Praying for the Living and the Dead

May 1, 2024

Knights fund Mass stipends to benefit priests in Ukraine and the faithful they serve

By Karolina Świder and Solomiia Karpiv

May 1, 2024

Bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradiuk celebrates the ordination Mass of Andrey Buchkovskyi (kneeling, left) and Konrad Szymański (kneeling, right) on May 27, 2023, in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Odesa, Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine)

More than two years since Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, residents of Odesa still cannot escape the constant shelling and the fear it generates; they can only get used to its regular rhythm and deafening noise.

No wonder, then, that the population of the southern port city fluctuates constantly. Waves of refugees leaving Odesa to find a safer place are replaced by waves of refugees coming from occupied territories to find temporary shelter.

Yet some people remain. Father Konrad Szymański is one of them. The young Polish priest, ordained for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Odesa-Simferopol in May 2023, faithfully serves his parishioners at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Nowadays people need not only material help, but also spiritual support and attention, someone who will spend time with them,” explained Father Szymański, who has lived in Ukraine for seven years. “We try to assist them by providing humanitarian aid and through priestly ministry such as Masses, confession and spiritual guidance.”

Supporting priests in their ministry is a priority for Ukrainian Knights, who launched a program in 2020 to give Mass stipends — small donations for celebrating Mass for particular intentions — to priests in need. The program has become all the more important since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine: With many Ukrainian parishes depleted of their residents, priests face great financial difficulties. Some depend on Mass stipends to purchase food and other necessities.

“We felt a strong need to support our priests, and we all know that they live mainly thanks to Mass intentions,” said Ukraine State Deputy Youriy Maletskiy. “Before the war, Knights collected funds and, through the Ukraine State Council, gave Mass stipends to military chaplains, Knights of Columbus chaplains and priests in difficult situations. Due to the war, our resources were depleted, and we received support from the Supreme Council.”

Since 2020, almost $100,000 has been given in Mass stipends, supporting more than 10,000 Masses celebrated for the living and the dead.

Priests typically receive stipends for 10 Masses or, if they are willing, for Gregorian Masses — offered for a deceased person on 30 consecutive days.

Priests in need of help can apply for the program through local K of C councils or through their state chaplain: Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki of Lviv or Bishop Mykhaylo Bubniy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Odesa.

Archbishop Mokrzycki praised the program for its demonstration of “mutual solidarity” between priests and Knights around the world.

“Many people in other countries request the celebration of the Mass, and their priests cannot fulfill it because they have many other duties,” he said. At the same time, “this is a great help for our priests and K of C chaplains.”

Most of the funds allocated by the Supreme Council in 2023 were donated to newly ordained priests such as Father Szymański in the first week after their ordination, asking them to “celebrate 10 Holy Liturgies for the souls of those killed in the war.”

Now, priority is given to Knights of Columbus chaplains in eastern territories, where parishioners are few and priests struggle to make ends meet.

“Intentions are always needed because they are a source of income for the priest himself. We have no other salary, no pension,” explained Father Maksym Krolevskiy, who serves Holy Trinity Parish in Poltava, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the Russian border.

In addition to the material assistance, Father Krolevskiy draws spiritual strength from his brother Knights in Ivan Mazepa Council 16649. “My council is like a backbone for me as a chaplain,” he said.

While the stipends benefit the priests, they are also a gift for the people being prayed for, living or dead.

“The intentions I received from the Knights of Columbus for the souls of the deceased are important,” Father Szymański said. “Many people passed away without knowing God or receiving the sacraments and reconciliation with God, so it’s very important to pray for them.”

*****

KAROLINA ŚWIDER writes from Krakow, Poland. SOLOMIIA KARPIV writes from Lviv, Ukraine.

Praying for the Living and the Dead

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