Bishop Edward Malesic will preside at a prayer service for peace in Ukraine 3-4 p.m. March 6 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 1007 Superior Ave., in downtown Cleveland. The prayer service will be livestreamed on the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland website.
Event organizers invited everyone to join in person at the cathedral or to watch the livestream to pray for an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to pray for lasting peace there. They also will pray for all who have been forced to flee their homes, for the children, the elderly, those who stayed behind to defend their country, for those who lost their lives and for all who love them.
While praying for peace, event organizers said it is important to continue to do everything possible to support the survival and dignity of Ukrainian families. Donations to support the humanitarian aid of those who fled Ukraine, as well as those who are displaced internally, can be made through Catholic Relief Services, which has been sending staff and resources to support Catholic partners Caritas Ukraine, Caritas Poland, Caritas Moldova and Caritas Romania to address growing needs. CRS has been supporting work in Ukraine since fighting initially broke out in 2014.
The Church’s initial support of displaced families includes, but is not limited to:
- Food distribution and hygiene supplies
- Support with reception centers at Caritas offices, train stations and transit hubs
- Transportation services
- Support with evacuation centers, which provide shelter, food and counseling services for displaced families
- Evacuations of vulnerable children from conflict areas to centers in safe zones
Faithful throughout the diocese also will have an opportunity to provide financial assistance to the war victims in Ukraine as well as to support other projects in Central and Eastern Europe through the annual Collection to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. The collection is sanctioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
This collection is taken up in diocesan parishes throughout the Lenten season. Parishioners are asked to consider making a generous donation to this important cause.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 5 million Ukrainians could be forced to flee the country if fighting persists, while millions of others could be displaced internally. Poland, Moldova and Romania already are seeing considerable upticks in the number of refugees crossing their borders. Poland has received nearly 300,000 refugees and is preparing for many more. Regionally, as many as 800,000 people have fled Ukraine to date.
On Ash Wednesday, March 2, Pope Francis invited all to observe a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Ukraine. The diocesan prayer service on March 6 is in conjunction with his request.
CNS photo/David Delgado/Reuters