Palm Sunday collection to benefit Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

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HOUSTON - Parishes in the Archdiocese are being asked to hold an optional second collection on Palm Sunday weekend 2024 to help the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, which benefits those affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On Palm Sunday in 2022, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, previously requested a second collection in the Archdiocese to support the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

“As a result of that collection, we were able to send almost $1,000,000 to our brothers and sisters in need,” said Cardinal DiNardo in a March 8 letter to priests. “I can personally attest to the deep gratitude expressed by Metropolitan-Archbishop Gudziak of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, on behalf of the people of Ukraine. In view of that, I too want to extend my gratitude to each of you for your support in making this possible.”

Funds collected from parish Masses on the Palm Sunday weekend of March 23 - 24, will be given to the Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. 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 buildup on Ukraine’s borders signaled an invasion. The Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund (HWF) was established in January 2024. This Fund is a continuation of the legacy of the Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the US.

Cardinal DiNardo was one of seven U.S. cardinals who pledged to continue to help Ukraine heal and recover from the ongoing conflict.

Since the start of the war, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has created a network of shelters, programs, and chaplains throughout the country who are helping to provide for the material and spiritual needs of those affected by the war, Cardinal DiNardo said.

All contributions to the fund — which totaled 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 or by trusted nonprofits partnering with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, according to OSV News.

OSV News reported that donations were applied to five focus areas of support: Internally displaced persons and refugees (now totaling 3.7 million and 6.5 million, respectively, according to the United Nation’s Displacement Tracking Matrix and the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees); medication and first aid; Church ministry; emergency food assistance, and supply chain and logistics.

Click here to make an online donation to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church support fund.