News Release
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2002
On Sunday February 3, 2002 we will observe
the 13th annual National Day of Prayer for the African American
Family. This day marks the Black Catholic kick off for Black History
Month. The Prayer Day’s theme is "Jesus our Rock" taken from
Psalm 71, which reflects the Black families determination to place Jesus
at the center of all life.
Franciscan Father James Goode founded the
National Day of Prayer for the African American Family in 1989 "as a
day…set aside for us to give thanks to God for our family, to
acknowledge the spiritual and cultural heritage received from our
ancestors and to place our cares in the arms of Jesus."
Families on the National Day of Prayer for
the African American Family are asked to:
Worship and pray together at the
Eucharistic Liturgy; celebrate a meal together and share family stories;
make a family resolution no matter how big or small; unite as a family to
uphold the sacredness of life and develop ways of ending all forms of
violence in the family and community.
Beverly A. Carroll, Executive Director of
the USCCB: Secretariat for African American Catholics is urging churches
and national organizations to participate in the National Day of Prayer
for the African American Family, "Now more than ever our families
need prayer as they experience recession, terrorism, and now war."
Sponsors for the Day of Prayer include:
USCCB: Secretariat for African American Catholics, National Black Catholic
Apostolate for Life, National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, National Black
Sisters’ Conference, National Association of Black Catholic
Administrators, National Black Catholic Congress, Knights of Peter Claver
and Ladies Auxiliary, Josephite Pastoral Center and the Order of Friars
Minor Province of the Immaculate Conception.
According to Fr. James Goode, OFM,
President, National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, "If we begin
Black History Month in prayer as a family, then we are proclaiming to our
children and generations to follow that Jesus is at the center of our
lives and prayer is our source of strength as a people."
For more information
on the National Day of Prayer for the African
American Family contact: Beverly A. Carroll Secretariat for African
American Catholics
(202) 541- 3177.
