Hope Through Sport

Ukrainian children wounded by war find joy and friendship at a Knights of Columbus athletics tournament

By Solomiia Karpiv

Oct. 12, 2024

Youriy Maletskiy was speaking about Corat the Ukraine State Convention in Ivano-Frankivsk last May when air raid sirens went off, urging everyone to head to shelters — a common occurrence in many Ukrainian cities.

“I think we should stay and talk about Cor,” said Maletskiy, who was concluding his term as Ukraine’s state deputy. “It’s important.” Not a single person left the room

Cor, the Knights of Columbus initiative bringing men together for prayer, formation and fraternity, launched in 2023 and was adopted by more than 600 councils in its first year. In Ukraine, the initiative is now helping to strengthen men in faith at a time it is desperately needed.

One Knight who learned about Cor at the convention was Deputy Grand Knight Vasyl Lyakhovych of Holy Martyr Josaphat Parish Council 18299 in Holyn, a town 42 km (26 miles) west of Ivano-Frankivsk. As soon as he got home, Lyakhovych organized one of the first Cor events in the country: About 20 Ukrainian Catholic men in Holyn — Knights and other parishioners — began meeting on holidays after Divine Liturgy to read and discuss Scripture using the Order’s Men of the Word Bible study.

“I have read the New Testament five or six times in my life, and the entire Bible several times,” said Lyakhovych, who serves as the council’s evangelization and faith formation director. “But with this guidebook, I am getting to know the Bible more.”

“Every time we meet, it is so interesting,” said Father Anatolii Kozak, the council’s chaplain. “Nicely dressed in embroidered shirts with sashes, the men gather in the catechetical class, sit down and take the holy Scriptures in their hands. We, the chaplains, only observe and explain something if necessary.”

The introduction of Cor is especially important because it counters a stereotype in Ukraine that only women attend Bible meetings, said Yaroslav Duda, Council 18299’s chancellor and Lyakhovych’s assistant in planning Cor. Duda recalled joining a previous parish Bible group and finding that of the 40 to 50 participants, he was one of only four or five men.

“When men see a format specifically for them, they are more likely to join in greater numbers,” he said.

A second council in the Ivano-Frankivsk region has also launched Cor, and District Deputy Myroslav Mazur expects two more to start by the end of the year.

“With the blessing of the Church authorities, we can expand Cor beyond the Knights, making it a catalyst for evangelization and creating new councils in parishes where there are not yet Knights,” Mazur said.

The next Ukrainian council that will take on Cor is St. Nicholas Wonderworker Council 17659 in Bar — a city in west central Ukraine — which is about to start its first events.

“Cor can be introduced at any time; there is no expiration date. When the community is ready, then you start,” said District Deputy Viacheslav Maidan, who hopes to inspire more councils to implement Cor soon. “Meetings can be held independently of the priest, who is often busy. Instead, the priest can delegate the duties of leading the group to the responsible Knight.”

Maidan emphasized that Cor is an opportunity for men to actively engage in questions of faith. “This is a dialogue,” he said. “You often listen to a priest’s homily, but there is no option to give feedback. Here you can read together, share and reflect.”

In Holyn, Council 18299 is already planning next steps.

“We want to finish the 12 sessions provided in the Men of the Word guide and then take up another book,” said Lyakhovych, who looks forward to reading With a Father’s Heart, a K of C study guide based on Patris Corde, Pope Francis’ apostolic letter about St. Joseph. “The men are very happy, and they are the ones who want to continue.”

While this is only the beginning of Cor in Ukraine, Father Kozak can already see the fruits.

“It is difficult to rally men in general now, because there are so few due to the war,” said Father Kozak. “But these Knights pray, read the Scriptures and evangelize — they are titans!”

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SOLOMIIA KARPIV writes from Lviv, Ukraine.