Archbishop Vigneron, local priests join pope in consecrating Russia, Ukraine to Mary

Amid war and despair, Archdiocese of Detroit turns to the Queen of Peace, archbishop says, joining prayers with Catholics worldwide

DETROIT — In a world in chaos, Pope Francis has asked Catholics to turn to the Queen of Peace.

The Holy Father invited bishops from around the world to join him March 25 in consecrating the world, particularly Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as he did Friday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

“Mother of God and our mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine,” the pope said, pronouncing the Act of Consecration after leading a Lenten penance service in St. Peter's Basilica.

In the Archdiocese of Detroit, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron led priests of the archdiocese in joining the pope's consecration during a brief service at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

“We are here to consecrate humanity, in particular Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in this time of darkness and suffering,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Let us pray the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, and as we meditate on the redemptive suffering of our savior, we invoke the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace.”

After the rosary, Archbishop Vigneron consecrated the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, following same rite Pope Francis and bishops around the world used for the consecration.

“Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love," the prayer beseeches Mary. "Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. The ‘Fiat’ that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, though your heart, peace will dawn once more.”

Before the statue of Our Lady, which was on loan to the cathedral from the archdiocesan Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Riverview, was a reliquary containing relics of St. Francisco Marto and St. Jacinta Marto, two of the Fatima children to whom Mary appeared in 1917.

The consecration at Detroit's cathedral follows prayer vigils, supply drives and rallies for peace in Ukraine that have taken place across Metro Detroit since Russia's invasion of its sovereign neighbor began Feb. 24.

Coverage of the war and its ensuring refugee crisis, including the destruction of cities and worship sites and the death and traumatic images of people in pain can often feel overwhelming.

But Msgr. Patrick Halfpenny, director of priestly mission in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and temporary administrator of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, said prayer is something that will always have in impact, even in earth’s darkest days.

“The most important thing I can do is pray for peace. I think the tempter wants us to think we’re powerless in the face of this overwhelming evil that is afflicting so many people, and, as usual, when the tempter is involved, that’s a lie,” said Msgr. Halfpenny, who attended the consecration at Blessed Sacrament. “There is a great power in prayer, and I think the consecration prayer of Ukraine and Russia to the Blessed Mother will bear fruit. I don’t know how, but it’s not my job to know how.”

It's providential that the consecration comes during the Solemnity of the Annunciation, which celebrates Mary giving her “fiat” to accepting God’s plan to bear the Savior of the world, said Fr. Joseph Kirkconnell, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit who is currently studying for a doctorate at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

“We imitate Mary, her ‘yes,’ and in a sense give God our five loaves and two fish,” Fr. Kirkconnell told Detroit Catholic. “We offer our lives through her prayers and in union with the sacrifice of Jesus, the Son. He was able to sacrifice his life because on this day he took on flesh. So we unite our lives, hardships and joys to give to him and ask him to multiply it through his grace.”