My Calendar
Week of Sep 21st
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International Day of Peace
International Day of Peace
21/09/2020
So, we'd all agree that peace is desirable but what is it?
Here are a few quotes about peace (2:30) for you to consider.
This is a beautiful prayer for peace in Syria from Rachel at CAFOD:
God of light,
We pray for our neighbours in Syria
walking in the shadow of darkness.
In you, Lord, may we see a flicker of hope,
a warm ray of light to heal our hearts.
Pour upon us all your glorious light,
your radiance brings us to fullness of life.
We pray as one the fighting may cease,
and all may be blessed by the dawn of your peace.
We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Rachel McCarthy/CAFODWorld Alzheimer's DayWorld Alzheimer's Day
21/09/2020
Here's a quite beautiful performance piece! (Video 4:42)
A one minute reflection from the point of view of someone affected by dementia - Do not ask me to remember.
This is a one minute PRAYER for today.
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Feast of St. Padre Pio
Feast of St. Padre Pio
23/09/2020
International Day of Sign LanguagesInternational Day of Sign Languages
23/09/2020
International Day of Sign Languages
Did you know that there are an estimated 72 million deaf people worldwide, 80% of them in developing nations.
Deafness can be very isolating but Sign Language can be a real liberation.
Below is a 2 minute video demonstrating some basic greetings in BSL (British Sign Language).A PRAYER FOR THIS DAY
Let's pray for all who are deaf or hearing impaired in any way and reflect on how it might feel to be aware of conversations but be unable to decipher them or contribute to them.
Loving God, we ask for your help in being more sensitive to the needs of those who struggle to hear. AMEN -
European Day of Languages
European Day of Languages
26/09/2020
Bonjour!
On European Day of Languages, enjoy some of the richness of different tongues in this 1:02 video:
A PRAYER FOR TODAY (available here as a 1:00 video)
Loving God,we thank you for the gift of languagewhich enables us to communicate and express our deepest emotions.Help us to use languageto build bridges between individuals and nationsso that, one day, wars will ceaseand we will establish a world of tolerance, understanding and celebration.We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear WeaponsInternational Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
26/09/2020
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Here's a 1:34 video about this day - including information about how many nuclear weapons there are in the world!
This is a harrowing eye-witness account (3:36) of the dropping of the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima on 6th August, 1945:
Here's a report (2:13) about the Holy Father, Pope Francis, visiting Japan in 2019:
Christian CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) ask those who seek peace to pray in the following ways:
- Thank God for those around the world who continue to work and pray for peace;
- Pray for our political leaders to have the courage to seek peace and cooperation over war and division;
- Pray for those living in warzones, that they would be protected and comforted;
- Pray for those who are living with the consequences or threat of war;
- Pray that there would be no resumption of nuclear tests and that negotiations on disarmament would instead take place.
You're invited to offer your own silent prayer on this day.
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World Day for Migrants and Refugees
World Day for Migrants and Refugees
27/09/2020
This used to celebrated in January, but Pope Francis - in 2018, decided it would be moved to the last Sunday in September!
We should never forget that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees fleeing from the slaughter of the innocents which Herod wrought down on the people of Bethlehem.
The Holy Father reminds us that during the flight into Egypt, the child Jesus experienced with his parents the tragic fate of the displaced and refugees, “which is marked by fear, uncertainty and unease."
Displaced people offer us this opportunity to meet the Lord, “even though our eyes find it hard to recognize him: his clothing in tatters, his feet dirty, his face disfigured, his body wounded, his tongue unable to speak our language”.
Pope Francis calls us to respond by welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.
Here is part of the Holy Father's Message for this day in 2020 (3:43):
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Jesus - hope of the hopeless,
we hold before you today all who have left their homes, desperate for safety and the chance of a better life.
Help us rid our minds of the suspicion, fears and prejudices that keep us apart from those who seek refuge.
You, who knows what it is to leave your homeland, give us a greater understanding and move us to respond with wisdom, love and generosity.
We ask this in your Holy Name. AMEN
World Tourism Day