Dear Friends,

As I write this message, we have just received news that Russia has begun attacking its neighbour, Ukraine with military force.

We, in the SVD AUS Province, pray for the people of Ukraine and the whole world as a period of great instability stretches before us and we join in Pope Francis’ call for a day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, March 2.

In making the call to prayer during his General Audience last Wednesday, Pope Francis delivered a heartfelt appeal for peace in Ukraine, saying that the threat of war had caused “great pain in my heart”.

“Despite the diplomatic efforts of the last few weeks,” the Pope said, “increasingly alarming scenarios are opening up,” with many people all over the world feeling anguish and pain.

““Once again the peace of all is threatened by partisan interests,” he said. Pope Francis appealed to 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”.

He also prayed that “all the parties involved refrain from any action that would cause even more suffering to the people, destabilising coexistence between nations and bringing international law into disrepute”.

Speaking at the end of the General Audience, Pope Francis invited everyone to make Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting for Peace.

“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,” he said.

We in Australia are a long way from Russia and Ukraine, and yet, we all feel the threat to humanity that this conflict raises. The SVD is present in both countries, and of course, there are Russian and Ukrainian communities living among us in Australian cities.

May we all join together this Lent in sustained prayer for peace in our world, as we prepare ourselves for the new life and hope of Easter.

Yours in the Word,

Fr Asaeli Rass SVD,

Provincial.