Petitions for Peace in Ukraine

2/28/2022

On Monday, February 28, the Mother of Our Savior chapel was open all day for students, faculty, and staff to pray for peace in Ukraine. At the beginning of each hour, these petitions were read.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord, we gather to pray for your peace in our world. In times of darkness, we turn to your Light.

Our response is, “Lord, hear our prayer.” 

We pray for peace in Ukraine: that Ukrainians may know freedom again, in safety and security, and with hope for their future.  We pray to the Lord.                 

We pray for those in Ukraine:  innocent children, parents, the elderly, and the soldiers and civilians who have been asked to protect them. We pray to the Lord. 

Let peace fill our hearts, our world and our universe. Let us dream together, pray together, and work together, to build one world of peace and justice for all.  We pray to the Lord.     

We pray for all people who are working to build peace in their communities: that they may inspire others by their example and be strengthened to carry on, even in challenging times. We pray to the Lord.      

We pray for all people who have been affected by violence: that they may find strength and hope through God to move forward in peace and forgive those who have harmed them. We pray to the Lord. 

We pray for the DSHA community: that we may be bearers of peace each day, so that every person may know the goodness and kindness of Jesus the Savior. We pray to the Lord. 

I invite you to close your eyes and listen to Pope Francis’ prayer for peace. Let the pope’s words center us in our mission to be the goodness and kindness of Jesus in everything we do and say:

"Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried…but our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"…"With war everything is lost.” Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division,” "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every person. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother" and “sister.” And our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!"

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Back