In Solidarity With Ukraine

WHEREAS, at the 123rd Supreme Convention held in Chicago in 2005, the late Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč, His Eminence Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, expressed his fervent desire that the Knights of Columbus be established in Ukraine to provide the Catholic men of his country the proper formation to serve the Church as lay leaders; and

WHEREAS, in May 2012, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and His Excellency Mieczysław Mokrzycki, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lviv, joined the Knights of Columbus during historic First and Second Degree ceremonies in Ukraine, conveying the message of charity and unity that has become the essential hallmark of the Order’s development in Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors established Ukraine as a territorial jurisdiction of the Order and, two years later in 2018, as a state council which today has nearly 2,800 members across 72 local councils; and

WHEREAS, on February 24, 2022, forces of the Russian Federation invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine setting off a conflict, which Pope Francis decried as an “abhorrent war,” creating the largest refugee and humanitarian crisis in Europe since the Second World War; and

WHEREAS, the next day, Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly delivered a message of hope and unity to the Knights and families of Ukraine pledging that the Supreme Council, and all brother Knights, would stand with them and announced the creation of the Ukraine Solidarity Fund which, to date, has raised more than $23 million in direct aid for Ukrainians; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Council partnered with Knights in Poland and Ukraine and immediately established Mercy Centers on the border of the two countries, which ultimately served an estimated 300,000 Ukrainian refugees who were fleeing the war; and

WHEREAS, following the immediate humanitarian crisis, Polish Knights quickly pivoted by establishing Mercy Centers in parishes throughout Poland to provide aid, shelter, and resources to the displaced; and

WHEREAS, in March 2023, Ukrainian Knights began opening their own parish-based Mercy Centers in service to their fellow Ukrainians supplementing the more than 280,000 care packages already distributed; and

WHEREAS, in the weeks following the outbreak of the war, the Order launched K of C Charity Convoys in partnership with Knights in Poland and Ukraine, which have now distributed over 8.5 million pounds of supplies across the country—including one of the first sources of international aid to reach Eastern Ukraine following the liberation of the city of Kherson in November 2022; and

WHEREAS, Ukrainian Knights have partnered with the Supreme Council to distribute wheelchairs to the disabled and launched the “Powering our Parishes” initiative to provide backup generators to local churches, ensuring communities have a warm place to gather amidst blackouts throughout the winter months, with nearly all parishes that are supported by a local council now equipped with a backup generator; and

WHEREAS, in February 2023 the Order released a documentary, titled In Solidarity with Ukraine, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the war and to continue promoting awareness of the conflict and its many ensuing humanitarian crises; and

WHEREAS, to facilitate a safer eventual return for Ukrainian families, the Knights of Columbus has partnered with expert organizations to train local, civilian minesweepers to clear landmines and other unexploded ordnances that threaten civilian populations and that are now contaminating nearly one-third of Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, in October 2022, the Supreme Chaplain made a pastoral visit to Ukraine to visit with Ukrainian Knights, assist with distributing humanitarian aid—including coats from the Order’s Coats for Kids program—and to express his prayerful solidarity with them amidst the horrors of war; and

WHEREAS, since the beginning of the conflict, the Supreme Knight has twice traveled to Ukraine to meet with brother Knights and their families to personally express the Order’s solidarity with them, including during Advent 2022 when he assisted with the distribution of more than 20,000 care packages containing food and supplies to those in need; and

WHEREAS, during private audiences with Pope Francis, the Supreme Knight has discussed the work of the Order in Ukraine and received the Holy Father’s heartfelt support for its efforts, extolling all Knights to continue this important mission; and

WHEREAS, in March 2022, the Order responded to a call to prayer from Pope Francis by promoting a novena in anticipation of the Holy Father’s Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and continuing to beg her maternal intercession for all the people of Ukraine and the region, and for an end to the conflict.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Knights of Columbus reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they courageously confront the ongoing conflict and widespread humanitarian crisis; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Knights of Columbus calls for an immediate end to all hostilities and for full and unfettered access to humanitarian assistance for all affected civilians, especially children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and the most vulnerable; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we offer deep appreciation to our brother Knights in Poland, who have provided countless hours of support to the Ukrainian people by responding to the humanitarian crisis, just as Knights have responded to similar periods of unrest and war for over 140 years, through charity on the ground that provides direct aid and comfort to those most impacted and most in need; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we commend our brother Knights in Ukraine for their unwavering commitment to Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism, amidst the perils of the present conflict, during which they have answered the call of Cardinal Husar to “raise the spirituality” of their people and to “show them the real face of the Church…as it should be;” and

FURTHER RESOLVED,that we commend the brother Knights, local councils, and generous donors that have contributed to the Ukraine Solidarity Fund thereby making possible the many programs and services that are responding to the grave humanitarian crises facing the Ukrainian people; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call on all people and nations of goodwill to respond in whatever way they are able to support the suffering people of Ukraine; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we recommit ourselves to answering the call of Pope Francis to pray for peace in Ukraine, and across all of Eastern Europe, and to continue providing support to those impacted by the conflict through our Ukraine Solidarity Fund and through the ongoing daily corporal and spiritual works of mercy performed by our brother Knights throughout Eastern Europe.

In Solidarity With Ukraine

Resolutions