On April 4th, 2022, the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kitchener organized an interfaith prayer for peace in Ukraine at St. Anthony Daniel Roman Catholic Church.  Father Myroslaw Tataryn, the pastor of Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church, invited local faith leaders of Roman Catholic, Jewish, different denominations of Christianity, Muslim, Sikhism, and Buddhism to say a prayer for peace from their tradition.  

Ven. Chueh Fan, the Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, was invited. Over 100 people were attending the prayer service, including the Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky, Venerable Ru Xing, the Advising Monastic of Waterloo Buddha’s Light Centre, and Stephanie Hong, the representative of Interfaith Grand River, and Buddha’s Light Spiritual Care Group.

The service was solemn, and each leader addressed their hope for peace in Ukraine. Ven. Chueh Fan pointed out that the COVID and many tragedies worldwide in the past two years had caused uneasiness in our lives.  The war between Ukraine and Russia destroys families and causes lives lost.  She hopes everyone to live in happiness together.  She read the prayer “Pray for World Peace,” written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, wishing everyone can learn from the Buddha’s wisdom to close the distance between self and others, and reconcile the conflicts.      

Father Myroslaw thanked all interfaith leaders joining the service from their busy schedules, and appreciated their support to the local Ukraine community.  

by Stephanie Hong

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