A FRANCISCAN MINISTRY
                                          With African American Families

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 
FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY 

Sunday February 7, 1999 marks the 10^th anniversary of the annual National Day of Prayer for the African American Family, supported by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, Black Sisters’ Conference, Secretariat for African American Catholics and the Josephite Pastoral Center. “Black Catholics and people of all faiths throughout the country have been invited to celebrate the National Day of Prayer for the African American Family,” says Franciscan Father James Goode, founder of the national day and president of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. “We are appealing to the Black family to celebrate on this day their rich heritage, unwavering faith and renew their courage to hope.  On this day we are asking every African American to boldly proclaim the dignity of life and stand against the culture of death, which is destroying the very fiber of our communities,” Father Goode said.

The New York celebration will be held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with Cardinal John J. O’Connor, Sunday February 7, 1999 at 2PM.

 HOW TO CELEBRATE THE DAY

 WORSHIP AND PRAY as a family on the National Day of Prayer for the African American Family.

CELEBRATE A MEAL TOGETHER AND TELL YOUR FAMILY STORY on the National Day of prayer for the African American Family

 MAKE A FAMILY RESOLUTION, no matter how big or small, on the national Day of Prayer for the African American Family.  Strive to fulfill that resolution throughout the year. 

UNITE AS A FAMILY AND RACE to uphold the dignity of life and sacredness of life from the moment of conception to the last moment of natural death.   Develop ways of ending all forms of violence in our families.

 Father Jim Goode, OFM can be reached at E-mail  sground440@aol.com