Interfaith prayer service for Ukrainians set Sunday at Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

LEWISTON — The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul will host an interfaith prayer service at 2 p.m. Sunday for Ukrainians, the Roman Catholic Diocese in Portland said in a statement Tuesday.

People are invited to gather at the basilica at 122 Ash St. or watch via livestream at www.princeofpeace.me . Ways to donate to Ukrainian civilians fighting or fleeing the war by Russian invaders will be announced during the service, the statement said.

Participating in the service are: the Rev. Daniel Greenleaf, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston; the Rev. Annie Baker-Streevy, pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Lewiston; Brittany Longsdorf, multifaith chaplain at Bates College in Lewiston; and Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline.

“I think we’re (all) watching it on the news and feeling somewhat helpless,” Greenleaf said. “We’ve got to be able to do something, and first we can pray, gather support and become sensitive to the world issues, that would be an important thing.”

Greenleaf said, “Ukraine is the one that is suffering terribly; if history repeats itself, (then) where’s this going? I think that’s what makes everyone afraid, whether Ukraine is the first of others, so there’s a lot of compassion and also fear.

“Solidarity and gathering, after two and half years of not being able to do so, but as that kind of subsides, we can get back together and support each other in many different ways and then also to be sensitive to other people who we don’t even know, that are suffering,” he said.