Journal Staff
About 250 people gathered in Sarnia today to pray and show support for Ukraine.
The prayer vigil and rally outside St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church was a show of solidarity for the nation, which is attempting to hold off a large-scale invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Those present condemned the attack and said they hope to raise awareness about what’s happening.
“We’re here to stand up for a sovereign nation,” said Sarnia’s Andrew Sydorko. “Ukrainians have sought freedom for years, and this isn’t the first time they’ve been taken over. Ukraine deserves to be free too.”
Standing in the church’s Rosedale Avenue parking lot, Sydorko and his family held up the nation’s blue and yellow flag.
“Nobody asked for this war,” Christina Sydorko said.
The event featured speeches, donations and multi-denominational prayers led by Father Bohdan Winnicki.
“This is about peace,” Winnicki said.
Cassandra Taylor, a local doctor with family trapped in the embattled country, quickly co-organized the event on Facebook.
She said more events are planned, including a fundraiser in the coming days involving perogies and Ukrainian egg decorating.
Details will be announced shortly, Taylor said.
The church has an email for donations to help those in need in Ukraine, at [email protected]
And the federal government is matching Canadians' donations to the Red Cross, up to a maximum of $10 million.