As Father Vasyl Sivinskyi swung open the metal gates of East Baltimore’s St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church on a misty March 17 morning, Mary Ellen Beaty-O’Ferrall was already waiting for him with four large boxes.
Horrified by a stream of television news images of civilians being bombed by Russian invaders in Ukraine, the Catonsville resident rallied neighbors to fill containers with socks, underwear, lip balm, bandages, soap, medical supplies and more to help the embattled nation.
St. Michael, part of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, has been collecting goods for Ukraine since the start of the war.
“In my lifetime, I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Beaty-O’Ferrall, a non-Catholic. “Watching families lose children is just horrible. I felt like I had to do something.”
Father Sivinskyi said Beaty-O’Ferrall isn’t alone. His parish, made up of about 120 families, has seen people of all faiths come together in support of the people of Ukraine.
Carrying boxes of donations beneath the gleaming golden onion domes of his ornate church, the pastor said he has been overwhelmed by gestures of love from the community. His church hall was filled with all kinds of donated items, including camouflage clothing, military boots, antibacterial ointments, pain relievers, children’s books, backpacks and kitchen supplies.
The parish has also raised thousands of dollars by making and selling hundreds of pirohy (pierogi). The funds were sent to the Archeparchy of Philadelphia to support humanitarian outreach in Ukraine. Some Baltimore families have also agreed to take in war refugees from Ukraine.
In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, parishioners donated more than $115,600 to a special national collection for the Church in Eastern Europe, which this year has a focus on Ukraine. That figure, which includes more than $73,300 donated through an online appeal, will likely grow as more parishes report their donations.
“The American people are a special people,” said Father Sivinskyi, who is also pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Curtis Bay, a faith community made up of about 60 families. “They love Ukraine.”
Power of prayer
Growing up in Ukraine under Soviet domination, Father Sivinskyi studied for the priesthood in an underground seminary while working as a professional trumpeter. Since the most recent invasion of his homeland, he said he has had little sleep worrying about his own family members and the loved ones of many of his parishioners who live in Ukraine.
“We pray to God all the time,” Father Sivinskyi said. “What (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is doing is equal to what Hitler did.”
Archbishop William E. Lori showed his solidarity with the Ukrainian Catholic community during a Feb. 27 visit to St. Michael that was followed by a Feb. 28 visit by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. Several Baltimore priests have concelebrated liturgies at St. Michael and a group of seminarians from St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park visited the parish March 20.
“It’s not just unjust,” Archbishop Lori said of the Russian war on Ukraine. “It’s evil.”
The archbishop urged all Catholics to pray the rosary for Ukraine March 25, the same day he will lead a liturgy at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland that will include a special consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as requested by Pope Francis of all the bishops in the world. The Holy Father will lead a consecration from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome that same day.
Father Sivinskyi said there is real power in prayer.
“I think God will hear us,” he said.
The pastor noted that many St. Michael parishioners have spent the last several weeks communicating with loved ones in Ukraine via phone calls, email and social media. They have heard firsthand horror stories of the devastation caused by the invasion.
Church leaders at St. Michael said donated blue and yellow flowers are being placed in a vase in front of an icon of Mary, along with a note asking that Mary shield Ukrainian soldiers. A Baltimore flower shop owned by a Ukrainian woman has been selling blue and gold bouquets – the national colors of Ukraine – to raise money for relief efforts.
“Stalin used to say, ‘No people, no problem,’” Father Sivinskyi said. “Putin is saying the same thing. We have to stop him.”
The pastor’s sentiments are echoed in a large banner outside the church that proclaims in capital letters: “STOP PUTIN. STOP WAR. PRAY FOR UKRAINE.”
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
How to help Ukraine
There are many faith-based charities helping to alleviate the humanitarian crisis brought on by the war in Ukraine. Here are a few places where monetary and/or physical donations may be made:
Catholic Relief Services (based in Baltimore)
bitly.com/crs-helpukraine
St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church (Baltimore)
bitly.com/stmichael-helpukraine
Knights of Columbus Ukraine Solidarity Fund
bitly.com/koc-helpukraine
Catholic Near East Welfare Association
bitly.com/cnewa-helpukraine
Pontifical Mission Society/Missio
bitly.com/missio-helpukraine
Read More Crisis in Ukraine
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