Responding Together

The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women who welcome you to join in prayer and action for peace and justice.

The aim of the World Day of Prayer is to help us become aware of other countries and cultures, especially those living in isolation and hardship, to pray for those countries, and to encourage women to offer and use their talents to better society. An article by Sr Patricia Williams rsj explaining a brief history about the World Day of Prayer, can be viewed here.

This year the program is brought to us from a group of Nigerian women, inviting us to recognise that God created each one of us in loving care. When we open our hearts to this truth, everything in our life can change.

The 2026 World Day of Prayer is commemorated with the theme, I Will Give You Rest: Come… (Matthew 11:28-30).

This quote is an invitation from Jesus to the weary, burdened, and spiritually exhausted. It promises an inner peace. We are encouraged to let go of self-sufficiency and guilt and allow ourselves to find solace in God’s grace, surrendering our struggles.

At a time when people worldwide are carrying heavy burdens, our Nigerian sisters offer insight into finding rest in God, through their own experiences of hardship and resilience.

The Sisters of Saint Joseph co-founders, Saint Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods, were well attuned to prayer. A deep prayer life rooted in faith in God’s Providence inspired their joint mission to found the Congregation to educate poor children in Australia.

Saint Mary MacKillop lived a life of prayer, expressing her devotion to God through active service, especially to the poor and marginalised. Her prayer life was simple and humble offering prayers for the needs of others.

So how is your prayer life? And what do you personally do for prayer?

Our Catholic faith has provided us with wonderful prayers to say, songs to sing, and a chance to meet God in the Eucharist at Mass. Praying the Rosary, contemplative prayer, prayerful meditation on Scriptures, Liturgy of the Hours and praying with Mary and the saints, are just some of the ways we can meet our prayer needs.

Prayer connects us with the Divine, offering us a deeper relationship with God giving purpose to our lives and building resilience against life’s challenges.

The beauty of prayer is that we can do it anywhere, at any time and as much as we feel the need. Prayer can take many forms too, sometimes peaceful, sometimes a struggle, but the secret to prayer is persistence. It’s a discipline.

We can pray as a family, on our own, with friends or in parish-based prayer groups. Family prayer would require scheduling prayer time, where everyone can gather to pray. For others it will be the quiet and solitude of the morning that offers a time to pray or a reflection and an examen at the end of the day.

Jesus showed us that regular prayer is essential for a close and authentic relationship with God. When we pray, we grow closer to God and receive what God longs to give all of us, His unconditional love, which is always freely available.

If you are new to prayer, the Lord’s Prayer is a perfect place to start. To help us along with prayer, Apps such as Laudate, The Bible with Nicky and Pippa and Pray As You Go, or online resources such as Click to Pray make perfect prayer pals.

The Sisters of Saint Joseph also have excellent prayer resources available on their website here.

For the 2026 World Day of Prayer, the Nigerian women have gathered accessible resources and information including posters, songs, prayers, photo galleries and other artwork which you can find here.

Facing life’s challenges alone, whether that be through illness, hardship, or loss, can be overwhelming. But when you bring the Lord into your daily life through prayer, you gain a faithful presence that offers love, guidance, and strength.

Make prayer a part of your daily life, and you will never walk alone! God bless xx

Renate Cassis
Graphic and Digital Designer, Congregational Administration Services