On June 1st, International Children’s Day, the National Women’s League of America organized a national prayer campaign Children Praying for Children. The campaign aims to create a sacred space for children and their families to come together in a prayer for all Ukrainian children suffering from the ongoing russian war in Ukraine.
More than 10 UNWLA branches nationwide organized prayer events on June 1st. The events took place in various cities in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.
In Washington, D.C., the UNWLA, in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S.A., organized an ecumenical prayer event at the Ukraine House. The prayer was led by recognized leaders of the congregations represented in Ukraine and the U.S.: His Eminence Metropolitan Antony – Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Rev. Roman Kapran, President of Ukrainian Baptist Convention of the USA, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches – Rev. Robert Hitchens, Rev. Marko Morozovych, Rev.Andriy Chornopysky, Rev.Oleksandr Dumenko and Rabbi Hyim Shafner of Kesher Israel: The Georgetown Synagogue, who addressed the gathering via video message.
Distinguished speakers Christopher Anderson, Director of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State; Christian Levesque, Director of the War Crimes Accountability Team (WarCAT) and Lead Prosecutor for Ukraine at the Department of Justice; and Congresswoman Susan Wild delivered remarks during the event.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S.A. Oksana Markarova and chair of the UNWLA’s initiative Return Ukraine’s Children Marta Fedoriw with religious leaders and speakers of the event.
The children of the Ukrainian School in D.C. joined the event with the song “When the Child is Praying.”
Her Excellency Ambassador Oksana Markarova said, “We all are praying and working hard to make sure that the world didn’t forget about Ukrainian children. We still do not know the fate of many of our children, particularly those who have been abducted. We have registered 20,000 cases of children being abducted by Russia. But we all know that Russia itself boasts of having ‘saved’ over 600,000 Ukrainian children, with or without their families.”
“By holding the Children Praying for Children service we created a sacred space for children to come together in prayer, solidarity, and compassionate action for their peers who are affected by the tragic circumstances of the Russian war on Ukraine.,” says Marta Fedoriw, chair of the UNWLA’s initiative Return Ukraine’s Children. “This weekend’s prayer events organized by the UNWLA branches and our partners not only honored the children of Ukraine and their resilience, but also served as a beacon of hope and solidarity for the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States and the global community.”
UNWLA invited all branches and other community organizations to join the campaign. Many answered the call and organized prayer events in their communities.
UNWLA Branch 135, Perth Amboy, NJ, held a beautiful morning liturgy with the Assumption Catholic School.
UWAA – Ukrainian Women’s Association of America in Chicago responded to our call to all community organizations and held a prayer service at the church of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Branch 139, Stamford, NJ held the service at the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cathedral in Stamford.
Branch 91, Bethlehem-Allentown, PA, organized a prayer together with the St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Congresswoman Susan Wild joined the community for the event.
Branch 21 Lina Kostenko, NY, held a service at the Holy Spirit church in Brooklyn.
Branch 56, North Port, FL, gathered community at the St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church to show support to children suffering in Ukraine.
After the prayer service, children wrote messages of support to Ukrainian children.
Branch 147, Austin-San-Antonio, TX, held a public prayer together with local activists during the weekly rally downtown Austin.
Also, the TSNL Church San Antonio had a prayer for Ukrainian children during their regular Sunday service.
Branch 146, Philadelphia, PA, organized the solemn walk and a prayer service for all Ukrainian children.
Branch 120, Rochester, NY, gathered the community for prayer, and later, children wrote letters to their Ukrainian peers to send a message of love and support.
Students of Chapter 57 Dnipro, CYM, Bound Brook, NJ, also came together in prayer for Ukrainian children.
Branch 65, NJ, held a community prayer service at the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Branch 128, Philadelphia, PA, held a prayer for all Ukrainian children with the branch members.
Honorary Branch 1, New York, NY, together with Branch 125, New York, NY, organized a public prayer service during the Ukrainian festival organized by the Ukrainian school “NEW WAVE” in Brooklyn, NY.
We appreciate the media in Ukraine and in the U.S.A. for covering the campaign and helping us to share our prayers with the world.
Nova Gazeta dedicated two columns to the Children Praying for Children initiative
For the event in Washington, DC, we asked children what they were praying for Ukrainian children. Watch this video to hear what they had to say.
We are grateful to all the members of the Ukrainian-American community who lifted Ukrainian children in their prayers and continue advocating for the safe return of all Ukrainian children to their homes and families.
If you have any additional information please reach out to [email protected]
