March 13, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27 from the 2nd Sunday of Lent)
I pray your Lenten journey has begun well as we enter this time of penance and conversion in
preparation for the celebration of Easter.
We continue to watch with horror and grief the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the suffering of Ukrainians as the humanitarian crisis worsens forcing so many to flee as refugees.
I know many Catholics have been offering their prayers and fasting for the people of Ukraine.
Materially, many have donated to help ease the suffering through the Catholic Near East
Welfare Association (CNEWA), Development and Peace, the Red Cross, or another agency.
I am asking pastors to designate this Sunday’s celebration of the Eucharist on March 12th, the
Second Sunday of Lent, as a day of prayer for an end to the invasion and for the well-being of
the people of Ukraine as a sign of our solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Please add an intention to the Prayers of the Faithful for the Ukraine. I know many parishes are already doing this, but I encourage this petition during the current crisis.
Throughout this Lenten period, I encourage any efforts to pray for an end to this injustice that is resulting in so much suffering and death in Ukraine. Let us offer personal prayers, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a favorite Litany, Eucharistic adoration or other prayers as well as our fasts, for peace in Ukraine. Let us intensify our pleas to the Lord for an end to senseless act of war and for the assistance of the Ukrainian people.
May our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for the people of Ukraine.
Marcel Damphousse
Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall
