My Calendar

Events in December 2025

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
01/12/2025(1 event)

World AIDS Day


01/12/2025

World AIDS Day

Here's a 2 minute video of useful information!

 

A PRAYER FOR THIS DAY  (available HERE as 1 minute video)

Loving God,

we are mindful this day of our sisters and brothers living with HIV and AIDS.

We ask for your healing presence on them especially the children around the world who have been left vulnerable.

We stand with those who have been rejected, abandoned or stigmatised by their condition.

And we pray for a just distribution of resources in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

 

We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN

 

 

 

World AIDS Day

02/12/2025(1 event)

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery


02/12/2025

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

"Slavery - that finished ages ago, didn't it?"

Well, actually no!

DID YOU KNOW?

  • An estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery, including 24.9 in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriage.
  • There are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.
  • 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
  • Out of the 24.9 million people trapped in forced labour, 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million people in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million people in forced labour imposed by state authorities.
  • Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Loving God,

who sees the unseen and notices the unnoticed,

help each of us to hear the Hidden Voices of those

who pray for release from slavery.

We pray for those who work to end exploitation and trafficking

that they (and we) be strengthened in resolve to free your people.

We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN

 

(Adapted from prayer by The Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, Chair of The Clewer Initiative.)

03/12/2025(1 event)

International Day of Persons with Disabilities


03/12/2025

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

A 3 minute video celebrating different abilities!

Loving God,

We pray that throughout the world, people with disabilities may be seen as people with different abilities.

May all experience dignity, acceptance of equality and self-sufficiency in their lives.

We ask that all be empowered to live free from prejudice, persecution or discrimination of any kind.

Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, may we work together to do whatever we can to achieve this.

AMEN

04/12/2025
05/12/2025(2 events)

World Soil Day


05/12/2025

World Soil Day

 

Soil erosion - what's so important about that?     Find some answers by watching this 2:11 video!

 

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Creator God,

we thank You for soil,

one of creation's wonders that we simply take for granted.

Be with those who labour on the land,

help us all to make decisions which contribute towards nurturing and preserving it

so that the soil will continue to bear fruit

that all your children might be fed!

We pray this in your holy name. AMEN

 

 

 

World Soil Day 

06/12/2025
07/12/2025(1 event)
08/12/2025(1 event)

Traditional date for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary


08/12/2025

Traditional date for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Here's a video covering this feast day - which is often misunderstood!  (3 mins 30 secs)

09/12/2025(2 events)
10/12/2025(1 event)

Human Rights Day


10/12/2025

Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day 

Here's a special message for Human Rights Day 2020 - a year like no other (2:09).

So what are Human Rights (2:08)?

A PRAYER

We pray this day for all who are denied human rights.

We pray for individuals and organisations campaigning for the oppressed.

We pray for oppressors that their hearts be transformed.

 

Loving God, help us to be beacons of hope,

willing to speak and campaign,

to support and encourage,

to show compassion and resilience,

so that your kingdom of peace and justice be established

in this place, at this time.

 

Give us wisdom and courage to make the first seemingly small steps and declarations

required to make giant leaps and proclamations.

 

We ask this in your holy name. AMEN

11/12/2025(1 event)

International Mountain Day


11/12/2025

International Mountain Day

Did you know?

 

So you can see that mountains are incredibly important!   However, there are problems our mountains are facing because of climate change:

 

A PRAYER FOR TODAY (available here as a 1 minute video.)

Creator God,

we pray for those who live on, and rely on, mountains for their livelihood.

We pray for courageous leaders who will tackle climate change at their national level.

We pledge ourselves to tackle climate change on an individual level by every day decisions that impact the world we share.

 

We give thanks for those who support us as we climb the mountains in our lives.

Help us to find and stay on the right path

and give us strength to keep going when the going gets tough.

 

We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN

 

 

International Mountain Day 

12/12/2025(3 events)

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe


12/12/2025

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

Here's a brief introduction to Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

CLICK HERE FOR a summary which includes our special connection to Our Lady of Guadalupe as a Notre Dame school. (3 mins 19 secs)

 

A PRAYER

Our Lady of Guadalupe,

O dark Madonna of the Americas,

Come again to bring us

the roses of compassion, justice, and peace.

 

In the midst of our winter,

bestow your love on all those marginalized in these lands,

and give us your gift to see dignity

in the least of those among us.

Bless all who suffer from injustice.

Shelter them in the warmth of your love

and safeguard them from evil that rages around them.

Turn our eyes and hearts to their needs

and give us courage to act for their good.

We ask this, relying on your compassion and confident of your love.

Amen

(Prayer from Education for Justice) 

 

 

13/12/2025
14/12/2025
15/12/2025
16/12/2025
17/12/2025
18/12/2025(2 events)

Arabic Language Day


18/12/2025

Arabic Language Day

It's World Arabic Language Day when the international community takes a moment to appreciate Arabic and its contributions to humanity.  It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, used daily by more than 290 million people.

World Arabic Language Day is celebrated every year on 18 December since 2012. The date coincides with the day in 1973 that the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Arabic as the sixth official language of the Organization.  Maybe you could work out the other 5!  (Answers below)

The Arabic language has given rise to developments in architecture, poetry, philosophy and song.  It gives access to an incredible variety of identities and beliefs and its history reveals the richness of its links with other languages.  Arabic has played an important role in passing on the knowledge of Greek and Roman sciences and philosophies to Renaissance Europe.  Arabic numerals form the basis of  mathematics

Classical Arabic is the liturgical (prayer) language of 1.8 BILLION followers of Islam!

Here are some English words which have come to us from Arabic:

  • in the abode of animals and birdsalbatross (al-qadus), camel (jamal), gazelle (ghazal), giraffe (zarafah), jerboa (yarbu), monkey (maymum), nacre (naqqarah), popinjay (babbagha’), and tuna (tun);
  • in the area of food and drink: alcohol (al-kuhl), apricot (al-barquq), banana (banan), caramel (qanah), cafe (qahwah),  jasmine (yasmin), lemon, lemonade and lime (laymun), mocha (mukha – port city in Yemen), orange (naranj) sugar (sukkar – borrowed by nearly every language in Europe)  and tuna (tun);
  • In the sphere of geography and navigation: admiral (amir al-bahr), canal (qanah), monsoon (mawsim), safari (safarah)
  • in home and daily life:  cable (habl), genius (jinn), hazard (al-zahr), jar (jarrah) and sofa (suffah);
  • in music and song:  guitar (qitar) and troubadour (tarab al-dar);
  • in crime (magbarah): assassin (hashashin), mafia (mu’afi) and massacre (maslakh);
  • in personal adornment: amber (‘anbar), cameo (chumahan), henna (hinna’), mask and mascara (maskharah) and sequin (sikkah);
  • in science and mathematics: almanac (al-manakh), alchemy (al-kimiya’), algebra (al-jabr),  average (‘awar), calibre (qalib), carat (qirat), chemistry (al-kimiya’) and both cipher and zero (sifr);
  • in the arena of sports: racket (rah) and tennis (tinnis);
  • in trade and commerce: cafe (qahwah), cheque (sakk),  magazine (makhzan), ream (rizmah), traffic (tafriq) and tariff (ta’rifah).

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Loving God,

we give thanks for Arabic language and culture.

Help us to use their richness to inspire us

to communicate ideas and develop understanding,

building bridges between people.

AMEN

So, the other official languages of the UN are: French, English, Russian Chinese and Spanish

Arabic Language Day 

 

 

International Migrants Day


18/12/2025

International Migrants Day

 

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Jesus, born into a migrant family, help us:
to embrace each of your children as our own brother and sister,
to welcome migrants and refugees with joy and openness,
to respond to their needs with generosity,
to give witness to your love for all people as we celebrate the many gifts they bring.
AMEN

International Migrants Day

19/12/2025
20/12/2025(1 event)

International Human Solidarity Day


20/12/2025

International Human Solidarity Day

Solidarity is one of the fundamental values of international relations in the 21st Century, whereby those who either suffer or benefit least - deserve help from those who benefit most.

Therefore, the UN General Assembly, convinced that the promotion of the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing is important for combating poverty, proclaimed 20 of December as International Human Solidarity Day. It is:

  • A day to celebrate our unity in diversity;
  • A day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements;
  • A day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity;
  • A day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication;
  • A day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Loving  God,

give us, your one human family,

the willingness to join hands not raise fists;

and a spirit of adventure as we journey together

on the earth we all share.

Send us your spirit of hope and determination

so that we will work to alleviate human suffering

and foster kindness and justice for all.

AMEN

 

International Human Solidarity Day 

21/12/2025
22/12/2025
23/12/2025
24/12/2025
25/12/2025(1 event)

Christmas Day - the Nativity of the Lord


25/12/2025

26/12/2025(1 event)

Boxing Day - the Feast of Saint Stephen


26/12/2025

27/12/2025
28/12/2025
29/12/2025
30/12/2025
31/12/2025
01/01/2026(1 event)

Mary, the Holy Mother of God


01/01/2026

02/01/2026
03/01/2026
04/01/2026(1 event)

World Braille Day


04/01/2026

World Braille Day

Here's a video (3:30) about how braille came to be devised, created, invented!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Loving God, we give thanks for the ingenuity and determination of Louis Braille

and we ask you help us to notice and respond creatively and generously to our own needs and those of others.

We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN