Join us for a “Holy Hour” of prayer in the church Sunday afternoons (for the foreseeable future, at least until Easter Sunday): 6-7 pm (with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament).
Pope Francis continued to call for an end to the war in Ukraine today, calling the violence against innocent Ukrainians “inhuman” and “sacrilegious.” Without mentioning Russia by name, the Pope said, “Unfortunately, the violent aggression against Ukraine has not ceased; it is a senseless massacre in which atrocities are repeated every day. There is no justification for this. I plead with all actors in the international community to truly engage in bringing this abhorrent war to an end.”
During his remarks today the Holy Father recalled the Ukrainian refugee children he met during his surprise visit to Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome on Saturday. Children suffering from cancer, neurological diseases, and other illnesses were taken to Italy for medical treatment during the first days of the war in Ukraine. Some had serious blast wounds from the war. Pope Francis said, “This week again missiles and bombs have fallen on civilians, the elderly, children, and pregnant mothers. I went to see the wounded children who are here in Rome. I am thinking of the millions of Ukrainian refugees who must flee leaving everything behind, and I feel a great pain for those who do not even have the possibility to escape. All this is inhuman! We must pray for an end to the madness.”
Let us pray. “Holy Spirit of God, our Consoler, be with the families of the victims of war, families that suffer through no fault of their own. Wrap them in the mantle of your divine mercy. Help them find again in you and in themselves the strength and courage to continue to be brothers and sisters for others, giving witness to your love by their lives. Touch the hearts of the violent so that they may recognize the evil of their actions and may turn to the way of peace and goodness, of respect for life, and of respect for the dignity of every human being. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
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Todos están invitados a unirnos en el templo todos los domingos (6-7pm) para dedicar una Hora Santa, pidiendo por la paz en Ucrania.
El Papa Francisco, (hoy en Roma), lamentó “la violenta agresión contra Ucrania” que calificó como “una masacre insensata” que no tiene justificación porque es una “crueldad, inhumana y sacrílega.” El Santo Padre dijo que “lamentablemente, la violenta agresión contra Ucrania no cesa, una masacre sin sentido donde las atrocidades se repiten cada día” y advirtió que “de nuevo esta semana, los misiles y las bombas cayeron sobre civiles, ancianos, niños, y madres embarazadas. No hay justificación para ello. Pido a todos los actores de la comunidad internacional que se comprometan realmente a poner fin a esta guerra repugnante.”
Oremos. “Espíritu Consolador de Dios, visita a las familias que lloran la pérdida de sus familiares, víctimas inocentes de la violencia y la guerra. Cúbreles con el manto de tu divina misericordia. Que encuentren en ti la fuerza y el valor para continuar siendo hermanos y hermanas de los demás, especialmente de los extranjeros y los inmigrantes, testimoniando con su vida tu amor. Mueve los corazones de los violentos para que reconozcan la maldad de sus acciones y vuelvan a la senda de la paz y el bien, el respeto por la vida, y la dignidad de cada ser humano. Amén.”
