Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore visited Ukraine Oct. 19-21 to meet with victims of the ongoing war, to see firsthand the Knights’ work to serve those in dire need, and to assure Ukrainians of the Order’s continued support.
The supreme chaplain’s journey highlighted the core mission of the Knights of Columbus, rooted in the vision of Blessed Michael McGivney, and its founding principles of unity, charity, fraternity and patriotism. He reflected on those principles during Mass at the Cathedral of St. Alexander of Kyiv on the first day of the trip.
“We must remember that the unity Christ calls us to is not simply a theoretical concept but a living reality. In times of suffering, unity becomes our greatest strength,” Archbishop Lori said in his homily. “Here in Ukraine, we see this unity vividly in the work of organizations like the Knights of Columbus, who are providing incredible support to those affected by the war. Their work is a testament to the Gospel values of charity, unity and fraternity.”
Mass in Kyiv was followed by a meeting with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, papal nuncio to Ukraine, and local church leaders. Archbishop Lori then departed for Bucha, about 18 miles (30 km) northwest of the capital, where he joined Knights from Blessed Nicholas Charnetsky Council 16890 in nearby Irpin in distributing coats to children of fallen soldiers.
“One of the things the Knights do to bring a little bit of cheer and a little bit of goodness is to provide warm winter coats for young people,” Archbishop Lori explained to families at the distribution. “I’m very happy to work with the Knights of Columbus in Ukraine and to be able to present you with those warm winter coats, thanks to their generosity.”
The region of Bucha has been particularly affected by the war. Russian forces took Bucha in the early days of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. When they withdrew weeks later, several hundred civilians, including children, were found dead; some had been tortured or sexually assaulted. Bucha is now dotted with monuments commemorating the victims. Archbishop Lori and his delegation stopped to pray at the memorial near St. Andrew the First-Called Church, where more than 100 Ukrainians were buried in a mass grave.
On Saturday evening, the archbishop was able to meet widows and orphans of the war during a dinner organized by the Knights. This gathering, which included prayer, a shared meal and the presentation of gift baskets to the women and children, reflected the Knights’ long-standing support for the families of those who have given their lives in service to their country.
The supreme chaplain invited those families to turn to Father McGivney as an intercessor, describing his particular care for the vulnerable and the abandoned.
“For those of you who have lost loved ones, who are carrying the heavy burden of grief and loneliness, Blessed Michael McGivney’s life speaks to you,” said Archbishop Lori in his address to the gathered guests. “He reminds us that we are called to hope — not a blind hope that ignores the reality of suffering, but a Christian hope that looks beyond it.”
On Sunday, Oct. 20, Archbishop Lori celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv alongside Bishop Mykhaylo Bubniy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Odesa, who is state chaplain of the country’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Knights.
In his homily, Archbishop Lori spoke again of hope and faith.
“This war may try to destroy your homes, your communities and your peace, but it cannot destroy your identity as the temple of the living God,” he said. “You are his people, and he walks with you in every step of this difficult journey.”
After the Mass, the delegation prayed at the tomb of Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, the revered head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from 2001 to 2011, who died in 2017. The cardinal was instrumental in bringing the Order to Ukraine in 2013.
The supreme chaplain spent his last day in Ukraine, Oct. 21, in the Lviv region, where he visited several charitable works — including St. Clemens Church, where the Knights plan to open McGivney House, a resource center for community members in need, and a cluster of modular homes for internally displaced families in Briukhovychi.
He also visited the Field of Mars military cemetery in Lviv to pray for Ukrainian soldiers who have lost their lives.
“As I walked past one grave after the other, the enormity of this war began to dawn on me,” he commented later.
In Lviv, Archbishop Lori formally presented an ambulance to Bishop Bubniy on behalf of the Knights of Columbus. This gift is destined to serve the hospital in Chornomorsk, Ukraine, which is in great need of assistance because of the lack of medical equipment, including ambulances.
“This ambulance is more than just a vehicle — it is a symbol of hope and compassion, a testament to the unwavering support we offer to those who are suffering,” the supreme chaplain said. “We pray that this gift will bring healing, save lives and offer comfort to those in need.”
The ambulance was received with gratitude by hospital director Serhij Soltyk, also present that day.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Knights of Columbus for their tremendous support,” Soltyk said. “Your commitment to providing help to those in need — whether through medical aid or moral support — demonstrates the depth of your compassion and the strength of your mission. This ambulance will be an essential tool for our hospital, helping us save lives and deliver medical assistance to those who need it most.”
At the conclusion of his visit, Archbishop Lori met with more than 60 K of C chaplains and members of the state council, and other guests, listening to testimonies of the courageous work of the Ukrainian Knights and chaplains in times of war.
“I came to Ukraine on behalf of our Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly simply to tell you that the whole Order remembers,” said the archbishop to the gathered Knights. “We do not forget. … I simply wanted to come to reaffirm the commitment of the Order to all of the projects and all of the needs of the people in Ukraine.”
Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki of Lviv, who was present at the meeting, thanked the supreme chaplain for his prayerful support.
“I want to express my gratitude to the supreme chaplain, Archbishop William Lori, for his visit,” Archbishop Mokrzycki said. “This is very important not only for us chaplains of the Knights of Columbus, but also for our Ukrainian Church in general, and for our lay brothers. Such a presence is very important, because it reminds everyone that the war goes on.”