Dear Brothers and Sisters: 

As I write this column during the first week of March, the senseless conflict in the Ukraine continues to rage on. When you finally read this column, I am not sure what the situation will be like at that moment, but I am sure we will still need to beseech our God for peace in our world and pray for those who have lost their lives, been injured, or in any way displaced by this insane action. We pray for peace that only the Lord can give. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14: 27).

The Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province echo the words of Pope Francis that he offered during his General Audience remarks on Wednesday, February 23: “I would like to appeal to those with political responsibility to examine their consciences seriously before God, who is the God of peace and not of war; who is the Father of all, not just of some, who wants us to be brothers and not enemies. I pray that all the parties involved refrain from any action that would cause even more suffering to the people, destabilizing coexistence between nations and bringing international law into disrepute.”

Our Redemptorist confreres in the Ukraine are remaining close to the people among whom they serve, and in fact, they are welcoming refugees into their homes and churches to share what they can with them. These refugees include children as well as older persons. Our Redemptorist confreres in Poland have declared their readiness to receive refugees. Some have already welcomed the first of them, and one of our houses is reserved for children from a Ukrainian orphanage. Many people connected to our houses and parishes are also awaiting the arrival of the refugees.

While many USA organizations will be collecting to help the Ukraine, if any friends of the Redemptorists wish to make a donation specifically to help our Redemptorist confreres in the Ukraine, as well as our confreres in Poland dealing with the influx of refugees, those donations may be directed to our offices here in Washington, DC. All checks should be made out to: THE REDEMPTORISTS and include in the memo line: UKRAINE RELIEF and may be sent to: Fr. Paul Borowski; 3112 7th Street NE; Washington, DC 20017. Funds will be sent to our General Government in Rome who will make sure they go to the Redemptorists in the Ukraine.

Finally, I share with you the following prayer that comes from Dunfermline Abbey (The Church of Scotland):

“God of our world in the bright light of day we feel the warm glow of our community, gathered to speak words of peace and longing for a world where equity and justice reign. In this moment we are all too aware of the privileges we feel. That from this place we will find shelter and comfort, and so we notice that this night there will be those who do not know safety, who will be hungry; those wanting to rest tired weary bones, or to have a quiet night.

“We pray for the people of Ukraine: those who will stay in their country to fight to protect their homes and the freedoms that they expect for their citizens; those who have made themselves homeless and rootless to protect the young and the vulnerable. We pray for broken hearts and broken families. We pray for the aggressors. We recognize that this may be one man’s war, or a government’s war, as we hear some voices oppose the choices made in their name, and cry out against the injustice, begging for the conflict to stop.

“We pray for those across the world who have been caught in conflict, and we make peace our ambition.  May we become those who shape our lives so that peace reigns.  Let us become more willing to value the differences our world provides, and learn to love those who challenge us, aware that we may be challenging to them.  Amen.”

In the Spirit of the Redeemer, 

Paul J. Borowski, C.Ss.R.