Prayers offered to end fighting on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine

Feb. 24—SAINT CLAIR — During an afternoon of prayer in St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church on Friday, Anna Rehnert felt a kinship with the people of Ukraine and others praying for an end to war in that embattled European nation.

"I felt part of the whole world praying for peace in Ukraine," confided Rehnert, 75, a retired teacher who lives in Saint Clair. "Hopefully, our prayers will be answered."

About 50 people gathered at St. Nicholas for a three-hour prayer session in observance of the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

Joining others in Ukrainian Catholic churches throughout the region, they responded to a call to prayer from Archbishop Borys Gudziak, of Philadelphia, metropolitan to Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S.

At St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Frackville, worshippers turned out for a Panahyda, or service for the dead, devoted to civilians and military personnel who lost their lives during the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, pastor, led the worshippers in prayer at St. Nicholas in Saint Clair.

Before an altar adorned with sunflowers, Ukraine's national flower, they meditated, recited the Rosary and asked for divine intervention to "turn swords into plowshares and negotiate a peaceful solution" to the conflict.

Theresa Panchison, who led the recitation at some points, expressed faith in the power of prayer.

"Prayers can change things," Panchison said, "if we turn our hearts to God."

In similar circumstances in Kyiv during the 19th century, the faithful's prayers for intercession were granted, she said.

"Our Blessed Mother threw her protective mantle over the church," said Panchison, St. Nicholas' cantor.

During a one-year anniversary prayer, the worshippers asked that grace be bestowed on the parents, innocent children and the helpless caught in the crossfire of war in their homeland.

"Bless the hearts of those who have shown great generosity and solidarity to their brothers and sisters in Ukraine's greatest time of need," the congregation asked.

In his call to prayer, Gudziak called for prayer, fasting and almsgiving for the people of Ukraine.

For Dave Toth, who spent an hour or so praying at St. Nicholas, the call had special meaning.

"I still have relatives in Kviv and Lviv," Toth, a retired Port Carbon plumber, said of two of the cities most affected by the war.

Grabowsky started Friday off with a morning service at St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shenandoah. Starting at noon, he officiated at St. Nicholas in Saint Clair.

"It was very moving to see how many people put their faith in the Lord," Grabowsky said. "I am confident that the Lord heard their prayers."

As she prayed, Angela DeMario's thoughts were with the people of Ukraine.

"The war has gone on so long, and there has been such terrible suffering," said DeMario, a member of St. Nicholas parish. "This was my opportunity to do something to help the people of Ukraine."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007