Bishop Kemme consecrates Russia, Ukraine to Immaculate Heart of Mary
An image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita during a Mass Friday, March 25. Bishop Carl A. Kemme consecrated Russia and Ukraine at the end of the Mass. A slideshow of the Mass is below. (Advance photo)
When we are distressed we think of our mothers, Bishop Carl A. Kemme said in a brief homily at the noon Mass Friday, March 25, celebrated in union with Pope Francis.
The bishop joined the pope after the Holy Father asked the world’s bishops to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
“In times of trouble, many of us naturally turn to our mother, the woman from whom we were born and who fed us and cared for us in so many ways. If we were blessed with a faithful and loving mother, we look to her as our greatest advocate and support, for her wisdom and protection and for her loving embrace.”
Invited by Holy Father
Bishop Kemme said as the result of an invitation from the Holy Father, the whole church “united in a way I have never seen in my ministry as priest and now bishop, turns to our heavenly Mother, Mary, on this the Solemnity of the Annunciation to beg her intercession and protection for a world that is once again on the brink of war and destruction.”
The aggressive invasion of Ukraine by Russia has caused the deaths of thousands, the fleeing of millions into neighboring countries as refugees, and the untold misery of countless others.
“The pope’s consecration that I will pray after the post-Communion prayer in union with him and all the bishops of the world recalls Mary’s fiat, her ‘yes’ to God’s plan. It recalls her fidelity to her Son Jesus as his disciple, her entrustment to us at the foot of the cross, her accompaniment with the human race down through the ages, and her unceasing plea for us to be totally converted to her Son Jesus as the King of Peace.”
He said as a result we are called with great urgency to join the pope not only in prayer but in fasting and penance for the sins of the world, “so that peace will reign in our lands and that people will have all they need to fulfill their mission as disciples of Jesus.”
“I thank you for being here with me today and for joining with me in this Mass, our fasting and prayer, and especially by uniting your hearts to mine and all of our hearts to the Holy Father for the conversion of Russia and for peace in the Ukraine and throughout the whole world.”