On Friday, March 25, Archbishop Samuel Aquila will join Pope Francis in praying the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for Russia and Ukraine.
In Rome, Pope Francis is scheduled to begin a Celebration of Penance at St. Peter’s Basilica at 5:00 p.m., Rome time, which is 10:00 a.m. in Colorado (Mountain Time). The Act will then take place at approximately 6:30 p.m., Rome time, which is 11:30 a.m. in Colorado.
In Colorado, Archbishop Aquila will be celebrating a Mass at 11:00 a.m. to open an Archdiocesan Discernment Event as part of the 2021-2023 Synod. He will pray the Act of Consecration at approximately 11:30 a.m. during the Mass to coincide with the Act in Rome.
Archbishop Aquila recently invited the priests and faithful of the archdiocese to pray in support of the Pope’s intentions, as we seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Peace, in bringing conversion and peace to this region. Parish and religious communities are invited to pray the Act at any time on Friday as well. The faithful can find the full Act of Consecration from the Vatican here.
A livestream of the Archdiocese of Denver’s Mass can be viewed here: https://archden.org/livestream/
A livestream of the Pope’s Celebration of Penance can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fUsZwnt-uM
Archbishop Aquila’s March 16 statement in support of Pope Francis consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
“I am grateful for Pope Francis’ announcement that he will publicly consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and thankful that he has responded to the calls from the bishops in Ukraine.
I will join the Holy Father in prayer that day and I am encouraging the priests and the faithful of the archdiocese to also pray in support for his intentions, as we seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Peace, in bringing conversion and peace to this region. Mary’s deepest desire for every country and human being is to come to know her Son, Jesus, who alone can bring true and lasting peace.
As we begin our Surrender Novena on March 17 prior to our March 25 start of our 3-day Archdiocesan synodal event here in Denver, we can bring the intentions of our Holy Father and pray for peace through the intercession of Mary each day. The Surrender Novena may be found here, and I encourage the faithful to pray the rosary each day, praying for peace, and consecrating Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As we entrust our whole life to God through our total surrender to Him, may our faith in Divine Providence console our hearts in these difficult times. Jesus is our only hope!”
To learn more about this Act of Consecration: Vatican News; Catholic News Agency; The Pillar
