CHICAGO — DePaul University and the Opus Prize Foundation announced tonight that Rev. Vitaliy Novak, C.M., founder of Depaul Ukraine, has been named the 2026 Opus Prize laureate. The foundation awarded $1 million to his organization to advance the humanitarian work serving people in Ukraine. The announcement was made during the 2026 Opus Prize Awards Ceremony and Celebration at DePaul's Holtschneider Performance Center.

The Opus Prize is an annual faith-based award recognizing individuals and organizations whose work addresses some of the world's most persistent social challenges.

Fr. Novak founded Depaul Ukraine in 2007 to support children experiencing homelessness. The organization expanded its mission dramatically following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, providing humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and support for displaced families. Fr. Novak was unable to attend the ceremony because he is ministering to soldiers serving in the Ukrainian armed forces. He shared remarks in a recorded video played at the ceremony.

“People ask me, ‘Do you see miracles on the front line?’ Yes, I do. This announcement and this news is another miracle of God for me,” said Fr. Novak. “I am now very happy because I know more people will receive hope and help through acts of charity.”

DePaul University hosted this year’s events and programming. The 2026 theme, "Uplifting the Dignity of All," reflects the shared commitment of DePaul University and the Opus Prize Foundation to advancing human dignity through faith-driven service. 

“Fr. Novak reminds us that human dignity is not something we bestow upon another person. It is already present,” said Robert L. Manuel, president of DePaul University. “Our responsibility is to recognize it, honor it, and build a world in which every person can exercise the gifts and agency God has given them.”

Earlier this year, a team of DePaul student, faculty and staff ambassadors traveled to Romania to meet with representatives of Depaul Ukraine and learn about the organization's work. The Opus Prize Foundation board selected the laureate. 

“Fr. Novak and the team at Depaul Ukraine embody the spirit of the Opus Prize through their courageous, faith-filled response to extraordinary human suffering,” said Dan McGinty, executive director of the Opus Prize Foundation. “Their work demonstrates how compassion, service and a steadfast commitment to human dignity can transform lives and bring hope to communities facing unimaginable challenges.”

The ceremony also honored the other finalists, the Rev. David Kelly, C.PP.S., and Nontsasa Nyovane. The Opus Prize Foundation awarded $100,000 each to support their organizations. Fr. Kelly serves as executive director of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, which promotes restorative justice and community-building among youth and families affected by violence in the Back of the Yards and Englewood neighborhoods in Chicago. Nyovane cares for orphan children and survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence in Khayelitsha, a township outside of Cape Town, South Africa, through after school care, parenting workshops, community gardens, employment trainings, and more.

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