Urgent prayers for Ukraine

By Catherine Sheehan

As Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine continues Archbishop Julian has called for Tasmania’s Catholics to commit to prayer and fasting during the season of Lent to bring about a peaceful resolution to the situation.

“Please join with me in praying for the people who have died or been injured as well as those being displaced by the fighting,” Archbishop Julian said.

“During the Lenten Season I would ask that all Catholics in Tasmania make a special effort through fasting and prayer to ask Our Heavenly Mother to intercede on our behalf so that there might be a swift end to this conflict.”

Archbishop Julian said he was “deeply saddened” by the conflict in Ukraine, describing it as “a terrible tragedy unfolding before us”.

“We continue to hold the Ukrainian people up in prayer and we pray that their rights and freedom will be respected and that peace will be restored to their country.

“The Church in Tasmania stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian community of Tasmania in their anxiety for the wellbeing of their country and for their relatives and friends who reside in the Ukraine.”

A special liturgy of Supplication to the Mother of God for the situation in Ukraine was held at the Ukrainian Catholic Chapel of the Transfiguration in Moonah on Sunday 6 March.

Fr Justin McDonnell, who celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Chapel once a month, said the local Ukrainian Catholic community was feeling “immense worry and distress” about the on-going conflict.

“But also an immense sense of solidarity, primarily with those brothers and sisters in Ukraine, both Greek Catholic, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and various other confessions,” Fr McDonnell said.

“And there’s a very strong sense amongst Ukrainian communities in Tasmania, but also everywhere else in this country of being united in the strongest way with our brothers and sisters over in Ukraine.”

Local Ukrainian Catholic, Anton Milhal, attended the liturgy in Moonah and said he hoped the war would soon de-escalate.

“I would prefer it if nonviolent resistance could continue in Ukraine. So I have some hope that the heat of the war might be over reasonably quickly.”

“And it might go into a phase of more nonviolent resistance. Then a lot of people’s lives in Ukraine will be saved.”

Fr McDonnell encouraged those wanting to help in some way to contribute to Caritas Australia’s Ukraine Appeal.

“People are very much encouraged to gives alms for the relief of suffering in Ukraine right now. That would be a wonderful thing to do.”

“And I encourage people to continue through the Lenten journey to offer a prayer for Ukraine, and to ask Our Lady of Fatima in a special way to bless Ukraine and to bring her through this, and to also pray for the conversion of Russia and for the softening of hard hearts and the healing of wounds.”

To donate to Caritas Australia’s Ukraine Appeal: https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/ukraine/