidarity Does Not Sleep

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