Archdiocese Ukrainian Aid Fund

Online donations for the Archdiocese Ukrainian Aid Fund

General

• As of 2020, Ukraine’s total population was about 44 million
• The number of Catholics in Ukraine is estimated at 4 – 5 million people or 9% of the population.
  • The majority of Catholics in Ukraine belong to the Greek Ukrainian Catholic Church, the largest Eastern Catholic Church in the world.

 
Current war/humanitarian crisis

• February 24: Russia initiated military action against Ukraine with attacks throughout the country, including in the capital city, Kyiv.
• February 26: Pope Francis speaks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone.
  • Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken out against the war and has called for the end of the destruction of Ukraine.
• March 22: The United Nations estimates that 3.6 million people have fled Ukraine
  • Poland has received the most refugees, with an estimated 2.1 million
  • Romania has received an estimated 555,000+ refugees from Ukraine
  • Moldova has received an estimated 371,000+refugees from Ukraine
  • Hungary has received an estimated 324,000+ refugees from Ukraine
• United Nations estimates that 6.5 million people are displaced within Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
• According to the head of the UN’s refugee agency, this is the fasting-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war.
• The UN estimates 953 civilians have been killed and 1,557 injured as of March 22.
  • This data may not reflect the actual number of civilian casualties, which could be considerably higher.
• March 22: Pope Francis speaks for a second time by phone with Ukraine President Zelensky.
• March 25: Pope Francis has invited bishops worldwide, along with their priests, to join him in the prayer for peace and in the consecration and entrustment of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Holy Father will make the prayer – the Solemnity of the Annunciation – in St. Peter’s Basilica scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Rome time (11 a.m. CDT). Pope Francis’ action came in response to a request from the Latin-rite bishops of Ukraine.
  • Cardinal Cupich will commemorate the Holy Father’s Act of Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at noon Mass on Friday, March 25 at Holy Name Cathedral. The entire presbyterate of the archdiocese has been invited to attend this Mass, which will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/0YyHRpwjxT8. 

Archdiocese Ukrainian Aid Fund

• Cardinal Cupich will announce the Archdiocese Ukrainian Aid Fund at his televised Mass on Sunday, March 27.
• The fund will support humanitarian efforts as a result of the war in Ukraine.
• Make online donations at: www.archchicago.org/ukraine 
• Checks can be mailed to The Archdiocese of Chicago, Office of Stewardship and Development, 835 N. Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60601.
• Please make checks payable to “Archdiocese of Chicago” and include a notation for “Ukrainian Aid Fund” in the memo line.