‘We Stand Together’

Jan. 1, 2023

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly brings a message of solidarity to Church and civil leaders, Knights, and displaced families in Poland and Ukraine

By Columbia staff

Jan. 1, 2023

Knights in Lviv, Ukraine, gather with the supreme knight Dec. 6 outside of the warehouse that regularly receives pallets of care packages and other goods delivered by K of C Charity Convoys from Poland. Photo by Tamino Petelinšek — Knights in Lviv, Ukraine, gather with the supreme knight Dec. 6 outside of the warehouse that regularly receives pallets of care packages and other goods delivered by K of C Charity Convoys from Poland. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly traveled Dec. 2-6 to Poland and Ukraine, where he met with government officials, prominent Catholic leaders from both the Latin and Greek rites, local Knights, and people displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Throughout the visit — his second to Poland and Ukraine this year — the supreme knight’s message was one of solidarity and a commitment to continued support.

Within 36 hours of the Russian invasion last February, the Order established the Ukraine Solidarity Fund^®, committing $1 million toward humanitarian relief and pledging to match donations to the fund up to $500,000. Altogether, nearly $20 million has been raised, and thanks to the more than 7,000 Knights in Poland and 2,000 in Ukraine, the Order has distributed over 3.2 million pounds of food to those impacted by the war.

Supreme Knight Kelly’s trip began Dec. 2 with a meeting with Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, archbishop of Warsaw. Later that day, he met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and discussed the Order’s ongoing relief efforts. He also presented the president and the Polish people with two gifts: the Knights’ Caritas Award, which recognizes exemplary charity and sacrifice for others, and a relic of Blessed Michael McGivney for placement in the Presidential Chapel.

President Andrzej Duda of Poland receives the Caritas Award from Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly on Dec. 2 in recognition of the Polish people’s charitable assistance to suffering Ukrainians. (Photo by Jakub Szymczuk/KPRP)

While in Poland, Supreme Knight Kelly visited parish-based Knights of Columbus Mercy Centers, where he met with Ukrainian refugees and helped assemble K of C care packages. More than 100,000 such care packages have been sent to Ukraine and delivered throughout the war-torn country.

At Our Lady of Częstochowa Parish in Radom on Dec. 3, the supreme knight participated in a ribbon-cutting at the Blessed Michael McGivney House, a new resource center for refugees. To those gathered, he noted, “At the Supreme Convention earlier this year, I had a message for Poland and Ukraine. That message was that you are not alone, and that we as Knights of Columbus stand together as a family.”

Though Advent is “a time of great hope and anticipation of the joy of Christmas,” he added, “it’s also an Advent marked with great suffering. … But Christ comes to us in our suffering and embraces our suffering with us.”

On Sunday, Dec. 4, the supreme knight met with Knights of Columbus leaders from Poland and joined them for Mass at St. John’s Archcathedral in Warsaw. Later that day, he traveled to Lviv, Ukraine, where he met with Knights of Columbus state officers, including State Deputy Youriy Maletskiy, and district deputies from throughout the country. They were hosted by Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki of Lviv.

“You are not alone,” the supreme knight told his brother Knights. “You are doing so much, and we want to walk side-by-side with you. Your brothers are praying for you, continuing to donate resources for your work. You are writing the next chapter in the history of the Knights of Columbus — and you are sending a message to the Church and the world.”

Knights of Columbus leaders, Bishop Marek Solarczyk of Radom, Poland, and Father Wiesław Lenartowicz, pastor of Our Lady of Częstochowa Parish, stand with refugee children served by the new Blessed Michael McGivney House in Radom. Photo by Tamino Petelinšek — Knights of Columbus leaders, Bishop Marek Solarczyk of Radom, Poland, and Father Wiesław Lenartowicz, pastor of Our Lady of Częstochowa Parish, stand with refugee children served by the new Blessed Michael McGivney House in Radom. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

The visit continued with several meetings Dec. 5, including with Auxiliary Bishop Edward Kawa, who oversees the relief efforts of the Archdiocese of Lviv, and a special event at the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, where the Order has donated medical equipment. The supreme knight also met with government officials to discuss proposals for a project to clear mines and other explosive devices from areas previously held by Russian forces.

In remarks following a vespers service with Ukrainian Greek Catholic seminarians, Supreme Knight Kelly said, “Your call to be priests at this moment is a call to be a hero. You must cultivate love in a time of hate. And you must proclaim the truth that we are made for God and our hearts are restless until they rest in him.” He continued, “You are among the most important future leaders of Ukraine because you are carrying and witnessing to the faith — and it’s this witness that grounds your culture and will carry your nation through these dark times.”

The final day of the supreme knight’s visit, Dec. 6, began with a Divine Liturgy and meeting with His Beatitude Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. During his homily, Major Archbishop Shevchuk expressed gratitude to the Knights for remembering the Ukrainian people in their time of need. “Being a disciple of Christ means to know the source of all resources,” he said, adding, “May brotherhood and solidarity be the main resource and strength of the Christian community.”

Supreme Knight Kelly serves soup to internally displaced persons gathered outside the Albertine Brothers’ house in Lviv on Dec. 6. Photo by Tamino Petelinšek — Supreme Knight Kelly serves soup to internally displaced persons gathered outside the Albertine Brothers’ house in Lviv on Dec. 6. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)

After visiting various sites where the Order is helping to provide assistance, the supreme knight concluded his trip at the Roman Catholic seminary of Lviv, where local Knights operate a warehouse to distribute aid.

In closing remarks following a dinner with Knights and displaced families, Archbishop Mokrzycki said, “We are very grateful because this help reaches not only Lviv, but — thanks to the dedicated service of our Knights here who receive this help from America and our brothers from Poland — it is brought to wherever people are suffering from the war.”

Pope Leo XIV speaks with Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori.

‘We Stand Together’

Related Articles

K of C News

Visible Signs of Devotion

Visible Signs of Devotion

K of C News

CUA Chaplain Receives McGivney Medal

CUA Chaplain Receives McGivney Medal

K of C News

Distinguished by Faith in Action

Distinguished by Faith in Action

K of C News

Heralds of Hope

Heralds of Hope

K of C News

International Family of the Year Puts Faith and Charity First

International Family of the Year Puts Faith and Charity First

K of C News

‘A True Renaissance Woman’

‘A True Renaissance Woman’

K of C News

‘The Source of Our Hope’

‘The Source of Our Hope’

K of C News

‘Christ at the Center’

‘Christ at the Center’