March 25, 2022 – On the occasion of the consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Pope Francis on this day of the Feast of the Annunciation, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) are releasing a statement expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people and calling for peace.
At their meeting this week, the members of the Provincial and Congregational Leadership Teams adopted the following statement:
As an international religious congregation, we, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM), express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
We deplore the current invasion which threatens the democracy and the territorial integrity of Ukraine and causes the destruction of much of the country’s infrastructure. We denounce the multiple adverse consequences of this conflict on the population: numerous injuries and many deaths of civilians and children, the privation of goods essential for life, extremely difficult living conditions, including, for many, the uncertainty of exile and the increased risks of human trafficking.
While billions of dollars are being expended for this war, millions of people are suffering and will continue to suffer from the repercussions of this conflict. We call upon our leaders to provide courageous leadership to ensure a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, a peace that respects each country’s identity and the well-being of its people. We are very concerned that such an aggression could have repercussions for the whole planet.
We encourage our respective governments to take urgent and swift action to provide all necessary support to Ukrainian refugees and to facilitate their arrival in host countries.
We pledge to continue our commitment to refugees and migrants and to support, with our prayers, both the Ukrainian people and all peacemakers.
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Source: Communications SNJM | Odette Côté – 514 995-7941