Helping Ukraine

Bohorodychne Ukraine church, destroyed by war.

The war in Ukraine started two years ago. The tragedy and devastation is reprehensible and utterly condemnable. On February 20 this year, the Ukrainian Catholic bishops of the U.S. announced that their Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund has been restructured as the "Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund." The fund is aimed at "healing physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds inflicted by the criminal Russian invasion," the four bishops said in a report accompanying the announcement. They are: Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia, of Stamford, Connecticut; of the Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago; of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio. In the report, the U.S. Ukrainian bishops said they were especially grateful to the seven Cardinals of the Catholic Church in the US - Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of San Diego, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, and Cardinal Joseph William Tobin of Newark - who have graciously agreed to serve as patrons of the new fund. The Metropolia fund, representing the four eparchies of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S., was established in January 2022 as Russia's troop build-up on Ukraine's borders signalled an invasion. All contributions to the fund -- which totalled more than $7.5 million from some 6,400 donors, with $7.2 million so far distributed -- were dedicated to humanitarian projects operated by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The donations, whether from individuals or families, students in Catholic and public schools, parishes or dioceses across the nation, fraternal organizations and companies, have been transformative. The bishops wrote in their report. "Dear friends, you have walked alongside priests ministering near the frontlines and supported the network of parishes of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. … You brought comfort, compassion, and restored hope." Ukraine has reported more than 125,834 war crimes committed by Russia to date in Ukraine since February 2022.