Praying for Peace

A standing room only crowd at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge united with Catholics worldwide on March 25 to pray for peace in Ukraine.

Pope Francis had invited bishops worldwide to join on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

The ceremony at the cathedral was one of dozens that day across the United States, as bishops answered the pope’s call to pray the consecration prayer together. The Bishop of Fairbanks prayed the consecration on the shores of the Bering Sea, facing Russia, their neighbor just a few hundred miles to the west. 

Bishop Michael G. Duca celebrated the consecration at the cathedral, a ceremony featuring sacred music that only added to the solemness of the moment. The bishop began by leading the praying of the rosary, and he also led praying the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“This is our only hope, is for God to intervene,” said  Chris Virgets said as she filed out of the cathedral following an emotional 30-minute ceremony. “We need this, the world needs it. I think this is all we got.”

The service began at 10:45 a.m., at the same time many pastors through

out the Diocese of Baton Rouge held similar services.

“There are times when we pray for someone but there are moments we kneel down in earnest and we pray,” the bishop said. “And we pray this prayer (the Act of Consecration) today because we do believe, through the intercession of Mary, (God) will intervene.

“And so we call upon Mary today to intercede with us and for peace in the world, the conversion of the world, the conversion of Russia, Ukraine and all the world to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The bishop said God can change the hearts of men no matter how far they might have fallen away. 

“We must pray knowing that prayer will be answered,” he emphasized.

“I wanted to be here today to unify myself with other Catholics who are praying and keep the peace for Russia and Ukraine,” said Jennifer Morales.

“It was a beautiful ceremony and I love how many people were there,” she added. “I was not surprised but it was comforting.”

Sam Cancienne admitted he was a bit surprised at the large turnout but added the presence of Mary was felt through Jesus in the church. As to why he took a break from his busy schedule on a beautiful spring morning to attend, he said “I was always taught in the Catholic Church to call on Mary in times like this.”

John Waitz said the world needs the Lord and the Blessed Mother has been saying for years to turn to her and her son, beginning in 1917 (when during her third apparition in Fatima on July 13 of that year, the Blessed Virgin revealed she would seek the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart).

“It is coming to fruition,” Waitz said. “There is power in prayer,  getting on our knees and praying to the Lord, putting him first.”

Kristian Waitz said she believes many people are hurting and she wanted to lift up the Blessed Virgin to help not only those in pain but everyone. She also experienced a special joy in the ceremony.

“It was encouraging because you know it is happening all over the world and they are brothers and sisters all over the world,” she said. “We may not have the same ideologies and  cultures but we all want peace for our families and prosperity.

“I thought it was wonderful.”

 On a scale of one to 10, Virgets rated the ceremony “100.”

“Just to see everyone come together as a faith community, to realize how important it is to everybody,” she said. “I thought I was at Christmas Eve Mass (with standing room only). It was so moving to see that.”