PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A mass for peace in Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people was held Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The celebrant of the Mass was Archbishop Nelson Perez. He started his homily saying it hadn't been a great week for human beings. "Now, in Ukraine, there are over 500,000 people displaced or dying," he said.
Perez said he wondered what the Lord thinks when he looks down upon humanity.
"Whether it be in Ukraine in the horror that we are all witnessing there, or what is going on in our own lives and our families and among our friends, I'm sure the Lord looks down upon us and says 'Wow, after all this time, they just don't learn. They just don't learn,'" he reflected.
"I'm sure in the heart of God this week, as he sees these horrible events unfolding in the lives of the Ukrainian people, there is sadness. Sadness."
Among those attending the mass, Viola Krol got emotional as she thought about her family members in the Polish military assisting Ukranians on the border.
"Right now we have to pray to God, pray to Saint Michael to open his wings over Poland and Ukraine. This is all we have right now," she cried. "All we have is God. Nobody else."
Sister Rosemary Golden said coming together in prayer for the Ukrainian people is needed very much.
"They can be on our hearts and in our minds throughout the day and I’m hoping and praying that makes a difference for them," she shared.
Pope Francis, on Sunday morning, called for help for refugees coming from Ukraine. He neglected, however, to mention Russia in his condemnation of the war.
Related
