Bishop Gregory Parkes Will Join Pope Francis in the Consecration of Ukraine and Russia
Bishop Gregory Parkes Will Join the Holy Father in the Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Bishop Gregory Parkes Will Join the Holy Father in the Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
All are invited to join Bishop Gregory Parkes for a prayer service in union with Pope Francis as he seeks to bring peace to Ukraine through prayers and spiritual devotion.
When: Friday, March 25, 2022, at 12 Noon
Where: Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has invited bishops across the world to join him in consecrating Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday, March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation.
The local prayer service will happen at the same time that the Pope formally makes the consecration at St. Peter’s Basilica.
All are invited to this prayer service, which will also be live streamed on www.facebook.com/diostpete and www.dosp.org/livestream.
Bishop Parkes asks all Catholics and people of goodwill to join in prayer at noon, Friday, March 25th in a show of solidarity.
As a Diocese, we continue to join in fervent prayer for peace throughout the world and for an abrupt end to the unjustified attack upon Ukraine. In union with the Holy Father, we call for the immediate cessation of Russia’s armed aggression and unprovoked war on Ukraine that has already exacted a staggering toll – thousands dead and an exodus of three million refugees. We echo the words of Pope Francis, “In the name of God, listen to the cry of those who suffer, and put an end to the bombings and the attacks!”
Similar appeals have been raised throughout the Orthodox Christian world and indeed by many Russians themselves.
An act of consecration to Mary is essentially an act of consecration to Jesus through Mary. As Pope John Paul II explained, “Consecrating ourselves to Mary means accepting her help to offer ourselves and the whole of mankind to him who is holy, infinitely holy” (May 13, 1982).
While there is a long history of consecration to Mary, the practice of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is closely linked to the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. During the third apparition, on July 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, told three visionaries that God sought to establish the devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart in the world in order to save souls from hell and bring about world peace. Pope Francis and previous popes have led various consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, including Pope St. John Paul II’s consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 1984.
May Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
- In addition to our prayers, it is encouraged that financial assistance be offered to the suffering in Ukraine through the organizations found on our website.
- To read the statement from the United States Bishops regarding the attack on Ukraine, please click here.
- To read the article from the Vatican about the upcoming as well as prior consecrations, click here.
The Solemnity of the Annunciation (March 25) celebrates the announcement from the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). It is celebrated nine months before Christmas.
Prayer of Consecration English
