GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Catholic faithful gathered at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Grand Rapids on Monday evening for a special piece of liturgy, as the Diocese of Grand Rapids answered a nationwide call for a holy hour for peace.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, invited Catholic churches everywhere to gather in prayer, saying the current climate of fear and polarization in our country does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel.
Bishop David Walkowiak expanded the call for prayers of peace to global conflicts and emphasized the need for people to follow a Christlike example at home and abroad.
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“The theme is the peace of Christ,” Walkowiak told News 8. “Of course, that is a peace that the world cannot give. It is something we all long for in our hearts and around the world… I think prayer, lifting our minds and hearts to God for that intention will be very, very helpful because it will inspire us not only to remember those who are struggling and suffering, but also be moved to do things on their behalf. … I am taking a wider view of things. We’re praying for peace. We have the war in Ukraine, we have civil strife in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have hot spots throughout the world. We don’t want to forget them.”
While his prayers were broad, the bishop was also specific on the challenges facing the United States, and how he and the church as a whole hopes people deal with them…