CHARLOTTE — The Ukrainian people are already experiencing Lent – suffering on a scale not imaginable only a short time ago. In response, all people of goodwill must pray for peace, contact their leaders, and give humanitarian aid to Ukraine as war rages in the Eastern European country.
That was the message from Bishop Bohdan Danylo, leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church for North Carolina, during a visit to Charlotte Feb. 26.
“We are a people of prayer,” the bishop said as he urged people to pray for peace in Ukraine. And, he added, “Let us ask the authorities to do as much as they humanly can.”
The bishop noted that Lent begins in just a few days – a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
“Today, on the stage of the world, Ukraine needs more help than anyone else,” he said.
The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat was in Charlotte for a previously-scheduled pastoral visit to local parishes. The Ohio-based eparchy, or diocese, encompasses 11 states including the Carolinas.
Bishop Bohdan noted that just two weeks ago, he crossed the same border into Poland from Ukraine that tens of thousands of refugees are trying to cross today, with lines backed up for miles. What took him 10 minutes to cross is now taking people hours, if not days, he said.
He praised Ukrainians’ resistance to the Russian invasion and defense of their democracy, and he criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for provoking the conflict.
“It’s a war between David and Goliath,” he said. “But if you remember, who won that war? David, who was fighting for principles. Ukraine is fighting for those principles.”
This Lent, the bishop said, suffering for the Ukrainian people is “no longer just theoretical,” he said.
“Perhaps moments like this,” he said, are “a reminder for us to take faith seriously, to ask ourselves what is important in life. Is it the pursuit of another house, is it a new car? One day, each of us sooner or later will have to come to the time of golden age, and ask ourselves: ‘What did I do in my life? What is my contribution to society?’”
He continued, “We as a Church like to talk about the cross. We are preaching the cross. But none of us wants to suffer, because it’s not natural to us humans to suffer. But when you experience suffering, you understand others better, because you know what they are going through. You understand the human pain, and most of the time, you are kinder and more loving.”
He urged people to pray and also to follow the words of Jesus, recalling the parable of the sheep and the goals described in the Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46:
“He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
“We always, American society, are compassionate to those who are less fortunate,” always willing to help in the face of tragedy, Bishop Bohdan said.
He added that he is afraid for his relatives in Ukraine, and he became emotional as he described the connections he has there.
The bishop oversees one of the Church’s largest seminaries in Ukraine, with hundreds of seminarians.
“This week as the war started,” he said, “those seminarians had to leave. They went back to their fathers and mothers, and since they are of age that they can be called to defend, maybe the one who this morning was praying in a chapel tomorrow will be standing with a rifle and trying to defend the land.”
He also described seeing a photo in the news of a young girl holding a teddy bear and her brother saluting as a convoy of Ukrainian tanks passed by.
“Those soldiers are not going to Russia. They are going to protect those kids,” he said.
“We know (how) to stop this. Ask for cease fire, and let’s talk. I believe we can still talk and find a peaceful solution,” he urged.
Bishop Bohdan’s calls for peace and prayers on Saturday echoed those of Pope Francis, the U.S. Catholic bishops and the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church worldwide.
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement, “In times of trouble, we call on the tender mercy of God ... to guide our feet to the way of peace. May our prayers, joined with those of people around the world, help guide those waging war to end the meaningless suffering and restore peace.”
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church worldwide, said, “At this historic moment, the voice of our conscience calls us all as one to stand up for a free, united and independent Ukrainian state. Today we solemnly proclaim: ‘Our soul and body we offer for our freedom!’”
PRAY FOR PEACE
Catholics across western North Carolina are being encouraged to pray for peace in solidarity with the people of Ukraine – particularly focusing on praying and fasting next Wednesday, March 2 (Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent) as called for by Pope Francis.
Churches in Charlotte, Huntersville and the Winston-Salem area, among others, are holding prayer vigils, Masses, and rosaries this weekend to pray for an end to the escalating violence.
Belmont Abbey College also has started a prayer chain: http://www.resources.bac.edu/prayer-chain-for-ukraine
Pope Francis has called for Ash Wednesday to be a day of prayer and fasting for peace for Catholics around the world.
“I encourage believers in a special way to devote themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace protect the world from the folly of war,” the pope said.
On Friday the pope also walked to the Russian embassy at the Vatican – a symbolic pilgrimage – to ask for the violence to stop. The pope went to the embassy “to express his concern for the war,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, and spent about half an hour there.
CALL FOR AID
Meanwhile, airstrikes and explosions near several major cities in Ukraine, including its capital, Kyiv, have caused civilians to flee in panic. So far more than 100,000 refugees have fled to Poland and other neighboring countries, which are now responding to what’s feared could become a major humanitarian crisis.
Where to give to help Ukraine
Various Catholic agencies are collecting donations to aid with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as people flee to escape Russian bombing and shelling. Here are some places to donate. This list is not exhaustive.
- The international Caritas confederation is collecting funds to help Caritas Ukraine. In the United States, that is through Catholic Relief Services: https://bit.ly/3LWtOKa. Internationally, you can donate through https://www.caritas.org/.
- The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia also has a link: https://ukrarcheparchy.us/donate.
- Two pontifical agencies also are taking donations for Ukraine: Catholic Near East Welfare Association, https://cnewa.org/campaigns/ukraine/, and Aid to the Church in Need, https://www.churchinneed.org/. Internationally, Aid to the Church can be reached at https://bit.ly/3vfqCn4.
- The Knights of Columbus launched the Ukraine Solidarity Fund, and donations can be made at kofc.org/secure/en/donate/ukraine.html.On Feb. 25, the Knights of Columbus announced a commitment of $1 million for immediate distribution to support Ukrainian refugees and will match all funds raised up to an additional $500,000. The relief funding will be used to provide shelter, food, medical supplies, clothing and religious goods, as well as other humanitarian needs as identified, both directly in Ukraine and through refugee sites in Poland.
- Donations can also be made to Jesuit Refugee Service at www.jrsusa.org to support the agency's work in Europe "to accompany, serve, and advocate for those forced to flee from war and conflict."
- The Salesians also are accepting donations to help refugees: https://salesianmissions.org/lp/ukraine-emergency/.
Prayer resources
Pope Francis, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk (the leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church) and other Church leaders are encouraging all people of goodwill to pray for peace in Ukraine. Suggested prayers include:
NOVENA FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE: Pray this novena among others, with helpful reminders delivered daily to your email inbox: www.praymorenovenas.com/novena-for-peace-in-ukraine
SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY FOR PEACE: The Rosary for Peace was first published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops following the attacks on 9/11. Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries here.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor. Catholic News Service contributed.
Ukrainian Catholic bishop to visit Charlotte
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Ukrainian Catholic bishop to visit Charlotte
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Bohdan Danylo of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, is making a pastoral visit to St. Basil the Great Parish Feb. 26 and 27.
The bishop’s visit coincides with the commemoration of “Forgiveness Sunday,” the last Sunday before Lent begins on the Byzantine Catholic liturgical calendar. During this celebration, the faithful hear about the Lord’s teaching on fasting and forgiveness, and they prepare for Lent by forgiving one another so that God will forgive them.
At 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, Great Vespers will be offered, and the sacrament of confession will be available.
On Sunday, Feb. 27, people are invited to attend Matins (Morning Prayer) at 9 a.m., followed by Divine Liturgy (Mass) at 11 a.m. After Mass, there will be a Pre-Lent gathering and “Forgiveness” Vespers, during which the faithful approach the altar for a special blessing from the priest and also ask forgiveness of each other.
The St. Basil the Great Parish community worships at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. All Catholics of any tradition are welcome to attend these liturgies, which will be celebrated in English.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor