During two charity events held in 2026, the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia raised $269,007 to support the formation and work of new priests and lay leaders. An additional $250,000 will be provided by three anonymous donors through a matching gift program; these funds are designated for the Fund for Healing the Wounds of War in Ukraine. In total, the funds raised and the matching contribution amount to $519,007.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
“Your gift works twice over. You help the Church grow here, and that same generosity brings aid to people in Ukraine,” emphasized Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak.
The charity events took place on October 3 at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey in Whippany and on October 17 at Cathedral Hall in Philadelphia, under the theme “Growing the Good News.”
This year, the Archeparchy set a unified goal for both events: to raise $250,000 for the “New Priest and Personnel Initiative.” The total raised across both events—$269,007—exceeded this goal.
All these funds are dedicated to the formation and support of priests and lay leaders. Currently, 50 priests are actively serving in the Archeparchy; 36 of them were born in Ukraine, and 14 in the United States.
The statement notes that inviting priests from Ukraine entails not only the costs of their training but also funding for their relocation, immigration procedures, and visa processing.
“Buildings require maintenance, and programs require budgets—but ministry requires people: a parish needs a priest, a young person needs someone to walk alongside them, and a new immigrant needs someone to welcome them,” noted Metropolitan Borys.
Additionally, the Archeparchy announced that three anonymous benefactors have agreed to match donations raised, up to a total of $250,000. These funds will be directed to the Fund for Healing the Wounds of War in Ukraine.
It is noted that in 2024 and 2025, an anonymous donor matched $100,000 raised during an event in Philadelphia. This year, the commitment has been increased to $250,000 and extended to cover both events, with two additional benefactors joining the initiative.
The Fund for Healing the Wounds of War in Ukraine supports rehabilitation programs, emergency food supplies, military chaplains, and summer camps for children. Since its establishment in January 2022, the Fund has directed $12.1 million to Ukraine to support over 300 projects.
During both evenings, a silent auction of Ukrainian sacred art was also held, raising an additional $14,150. The auction featured works from the ICONART gallery in Lviv and the Radruzh Iconography School at the Ukrainian Catholic University, pieces by the late Khrystyna Dokhvat, as well as works by Ukrainian-American artists Andriy Maday and Khrystyna Sai. Among the lots was an icon of the Mother of God painted on glass, created by a 14-year-old girl from Ternopil who had participated in a summer camp funded by the Foundation. In total, the Foundation supported 17 such camps this year.
“The Archeparchy is convinced that before asking for help, it must earn the trust of its supporters—and this trust begins with honesty, openness, and transparency,” emphasized Sofia Zakharchuk, Chief of Staff to the Metropolitan.
Background
The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, led by Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak, comprises 62 parishes and two missions across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It serves as the metropolitan see for the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolia of Philadelphia, which encompasses four eparchies within the United States.
Photo: ukrcatholic.org
Author: Inna Mikhno