A World Day of Prayer celebration will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on Friday, March 4 at 10 a.m.
The worship theme is: “Receive children, receive me.” Everyone is invited to share in the powerful experience of prayer, service and fellowship. Similar services will be conducted in the afternoon for the residents of the special care homes by various churches in the community.
The national flower of Cuba is the white butterfly jasmine. Cuban women have used the flower not only as an adornment for their hair, but also to transmit messages during liberation wars, and as a sign of their being Cuban.
This is why the white butterfly jasmine was chosen as the emblem for the 2016 World Day of Prayer service, written by the World Day of Prayer committee of Cuba. The service transmits their witness and experience of being Cuban and Christian, even when their faith meant isolation within the country they love.
Offerings received during the World Day of Prayer service have provided grants to various projects throughout the world. In 2015 grants were given to Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the Middle East.
As well, various organizations in Canada received over $43,000.
Christians in over 170 countries and in 2,000 communities across Canada will gather to learn about, pray for, and celebrate Cuba in solidarity with the women of Cuba through the World Day of Prayer. Residents are invited to participate in local World Day of Prayer events in their communities.
World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service.
Through World Day of Prayer, women are encouraged to become aware of the whole world and no longer live in isolation; to be enriched by the faith experience of Christians of other countries and cultures; to take up the burdens of other people and pray with and for them; and to become aware of their talents and use them in the service of society. Through World Day of Prayer, women affirm that prayer and action are inseparable and both have immeasurable influence in the world.
