PANJIM: Archbishop of Goa and Daman Most Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao on Saturday urged the Christian faithful and people of good will to observe Ash Wednesday as a day of Prayer and Fasting to pray for peace particularly in Ukraine and Russia.
In the circular, Archbishop Most Rev Filipe Neri stated that the military operation launched by Russia on the neighbouring Republic of Ukraine, aiming at a full-scale invasion of that country, has sent shock waves throughout the globe and is threatening world peace.
Calling out to Christians, the Archbishop said that as followers of the Prince of Peace, we cannot remain indifferent to this grave situation; we need indeed to arm ourselves with the spiritual “weapons” of prayer and sacrifice.
The Archbishop mentioned that the Holy Father Pope Francis himself has given a universal call to make the forthcoming Ash Wednesday (March 2) a day of Prayer and Fasting, particularly for peace in Ukraine and Russia. In solidarity with the Pope, I too urge the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful in our Archdiocese to spend this day in Prayer and Fasting, for the end of the violence which is afflicting the Ukrainian and the Russian people.
Further, the elaborated saying that we need to begin and keep praying with intensity even now, as the conflict continues to rage with every passing day, not showing any signs of abatement. Let us therefore rise in prayer to the Almighty the highly volatile situation in Eastern Europe and in some other parts of the globe and earnestly pray for world peace.
Most Rev Filipe Neri asked the Catholics to pray the daily Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for this exclusive intention during these days and added that as we Catholics enter the Lenten season, let us remind ourselves that only Christ can deliver us from the clutches of the evil one, whose chief strategy is to sow disunity and discord among peoples and individuals.
Finally, the Archbishop wishes that our prayer and sacrifice may help combat and vanquish the forces which seek to divide the human family by promoting conflict and warfare.
