By Felix Anthony –
Miao: In the midst of painful stories of women and children emerging from Ukraine caused by full scale invasion by Russia, a group of women from Miao in Arunachal Pradesh marked the International Women’s Day with special solidarity prayer for them at Sacred Heart Church, Neotan in Changlang district, on 7 March 2022.
“Heart breaking images of children and women are everywhere. Ukraine is reeling under pain and there is blood path with no hope to the end of this mindless war”, said Likro Mossang, the President of Women Commission of Miao Diocese in east Arunachal Pradesh. “We stand in solidarity with them and pray for them this Women’s Day that there will soon be an end to their agony”.
A group of 70 women from Christ the Light Church, Miao and Sacred Heart Church, Neotan attended the prayer meet for the Ukrainian women and children.
Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao diocese led the prayer and reminded the women of their special duty to pray especially for the women in Ukraine. “Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have. The history teaches us whenever we have prayed with one heart and mind, our prayer always has been answered. This Women’s Day let us stand in solidarity with all the women in Ukraine who are separated from their families and children and have taken shelter in underground passages”, the Salesian prelate said.
Echoing the words of Pope Francis last Sunday, Bishop George said “There is blood and tears flowing in Ukraine and the number of victims is increasing, especially mother and children. From this corner of this world, we pray for them and for the end of this war. May peace and normalcy return to Ukraine and Russia and in the whole world”.
Sister Mary Sarkar, the Secretary of Women Commission in Miao diocese said theme of the celebration this year ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ would be relevant to women only if the women in Ukraine are out of their tragedy caused by this gruesome war. “We hope that tomorrow will be better for the women in Ukraine”, Sarkar said.
The war, now in its 12th day, has caused 1.5 million people to flee Ukraine and there is pain and suffering everywhere. We pray that there will soon be an end to all this, said Sister Sunita Parmar, a Carmelite Nun, at the end of the prayer meet.
