Consecration of Russia and Ukraine
The noon Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption will be live streamed Friday, March 25, as Archbishop Joseph Kurtz participates in the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Watch here >
My heart is filled with gratitude as I express deep thanks to all of you – the priests, deacons, women and men religious, and faithful leaders of the Archdiocese of Louisville – for your prayers and your presence at the noon Mass at the Cathedral this past Friday. At this Mass, I gave thanks to God for the gift of my vocation as a priest and for all vocations as I celebrated the 50th anniversary of my priestly ordination.
I was so grateful for the many letters in which you expressed your prayers and support for me as I prepare for my life as Archbishop Emeritus. In a particular way, I want to thank my brother priests for your generous and very supportive monetary gift to me. When I came as your Archbishop almost 15 years ago, you gave me a similar gift, and I used the funds to purchase purple vestments, which included a purple cope that I have been privileged to use on the first Sunday of Lent each year for the Rite of Election. Every Lent as I wore that cope and welcomed the hundreds of people who have entered the church over these last 15 years, I would always remember that gift as a tangible communion that I have shared with my brother priests.
Given the terrible tragedy and travesty that is occurring at this moment in Ukraine, I have decided to give this gift from my brother priests as a donation to Catholic Relief Services for humanitarian efforts in assisting those in Ukraine, as well as those who have fled the country. I recall my pastoral visit to Ukraine in June 2015 while I served as the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This was a year after the ravaging of Ukraine in 2014. My visit was an expression of solidarity with the conference of bishops in Ukraine as well as a way to join with the efforts of Catholic Relief Services and that of the staff funded by the special collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. I recall visiting so many in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv. This included meeting with refugees from Crimea in Kyiv and visiting a refugee camp in Kharkiv. The destruction I witnessed seven years ago pales in comparison with the present destruction, deaths, and number of refugees that our world now witnesses. May our prayers and action for the people of Ukraine, as well as all who suffer throughout the world, be an occasion for us to deepen our reliance on Christ Jesus and our desire to be His living presence for others.
On the Solemnity of the Annunciation of our Lord, Friday, March 25, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at 5 p.m. Rome time. With this message, I ask all priests as well as the deacons, consecrated religious, and lay faithful to join with me, if possible, at a time close to noon eastern time as I will be in solidarity with Pope Francis and bishops throughout the world in this special consecration. I will celebrate the noon Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption and will pray the prayer of consecration. In addition, I also will celebrate Mass earlier that day with the students of Holy Angels Academy in Louisville and offer the prayer of consecration, and pastors can certainly choose their regular daily Mass times for this consecration if the noon hour is not possible.
