Bishop Edward Rice to Unite with Holy Father in Consecrating Russia & Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

A Letter from Bishop Rice

On Fri., March 18, 2022, Bishop Edward M. Rice issued the following letter to Clergy of the Diocese:

Dear Bishop, Monsignors, Fathers, Deacons and Religious,

On Thu., March 17, USCCB President Abp. Jose H. Gomez received an urgent missive from His Excellency, Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio, informing the US Bishops that His Holiness, Pope Francis, will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25.  In that same missive, His Holiness invites “each Bishop…together with his priests, to join in this act of consecration…at an hour corresponding to 5 p.m. Rome time.”

Attached you will find the Order for the Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to take place on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord. The Prayer of Consecration will be prayed following the prayer after Communion. The people of God are invited to offer the prayer in union with the bishop and his Holiness, Pope Francis.

• Bishop Emeritus John Leibrecht  will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 25, in St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield.
• Bishop Edward Rice will celebrate Mass at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, March 25, in Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau. This liturgy will be Livestreamed to the school’s Facebook page as well as the Facebook page for the Diocese:  @DioceseofSpringfieldCapeGirardeau.

All clergy and laity are invited to participate in either celebration of holy Mass.

Copies of the prayer for the congregation can be made.

Let us continue to pray, to the intercession of the Immaculate heart of Mary, for peace and Ukraine and throughout the world.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

The Most Rev. Edward M. Rice

Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

Act of Consecration Prayers

If you cannot attend one of these masses, pastors, deacons, and religious are encouraged to pray the Act of Consecration together with the faithful of their parish or institution outside of Mass any time on Friday, March 25th. Those faithful who cannot join their parish may offer it privately in their homes with their families.

Act of Consecration Prayer in English

Act of Consecration Prayer in Spanish

EWTN Broadcast of the Celebration of Penance in St. Peter’s Basilica with Pope Francis

On Friday, March 25th, Pope Francis will preside at the Celebration of Penance in Saint Peter’s Basilica in which he will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. EWTN will broadcast this event LIVE at 12 pm ET/11 am CT. An encore will be presented on Saturday, March 26 at 12 am ET.

Viewers can access EWTN through its free EWTN App, or on any streaming device such as ROKU, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and others, or directly on the EWTN Website at https://www.ewtn.com/tv/watch-live for English or https://www.ewtn.com/es/tv/en-vivo for Spanish.