Worldwide Day Of Fasting and Prayer for Peaceat St. Sophia Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
This Saturday, 3-5 PM, come and go as you're able
St. Sophia parish invites its parishioners, friends of the parish, and all others who desire peace in our world to join us in whatever time and way they are able this Saturday as we join our prayers with the world's prayers for peace. Children and families are welcome to join us. They may take advantage of our indoor play room, ping pong table, and outdoor playground if they would like to do so.
We will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God's great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world.
Bring your petitions for peace and join us!
-Fr. Pavlo
Who: All people of good will.
What: Church open for day of prayer and fasting.
When: Saturday, Sept 7, 2013. The church will be open from 3-5PM for individual prayers and reflections. Come and go as you're able.
3-4 PM Confessions available. Cantor-led prayer and silent prayer will be interspersed.
4-5 PM Great Vespers for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Where: St. Sophia Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
5600 North Colony Boulevard
The Colony, Texas 75056
Driving Directions [
stsophiaukrainian.cc]
Why: Pope Francis proclaimed for the whole Church on 7 September, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world. He also invited each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative. Religious leaders of every creed have taken up his call and are joining in the prayer. St. Sophia is offering an opportunity for our local community to join these worldwide prayers.
"As our nation's leaders contemplate military action, it is particularly appropriate and urgent that we in the United States embrace the Holy Father's call to pray and fast on Sept. 7 for a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria and to violent conflicts everywhere," said Cardinal Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Bishop Pates, chairman of the bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace.
Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church urged believers to join the call of Pope Francis and spend the day of September 7 in prayer for peace in Syria:
"Ми – сини і дочки Христа – не можемо бездіяльно спостерігати за трагедією в Сирії, а повинні об’єднатися в молитві й пості за Божий дар миру для цієї багатостраждальної землі, пам’ятаючи Христові слова: «Блаженні миротворці, бо вони синами Божими назвуться» (Мт. 5, 9). Саме до цього запрошує нас Святіший Отець Франциск, який оголосив найближчу суботу, 7 вересня 2013 року, днем молитви і посту в наміренні миру в Сирії, на Близькому Сході та в усьому світі. Бо, за словами ап. Павла, Христос є наш мир, що зруйнував ворожнечу між людьми своїм тілом (пор. Еф. 2, 14).
With all my heart I address you all – bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and the laity of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine and abroad – with a request to join the call of the pope and the nearest Saturday ‘with one heart and one voice’ with all the Universal Church to dedicate your prayers for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and around the world.”
