Statement from the Diocese of Columbus:
With the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Diocese of Columbus urges all to join together today and every day in deep prayer for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomatic dialogue that assures a real and lasting peace for all people in Ukraine, Europe, and the world. We also will join with Pope Francis on Ash Wednesday, March 2, who has designated this a special day of prayer and fasting for peace. In calling for this, the Holy Father said, “I encourage believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war.”
With his call for fervent prayer around the world, Pope Francis also noted that, “Once again the peace of all is threatened by partisan interests” and appealed for those “with political responsibility to examine their consciences seriously before God, who is the God of peace and not of war, who is the Father of all, not just of some, who wants us to be brothers and not enemies.”
Statement from the Catholic Conference of Ohio:
The Catholic Conference of Ohio joins the Most Reverend Bohdan Danylo of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma and the Holy Father in calls for peace in Ukraine.
The Holy Father Pope Francis encourages believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, echoed the call from the Holy Father for prayer and fasting to end the war in Ukraine.
To donate to the Eparchy’s aid drive visit https://stjosaphateparchy.com/support-ukraine/