By Cian Molloy - 09 August, 2019
Pope Francis has declared an extraordinary month of mission for October and has asked the faithful to participate in a universal prayer chain.
But World Mission Ireland executive secretary Julieann Moran would like people to start building those chains now.
As part of the celebration of the extraordinary month, a special EMM2019 prayer has been written. People are encouraged to recite it after the Angelus every Friday during October.
“We think it’s a great initiative, because prayer is so important,” said Ms Moran.
“When I would do school visits as part of my work with the Society of Missionary Children there would be some pupils who would say ‘I don’t have a donation, but I will say a prayer’ and I would reply ‘That is even better’.
“When we pray together, we share in God’s love. As a result, we’re inspired to make the world a better place.”
Ms Moran said the aim of the worldwide prayer chain was to connect the whole Church family, and to give the faithful extra strength to live out their mission as Catholics.
“To be really effective we need to get as many people as possible involved. So anyone starting now to say the prayer after the Angelus on Fridays should tell their friends and families about it.
“In addition to providing prayerful support to missionary activity, it is also a lovely way to promote the Angelus as a devotion.”
World Missions Ireland is inviting everyone to pray the EMM2019 prayer as often as possible, not just after the Angelus on Fridays.
The text of the prayer is as follows:
Heavenly Father,
When your only begotten Son Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He commissioned His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” and you remind us that through our Baptism we are made sharers in the mission of the Church.
Empower us by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be courageous and zealous in bearing witness to the Gospel, so that the mission entrusted to the Church, which is still very far from completion, may find new and efficacious expressions that bring life and light to the world.
Help us make it possible for all peoples to experience the saving love and mercy of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.
Amen.
