Bringing Hope to Kharkiv and Donetsk

The war in Ukraine continues. Homes are damaged, families are displaced, and people in frontline regions continue to face uncertainty every day.

But amid this reality, the Church remains present.

In Kharkiv and Donetsk, Ukrainian Catholic churches are not only places where people come to pray. They have become places where those affected by war can find food, medicine, clothing, practical assistance, human connection, and hope.

This September, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton is asking our faithful and wider community to help us strengthen that mission through our September 2026 Campaign: Humanitarian Aid for Kharkiv and Donetsk.

Our goal is to raise $60,000 by the end of September to support humanitarian assistance for people living through war and displacement.

The Need Remains Urgent

Recent reports from Donetsk show how quickly life can change for families living near the frontline.

On September 6 alone, Donetsk Regional Police recorded 1,034 shellings along the frontline and residential areas. Seven civilians were injured, and 23 civilian properties were damaged, including 12 residential buildings.

Behind every report of a damaged home are people who suddenly need somewhere to go and someone to turn to.

The humanitarian challenge in Kharkiv is equally significant. More than 520,000 displaced people are currently in the Kharkiv region, including more than 200,000 in Kharkiv city.

But statistics tell only part of the story.

When People Need Help, They Come to the Church

Every Thursday, approximately 1,500–2,000 people gather at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Kharkiv seeking food, medicine, clothing, shoes and other necessities.

Think about what that means: every week, thousands of people walk through the doors of one Ukrainian Catholic church because they know there are people there ready to receive them.

Some have been displaced from their homes. Some have lost their belongings. Some are elderly or vulnerable. Others are trying to care for their children and families while living through the uncertainty of war.

They come looking for practical help, but the Church can offer something more as well: a place where they are not alone.

Throughout the war, Ukrainian Catholic clergy, religious, volunteers, and parish communities have continued serving people in affected areas. Churches have become places where humanitarian assistance can reach those who need it and where people can find community and spiritual support during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

For victims of attacks and displaced families, a church can become a place of hope.

God Helps Us Through One Another

Our Christian faith reminds us that love for our neighbour is not simply something we speak about. It is something we are called to live.

Very often, God's care reaches a person through the hands of another person — through someone who brings food, provides medicine, offers warmth, welcomes a displaced family, or simply refuses to leave another person alone in their suffering.

That is why humanitarian assistance and the mission of the Church are so closely connected.

A blanket or a heater may seem like a simple thing. For someone facing a Ukrainian winter after losing their home, it can mean warmth and safety.

A package of food can mean that a displaced family has one less worry that week.

A generator can help a community continue serving people when essential infrastructure is damaged.

And every act of generosity carries another message:

You have not been forgotten.

Our Eparchy Is Part of a Larger Church Response

The Eparchy of Edmonton is not responding alone.

Ukrainian Catholic eparchies across Canada and the United States are joining this humanitarian effort, with different eparchies focusing on affected regions and identified needs in Ukraine. Together, our Church in North America is responding to the suffering of our brothers and sisters with prayer, solidarity and practical assistance.

Here in the Eparchy of Edmonton, our September campaign focuses on humanitarian assistance for Kharkiv and Donetsk.

Our goal is:

$60,000

These funds will help provide essential humanitarian assistance, including:

Food • Medicine • Blankets • Heaters • Generators • Other Essential Supplies

Our Eparchy is working with CNEWA — Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a trusted humanitarian partner, to support urgent humanitarian needs and Church-led relief efforts on the ground.

In this way, our parishes here in Canada become connected with the people walking through church doors in Ukraine looking for help.

Their suffering may be thousands of kilometres away, but our ability to respond is much closer.

Help Us Bring Hope to Them

There is still time to be part of this campaign.

Our goal is to raise $60,000 by the end of September, and every contribution brings us closer.

Your donation is more than a number added to a fundraising total. Together with the gifts of others, it becomes practical assistance for people facing displacement, destruction and uncertainty.

Help us bring hope to the people who are turning to the Church for help.

Donate Today

Donate online through the Eparchy of Edmonton and select:

“September 2026 Campaign: Kharkiv Donetsk Aid”

Donate to the September 2026 Campaign

You can also make your donation through your local parish or by cheque through the Pastoral Centre. Please indicate:

“September 2026 Campaign: Kharkiv Donetsk Aid”

To learn more about the campaign, the situation in Kharkiv and Donetsk, and our humanitarian partnership, read our original campaign announcement:

September 2026 Campaign: Humanitarian Aid for Kharkiv and Donetsk

The Church is there. The people are coming for help. Let us help the Church continue to welcome them with hope.

Please donate today. 💙💛