My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As we begin our Lenten journey, I urge you to pray in a very special way to pray for a peaceful resolution between Russia and Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainians have already been killed and the toll is rising by the hour.
I was very pained to watch videos of the situation in Ukraine; families are now hiding in bomb shelters. However, there was one particular video that moved my heart. a young Russian soldier who was captured as a prisoner of war was given a sandwich and a cup of tea by Ukrainian citizens, and an opportunity to call his family to tell them that he is ok. This truly shows us that humanity is still alive and God is slowly working his way into the hearts of people.
I urge you to pray this prayer during this season of Lent so that there is a peaceful resolution in that region:
O God of love, compassion and healing look on our broken world filled with incredible hatred, violence and pain. We ask you to spread your eternal light of peace over Ukraine and Russia. O God of peace, we ask you, in your compassion, to melt the hearts ad minds of the leaders of Russia and bring an end to the violence which is causing so much death, pain and suffering in Ukraine. We also pray for the people who died and were injured; especially for the families who lost their loved ones in this war. May their families be comforted by your love and may your peace be restored in that region.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.
+Bishop Alwyn Barreto