WASHINGTON—The 21st Annual National Day of Prayer for the African American and African Family will be held Feb. 7, the first Sunday of Black History Month.
The day was created in 1989 by Franciscan Father James Goode, Ph.D., as a time set aside to give special thanks to God for families and place their every care in the arms of Jesus, according to the Subcommittee on African American Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
A family resource aid can be found on the USCCB Web site at www.usccb.org/saac/nationaldayofprayer.shtml. The brochure contains a catechetical reflection, a prayer specifically for the African American and African family and some suggested activities to celebrate the day.
“This resource will help individuals and families, to raise up in prayer, families many of whom are struggling and trying to survive during this very difficult economic period,” said Beverly A. Carroll, assistant director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church.
It was created by Solid Ground Franciscan Ministry, an evangelization ministry with African American families. Father Goode is the pastoral director of the ministry. He is also the founder and president of the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life. For more information visit solidgroundministry.com.