As the start of the Russian invasion into Ukraine began to unfold, Pope Francis urged Catholics from around the world to make Ash Wednesday a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Ukraine in solidarity to the Eastern European country and to pray to God for an end to the war. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney reiterated the pope’s request. “I ask all the faithful of the Diocese of Paterson to be united in prayer for peace in Ukraine and for the protection of the Ukrainian people, our sisters and brothers, who are suffering at this time.”

Yesterday, on Ash Wednesday, the holy season of Lent, our 40-day journey in which we find ways to enhance our spiritual lives, began. To focus more on our spiritual lives and less on our secular lives, we look for opportunities to keep our focus on what Lent is about and how it can change our lives as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter.

Less than two weeks ago, I would have thought that the spiritual focus for the season of Lent in 2022 could have been the Synodal process, which surely will be part of our Lenten experience. Here in our Diocese, we are also having a Year of the Eucharist and opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration and devotion can also help us on our Lenten journey. The Synod and the Eucharist will be part of our Lent in 2022, but, once again, we have been reminded that our focus sometimes has to change because of events beyond our control. As we are all now aware, a week ago, on Thursday, Feb. 24, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the world’s attention has turned to the senseless violence and disregard for human life, especially to the innocent victims who have been killed and injured.