Bishop David John Walkowiak is coming off a busy week for the Diocese of Grand Rapids that included joining Pope Francis in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday, after visiting local Catholic schools in the preceding days.

“Bishop Walkowiak was joined in prayer on Friday by 900 individuals (in person and online) to implore the aid and comfort of our Blessed Mother during the act of consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” the diocese posted on Facebook. 

Earlier last week, the bishop visited schools to mingle with the students.

At Catholic Central High School, he celebrated the sacrament of confession. At St. John Vianney Catholic Preschool-8th Grade, he celebrated a Mass and visited classrooms to answer students' questions ranging from "How does someone become a Bishop?” to “What are your favorite sports teams?”

“It also was a special treat for the school community to welcome back SJV alum and diocesan seminarian David Shamblin who was home for spring break,” the diocese’s posting said. St. John Vianney is a Catholic school in Wyoming, Michigan, that emphasizes compassion, knowledge, and enabling students "to follow the path of Jesus Christ," according to the school's website. 

Pope Francis had invited bishops across the world to join him in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Vatican News reported. Pope Francis performed the consecration at Saint Peter's Basilica at 5 pm. 

The consecration ceremony traces its roots to the time when Mary appeared in Fatima in 1917, where she specifically asked for Russia to be consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart. She warned that if it weren't, "Russia would spread 'its errors throughout the world, promoting wars and persecution of the Church," Vatican News says. Russia had been consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary several times since then, including in 1952 and 1964, before this year.