On the 25thJune 2024, the Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Michael the Archangel, together with the Ukrainian Bishops' Conference and the Apostolic Nuncio Msgr. Visvaldas Kulbokas, gathered in Shargorod, in the Vinnytsia region, to bless the stations of the Via Crucis.
First of all, a prayer service for fallen soldiers and for peace in Ukraine was held in the Avenue of Heroes in Shargorod Cemetery. The participants honoured the memory of the defenders who gave their lives for peace in Ukraine with a common prayer.
Subsequently, Mass was celebrated on an altar in front of the Church of St. Florian in Shargorod, presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine. The Custodian of the Shrine of the Passion, Br. Rafal Makivsky, OFM, welcomed all those present.
At the beginning of the Mass, the "Foundation Act" of the Calvary of Shargorod was signed. In his homily, the Nuncio recalled that he had personally known some of the fallen buried in the local cemetery. He also recalled that on the same day the widows of the fallen are in Rome to meet the Holy Father during the general audience on the 26th June.
"Today we ask the Lord for mercy, protection and peace, not for our own merits, but for His mercy. Here we have the opportunity to pray, close to this new Calvary," the Archbishop said.
The Nuncio stressed the importance of understanding the meaning of the Cross of Jesus so that it may become an instrument of salvation for us. This is possible by reading the Scriptures and reflecting on the Stations of the Cross.
"When we unite our suffering with that of Jesus Christ and become obedient to God, we truly cooperate in the work of salvation that God gives to mankind. Our suffering becomes a true gift for God and for our brothers and sisters," the Nuncio concluded.
After Mass, which was attended by many Franciscan priests led by Br. Benedikt Sviderskyy OFM, as well as other clergy from all over Ukraine and other lay people, including Government Officials, the Stations of the Cross in Shargorod were blessed, passing from one Station to the next with spiritual reflections and hymns.
Construction of Shargorod Calvary began more than 15 years ago. The first stone, laid in 2008, was blessed in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI. In 2017, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, then Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, proclaimed St. Florian's Church in Shargorod and the Stations of the Cross as a Shrine of the Lord's Passion.
With the contribution of Br. Cristian Kryvakivskyy, OFM
