Ahead of feast of Assumption, Catholic leaders call for day of prayer, fasting for peace

(OSV News) -- As global conflicts and tensions soar, Catholic religious leaders throughout the world -- from Ukraine's Greek Catholic bishops to women religious to a pontifical charity -- have called for a day of prayer and fasting for world peace on Aug. 14, the vigil of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The International Union of Superiors General, which represents more than 1,900 congregations of women religious, issued a "Declaration for Peace" urging the day of prayer and fasting, stating, "In a world torn apart by war and inhumanity -- in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Syria, Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo and in so many other countries wounded by both visible and invisible conflicts -- we cannot remain silent spectators."

The union, known by the acronym UISG, added, "As women who keep watch in the night, we continue to believe that even in the darkest hour, a light can still shine -- the light of the Gospel, of justice, and of fraternity."

UISG urged the faithful to engage on Aug. 14 in "moments of prayer and reflection on the Word within your communities, in light of the present suffering in our world, allowing ourselves to be inwardly transformed."

In addition, the organization highlighted the need to "engage with civil and ecclesial authorities" on opening "paths of reconciliation, disarmament, the defense of human rights, and the protection of victims."

The group also advised supporting "concrete acts of global solidarity, through networks of humanitarian aid, welcome, and prophetic advocacy on behalf of the most affected peoples."

UISG also posted a prayer invoking "Mary, Mother of Peace" and entrusting to her "all peoples torn apart by hatred" and asking, "Teach us how … to remain close to those who suffer, to pray even when words are no longer enough."

Aid to the Church in Need International, a pontifical charity serving the persecuted church, took up the USIG call, with executive president Regina Lynch saying, "Wherever there is conflict, women and children are marginalized, and it is often they who suffer most.

"Religious sisters are often on the frontlines of wars, helping the innocent in whatever way they can, without regard for their own safety," said Lynch. "It is therefore very commendable that this group of women should be leading the way in denouncing warfare and calling for peace and reconciliation."

She added, "Mary is the Queen of Peace. Let us pray that she may touch the hearts of decision-makers all over the world, that they may yearn for the peace of her son, Jesus Christ."

With the day of prayer and fasting also taking place on the eve of a face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska -- part of what Trump has called an effort to broker a ceasefire in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has also joined in the effort.

The UGCC's Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk exhorted the faithful to observe the day of prayer and fasting, noting the timing of the Trump-Putin meeting and saying, "We believe that those who fast, pray and work will be heard by the Lord."

In a message to the faithful, the Ukrainian Catholic bishops of the U.S.-- led by Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia -- said, "Our Ukrainian people, of every confession, have been praying for years for an end to the unjust brutal war and the establishment of a just peace."

Russia's war in Ukraine, which continues attacks launched in 2014, has been declared a genocide in two joint reports from the New Lines Institute and the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights. In addition, the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab has issued multiple reports on Russia's abduction and forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children, a violation of multiple international laws, including the Genocide Convention.

"In the tradition of our Eastern Catholic Church, at every Divine Liturgy we lift our prayers to the Lord for the healing of the wounded, the repose of the departed, the liberation of captives and abducted children, the conversion of the aggressor, and the bestowal of wisdom and courage upon leaders to do God’s will," said the U.S. Ukrainian Catholicbishops in their message.

The bishops said, "The faithful throughout the world are invited to unite in fervent supplication, to call for justice, and to engage in concrete works of charity and solidarity aimed at ending the many armed conflicts afflicting our world -- from Gaza to Sudan, from Ukraine to Myanmar, from Haiti to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Syria."

"On this feast of her Assumption into Heaven, we recall that there is a woman, in body and spirit, at the side of Our Lord. No doubt she will be sympathetic to the pain and anguish that the women religious are witnessing and shall intercede for an end to the conflicts," said Lynch.