Below is a note and invitation from Catholic Relief Services:
Continued blessings of the Easter Season!
In his Easter message, Pope Francis specifically mentions the conflict in the Central African Republic and encourages us all to pray for an “end to all war and every conflict, whether great or small, ancient or recent.”
I am writing to invite you to join in prayer with our brothers and sisters in the Central African Republic (CAR) who are courageously standing for peace. Though violence continues, a peace demonstration is planned for Saturday, May 31 in CAR. Over 10,000 people are expected to gather, including government officials, leaders from various faith communities, and civil society representatives.
In solidarity with our courageous brothers and sisters in CAR, CRS staff in the US will pause to pray for peace starting at noon on Friday, May 30. Please join with us and encourage others to incorporate these prayer resources into their prayer and worship Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1:
- Dioceses and parishes can incorporate the intentions in their daily masses or begin meetings with prayer for CAR;
- Schools can incorporate them into morning prayer;
- Families can include the intentions in prayers before meals or at bedtime;
- Individuals can incorporate them into personal prayers.
For more information about CAR and how the people of your diocese or parish can act for peace, please visit our website.
Thank you for joining us on May 30 in prayerful solidarity with our brothers and sisters in CAR!
Blessings,
Joan Rosenhauer
Executive Vice President
U.S. Operations
P.S. Please invite your networks to participate through social media. Join our Facebook event to find information about the prayer service on May 30, the situation in CAR, and photos. Share how you’re standing in solidarity with the peacebuilders in CAR on the event page or hashtag your tweets with #PrayersForCAR. Follow @CatholicRelief on Twitter or the #PrayersForCAR hashtag.