The 15th Congress of the Mothers in Prayer Community was held in New York City at St. George's Church, bringing together more than 100 women from all over the United States. During the event the participants prayed for their children, for Ukraine and its defenders.
This was reported to Vilni media by Iryna Dorosh, leader of the Mothers in Prayer community at St. Michael the Archangel Church (1013 Fox Chase Rd, Jenkintown, Philadelphia) and deputy leader of the Mothers in Prayer community in the United States.
"The mothers prayed for their children, for orphans, for children who were forcibly taken from Ukraine to Moscow, for the victory of Ukraine, for our dear soldiers-defenders. The bishops of all the dioceses of the Greek Catholic Church and the clergy also prayed with the mothers", says Iryna Dorosh.
In particular, Iryna Dorosh said that the "Mothers in Prayer" movement of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a group of mothers who regularly gather for prayer with the blessing of the Patriarch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the local ruling bishop for each individual diocese of the UGCC, and the pastor of the church.
"These groups are organized in diocesan and national structures in Ukraine and abroad. The Community of Mothers in Prayer was first established in Ukraine with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Lubomyr Husar in 2000 at St. George's Cathedral in Lviv. Today there are such communities in more than a hundred countries", she added.
In such communities, she said, mothers learn to trust God and each other.
"They strive together to serve the Mother of God and to be a light to the world. They pray together for their own children, as well as for children around the world, for orphans, for the gift of motherhood, for the preservation of the lives of unborn children, for grandchildren, for all those in need. And, of course, for Ukraine and its soldiers-defenders", Iryna Dorosh said.
In addition, the organizers of the community regularly hold pilgrimages, religious trips and annual congresses of diocesan communities. Retreats, conferences and meetings with clergy are held for the mothers. The community also welcomes pilgrims.
Author: Inna Mikhno