ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ CONDEMNS UKRAINE INVASION; OFFERS PRAYERS FOR THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY IN LOS ANGELES AND THEIR LOVED ONES BACK HOME
February 27, 2022  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

In a letter shared this morning with the Catholic Ukrainian faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Archbishop José H. Gomez condemned the invasion of Ukraine and offered his prayers for the Ukrainian community in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and their loved ones back home. (The full text of Archbishop Gomez’s letter follows this release.)

“My heart is with all of you in this time of sorrow and uncertainty,” opened the Archbishop’s letter to LA’s Ukrainian Catholic community. “With our Holy Father Pope Francis, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, and Metropolitan Gudziak, I deplore the Russian invasion of your homeland of Ukraine.”

Archbishop Gomez reassured the community that the prayers of the Catholic faithful and the Archdiocese are with them during this troubling and challenging time, “Please know that your Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will always be near to you in solidarity and prayer. We are praying for a swift end to the evil of this war. We ask Jesus Christ, the Lord of Peace, to touch the hearts of the aggressors, and move them to conversion. We also call on those in authority to seek a just peace that recognizes the dignity and sovereignty of the Ukrainian people.

“My prayers in this moment, are especially for the innocent victims caught up in this violence, especially the many families who have lost their homes and livelihoods. May God strengthen them, especially the little children. And may God protect the many thousands who are now forced to seek refuge from this senseless bloodshed.”

The Archbishop urged the faithful to call upon God through their prayers to “banish this violence from our midst and wipe away all tears.” He concluded his message by reiterating Pope Francis’ call to pray and fast for peace during the Holy Season of Lent that begins this week on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

“Let us ask for the grace to give our hearts completely to this effort,” urged Archbishop Gomez. The Archdiocese has created a webpage with resources to unite the Catholic faithful in prayer for Ukraine.

The Archbishop’s letter was read at the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass at Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church by Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The church is a Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope in Rome. It was established in 1947.

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Under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop José H. Gomez, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest in the United States, serving the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara, covering approximately 9,000 square miles in 120 cities. The nearly 5 million Catholics in the Archdiocese come from some 70 countries and from every continent. Weekly Masses are celebrated in 42 languages throughout 288 parishes, and more than 73,000 students attend an Archdiocesan Catholic elementary or high school. For the latest news, events and to subscribe for media alerts, visit media.la-archdiocese.org.

 

February 27, 2022

 

Father Ihor Koshyk, Pastor

Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church

5154 De Longpre Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90027

 

Dear Father Koshyk, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

 

My heart is with all of you in this time of sorrow and uncertainty.

With our Holy Father Pope Francis, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, and Metropolitan Gudziak, I deplore the Russian invasion of your homeland of Ukraine. I am praying intensely for your families and all your loved ones back home.

Please know that your Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will always be near to you in solidarity and prayer. We are praying for a swift end to the evil of this war. We ask Jesus Christ, the Lord of Peace, to touch the hearts of the aggressors, and move them to conversion. We also call on those in authority to seek a just peace that recognizes the dignity and sovereignty of the Ukrainian people.

My prayers in this moment, are especially for the innocent victims caught up in this violence, especially the many families who have lost their homes and livelihoods. May God strengthen them, especially the little children. And may God protect the many thousands who are now forced to seek refuge from this senseless bloodshed.

My dear brothers and sisters, our trust is in the Lord, who guides history according to his loving plan of salvation. We know that His thoughts are of peace and not of affliction, that He crushes wars and casts down the proud. So let us call upon Him in confidence and ask that He banish this violence from our midst and wipe away all tears.

As we begin the Holy Season of Lent this week, on Ash Wednesday the Holy Father Pope Francis is inviting us to pray and fast for peace. Let us ask for the grace to give our hearts completely to this effort.

Pray for me, my brothers and sisters, and know that I am praying for you.

Entrusting you and your families to the Immaculate Heart of Holy Mary, the Queen of Peace, I pray that Our Lord give you peace and be with you all.

 

Most Reverend José H. Gomez

Archbishop of Los Angeles