With great sadness, the Sisters of Charity and Associates learn daily of the Ukrainian people’s suffering in the current war. We express our solidarity with them in their faith in God and love of democracy. We pray for the refugees, for those who must remain in peril and for those bravely defending their land. May God’s mercy inspire the aggressors to embrace a peaceful solution. May soldiers on both sides in this and all conflicts around the world soon be able to lay down their arms.
We share with you this text from a great Ukrainian poet, Lessia Oukraïnka (1871–1913), which speaks of the spirit of this people:
No, through my tears, I keep my smile,
And I sing amid misfortunes,
Beyond all hope, I nonetheless want to hope,
I want to live: away with you, thoughts overwhelming me!
On the steep slope of the mountain,
As one carries the cross, I will carry my stone,
And climbing with the heavy burden,
I will nonetheless sing a song of joy.
Yes, through my tears, I keep my smile,
And I sing amid misfortunes,
Beyond all hope, I nonetheless want to hope,
I want to live: farewell, thoughts that overwhelmed me
By Sr. Margaret O’Brien, SC
Beautiful tribute. Ukrainians are showing us how to love a country and ALL its people. They make me proud to be a human being. We must help to save their country. May the People of Ukraine be our 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winners. They are so willing to suffer for their beliefs. As we move closer to Holy Week May we be aware that today’s sufferings are “in the image of Jesus’s suffering.”
Thank you for this prayer and reminder of the love of the Ukrainians for their country and desire for freedom. As a person who says no to war and desires to be a builder and bridge for peace, I listen to the horrifying events that are unfolding and ask myself, “What are the concrete steps I can take today, now, here in my own country to stand with the Ukrainian people and all who seek freedom from war, violence and poverty?”
Truly the Ukrainian people and their President are showing us a powerful model of courage and resilience. I pray that nations will unite to allow humanitarian aid into Ukraine. I pray that America may follow Canada’s lead and quickly open a path for refugees. May we open our hearts and our borders to all who seek to escape violence and poverty in their home countries. And may the heart and mind of the Russian president turn toward peace – a miracle to pray for.