Rosary group’s fundraiser for Ukraine invokes St. Michael

St. Michael the Archangel is at the heart of a fundraiser for the people of Ukraine, organized by an online group that prays the rosary daily through the Zoom (https://catholicvoiceomaha.com/begun-during-pandemic-virtual-rosary-has-helped-participants-weather-lifes-ups-and-downs/).

For a suggested minimum donation of $50, people can purchase an 8-by-10 photo (11–by-14 with the frame) of the St. Michael statue that stands prominently in Independence Square in the capital city of Kyiv. A portion of the donation will cover the cost of the image, with the rest going to relief and recovery efforts.

The photo can serve as a reminder to pray to St. Michael for the protection of Ukraine, said Scott Aurit, a member of the online prayer group.

St. Michael is considered a protector for the nation and Kyiv. Devotion to the saint dates to the Golden-Domed Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel, built from 1108 to 1113.  Although the USSR destroyed the monastery in 1936, it was rebuilt in 2000. The statue was created and installed in 2001.

A statue of St. Michael the Archangel stands over the capital of Kyiv in Ukraine. St. Michael holds a special place in the hearts of Ukrainians. COURTESY PHOTO

The saint has also been featured prominently on the city’s coat of arms since the 17th century.  

The Knights of Columbus chapter at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha is handling the donations, which will be distributed through the national Knights of Columbus Solidarity Fund for humanitarian relief efforts and a private foundation being established to assist with reconstruction after the war. More information can be found at https://forms.gle/vBMb4ewvKfjza7ab6.