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A Chain of Charity

It was a privilege to meet my brother Knights in Poland and Ukraine and witness their works of mercy

By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

LAST MONTH, as I made a short pilgrimage to Poland and Ukraine, I witnessed the Order’s rst principle on steroids. ere I saw rsthand the charity of brother Knights and their families and the vitality of the Knights of Columbus.

I arrived in Kraków on Sept. 30 and was met by the Order’s sta there, who would be my guides throughout the visit. We hit the ground running, rst visiting the Divine Mercy Shrine and praying at the tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska, before celebrating Mass at the nearby shrine dedicated to St. John Paul II.

On Oct. 1, I visited an orphanage near Częstochowa, where children displaced by war in eastern Ukraine had been welcomed into a former retreat center. In this place, they found love. I was happy to join the Polish Knights in distributing warm winter coats through our familiar Coats for Kids program and in handing out candy and fruit at lunch. e charity of my brother Knights and their co-workers registered on the faces of these young people.

Soon I found myself at the Mercy Center at St. Wojciech Parish, where Father Ryszard, a dynamic pastor and Knights of Columbus chaplain, welcomed me into a virtual mall of charity — free clothing, shoes and other necessities, all destined for Ukrainian refugees, and even a food court run by Ukrainian women; I sampled the pierogi, and they were good! at night, we crossed the border into Ukraine with the help of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki of Lviv, the Roman Catholic state chaplain and my gracious host. e next morning, I went with the archbishop to a newly constructed Benedictine monastery and to St. John Paul II Parish, a new church built with help from the Knights of Columbus. Both had been transformed into housing for internally displaced persons. I met many who were su ering from the war and listened to their stories. A er celebrating Mass, I had the privilege of ceremonially installing the state o cers of the Ukraine State Council. Visiting with them, I heard accounts of heroic charity, including Knights who risked their lives to drive 18-wheelers lled with food and supplies into war-torn areas of Ukraine. e next day, I visited a clothing distribution center run by brother Knights and their wives, and I met elderly people for whom this center is a lifeline. A erward, I was happy to address more than 160 Ukrainian Greek Catholic seminarians, and I urged them all to become members of the Knights. I also met His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Bishop Mykhaylo Bubniy of Odessa, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic state chaplain. ey spoke with me about the atrocities the Ukrainian people are su ering, as well as their spirit of hope and resilience, and they thanked me most warmly for the support they are receiving from the Knights.

Before leaving Ukraine, I was privileged to meet and celebrate Mass with Knights of Columbus chaplains from across the country, many of whom serve as chaplains in the armed forces. Like so many people I met during my visit, these priests are courageously carrying forward their ministry amid war, without counting the cost. ey deeply appreciate the fraternal support of their brother Knights and families.

I concluded my visit in Radom, Poland, where I met with chaplains from across the country and visited a former church converted into a care package assembly site. Knights, chaplains and volunteers were pu ing together boxes that would be sent to Ukraine — and I helped as well.

All this and more is possible because both Knights and chaplains are being formed in the spirituality of Blessed Michael McGivney. Rooted in love, may we, the family of the Knights of Columbus, continue to support them in an unbroken chain of charity. ✢

Supreme Chaplain’s Challenge

A monthly reflection and practical challenge from Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

“You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Gospel for Nov. 13, Lk 21:16-19)

In this Gospel reading, Jesus speaks about the trials and persecution believers will face. We may suffer for our belief in Christ, but we will be saved if we persevere. Suffering is an inevitable part of the human condition. We see it in the faces of the poor, the afflicted and those in need all around us. May we seek to remain faithful to Christ, whatever suffering we encounter in life, and may we seek to alleviate the suffering of others.

Challenge: This month, I challenge you to fast (defined as eating no more than one full meal and two smaller meals that don’t equal a full meal) one day a week and offer up this sacrifice to grow in perseverance. Second, I challenge you to help with the Food for Families or Coats for Kids Faith in Action programs.