The local Ukrainian-Canadian community is aware that our schools continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, and that some were also raising money for relief efforts and for refugees. One of our high school chaplaincy team leaders was approached by a leader in their community and asked if the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) could help coordinate an interfaith prayer gathering focussed on prayer in Ukraine.

Over several weeks, SMCDSB collaborated with the Ukrainian community,  Linda McGregor, Manager of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education (K-12), local Muslim and Jewish communities, and Father Jim, to record short video reflections and prayers. These short videos were compiled into a virtual prayer service for peace, which is being shared with those communities, and with our SMCDSB families. We invite you to join us in an Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace in Ukraine.

We are  very grateful for the enthusiastic support and friendship of these communities, and we hope that this important project can help to strengthen friendships, and open doors for other kinds of future interfaith collaborations.