By Matters India reporter
Panaji, March 14, 2022: A candle vigil prayer was organized for Ukraine at St Sebastian’s Chapel, Fontainhas in the Goan capital of Panaji.
The two-hour program on March 12 comprised Gospel music, songs and a message by Father Savio Fernandes, executive secretary of Council for Social Justice and Peace, Archdiocese of Goa-Daman.
Recalling the suffering of the people of Ukraine, Father Fernandes said, “The world is still paying the price of human, psychological, environmental, spiritual and physical devastation of the two deadly world wars. In spite of all these Russia has gone ahead resisting all international pressure for waging war against Ukraine. The war has been at the cost of human life. Many people have lost lives.”
“The people in Ukraine are in need of life-saving, humanitarian assistance. Every life is precious. Violence is not the cure for our broken world. Neither, countering violence with violence is a solution. The Word of God is inviting us to embrace Christ’s teaching against non-violence. The teachings of Jesus are relevant to everyone. No one should think that non-violence is weak. By loving one another we will be able to overcome all the evil in the world,” he added.
Father Roque Da Costa, chaplain of St Sebastian’s Chapel, said, “Recent events in Ukraine have generated great concern around the world and within every human being, calling us to pray together for peace.”
Jovito Lopes, former secretary of Indian Red Cross in Goa and one of the parishioners, lamented, “It was dismaying that after enduring eight years of conflict, people are now facing more violence, loss and turmoil. Fear, freezing temperatures and an uncertain future is what families are facing now.”
The open-air prayer concluded with a prayer and hymn by the participants with lit candles.
A few Ukrainians living in Goa also participated in the prayer and expressed the hope that their country people would be safe in the war-torn country.