The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ, join with people of good will across the world as we witness with horror and disbelief at the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine, the bitter fruit of Russian military aggression. In the course of a few weeks: lives and homes destroyed; millions more people added to the world refugee population; half of the children in Ukraine displaced; the specter of nuclear war; ecological devastation.

We dedicate our prayer and join our voices to the conviction of Pope Francis, “Wars are always unjust since it is the people of God who pay.” We urge an immediate cessation of violence, intensified diplomatic efforts, a cessation of the global arms trade that foments violent conflict.

We are moved that even in the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, there are signs of hope: the welcome of millions of refugees by European countries, the acts of civil resistance by the Ukrainian people; the risks of the thousands of Russians who publicly protest their government’s military aggression; the world citizens who are providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

As we enter more deeply into the season of Lent, we contemplate the cross of Jesus, himself the victim of a colonizing empire. In Jesus, God pledged solidarity with victims of violence. We pledge the same solidarity and join with others to find ways to express it concretely.

Click here to download our Public Stand Against Racism document.