German Catholics pray this year's Novena for peace in Ukraine

“We would like to remind you in a special way of this depressing situation [the war in Ukraine - ed.] and, at the same time, present Ukraine, one of Renovabis' most important partner countries.  This year's Novena is an invitation to develop understanding about the people of Ukraine and to unite with them in prayer," said Fr.  Christian Hartl, director of Renovabis.

 The prayer meditations of the Novena, written by Anna Tomaszek-Dobra, were based on the thoughts of His Beatitude Sviatoslav from the book "Dialogue Heals Wounds."  That is why the director of Renovabis called the Head of the UGCC "the patron of this Novena."

In his preface to the Novena, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that this year, for the first time, German charities united their priorities under one slogan, choosing "Peace" as the central theme of their prayers, reflections and projects.  In particular, Renovabis emphasizes this idea.

"With this Novena, we ask our risen Lord Jesus Christ for His life-giving Spirit who enables reconciliation and gives peace," the UGCC Head wrote in the preface to the Novena, adding, "only when we open ourselves to the action of this Spirit of God in our prayers, we will be able to understand and fill with meaning the appeals at the end of the Byzantine or Roman Catholic Eucharistic worship – ‘Let us go forth in peace' and ‘Go in peace.'"

The Novena to the Holy Spirit will take place from May 21 to 30, 2020.

The UGCC Department for Information