On 14 August, the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, women religious across the globe united in a powerful gesture of hope and solidarity, leading a day of prayer and fasting for peace in response to the ongoing conflicts afflicting humanity.

The initiative, spearheaded by the International Union of Superiors General (IUSG), drew support from numerous faith-based organisations, including the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Sister Bernadette Venglovska comforting a displaced woman. ACN Info trip to Ukraine 2023

The prayer event, held in spiritual communion across continents, sought to draw attention to the suffering caused by wars in regions such as Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and beyond. The IUSG, which represents leaders of female religious congregations worldwide, chose the date with deep intention—invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, on the threshold of one of the Church’s most cherished Marian feast days.

“We cannot remain silent spectators,” the sisters declared in their appeal. “Every day we see faces marked by pain, lives destroyed, peoples deprived of dignity and peace, especially women and children.”

 

The call resonated deeply with ACN, whose executive president, Regina Lynch, praised the courage and compassion of women religious often found on the frontlines of conflict. “It is very commendable that this group of women should be leading the way in denouncing warfare and calling for peace and reconciliation,” said Lynch. “ACN is happy to add its voice to the many responding to their brave call.”

Lynch also reflected on the spiritual significance of the Assumption, noting, “Mary is the Queen of Peace. Let us pray that she may touch the hearts of decision-makers all over the world, that they may yearn for the peace of her son, Jesus Christ.”

The event served not only as a moment of prayer but as a prophetic witness to the Church’s mission of peace, with women religious offering a tender yet resolute voice in the face of global suffering. Their leadership continues to inspire hope that, through faith and unity, the cries of the vulnerable may be heard and answered.