Texas Roman Catholic Bishops Take Stand on Ukraine War; Prayer Service Planned in San Angelo

SAN ANGELO — Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo Bishop Michael Sis will hold a mass and prayer service for the end of the war in Ukraine on Friday at noon at Sacred Heart Cathedral downtown.  

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops issued the following statement regarding the war on Ukraine:

“We reaffirm the words of Pope Francis, who has been unceasing in his appeal to stop the war on Ukraine. It is a ‘senseless massacre where every day there is a repetition of slaughter and atrocities. There is no justification for this!’

“Indeed, as our Holy Father has stated, the war is sacrilegious ‘because it goes against the sacredness of human life, especially against defenseless human life, which must be respected and protected, not eliminated.’

“We call on all people of good will to pray that world leaders will find an end to the conflict and to provide solace and support to the millions of people who are now refugees.”

The bishops of Texas are joining Pope Francis in encouraging all people to join them Friday, March 25, the solemnity of the Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ, in making a solemn act of consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that she, the Queen of Peace, may obtain peace for the world.

The bishops also encouraged donations to agencies serving Ukraine and its people. These include:

• The international Caritas confederation, through Catholic Relief Services. Internationally, you can donate through Caritas Internationalis.

• The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia

• Catholic Near East Welfare Association

• Aid to the Church in Need

• International Catholic Migration Commission

• AVSI-USA

• The Knights of Columbus’ Ukraine Solidarity Fund for humanitarian needs in Ukraine and through refugee sites in Poland.

• Jesuit Refugee Service and the Salesians, two religious orders serving refugees.

• The U.S. Bishops’ Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe designated its annual collection, taken in most diocesan parishes on Ash Wednesday, to support Ukraine and the surrounding region as a result of Russia’s invasion. It offers two ways to give: electronically, through iGiveCatholicTogether or by mail with an address here.

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops is the association of the Roman Catholic bishops of Texas. The TCCB represents 15 dioceses and 21 active bishops. Through the TCCB, the bishops provide a moral and social public policy voice, accredit the state's Catholic schools, and maintain archives that reflect the work and the history of the Catholic Church in Texas.