Pray to Our Lady Mother of Africa

by Letters Editor · April 16, 2015

From Athaly Jenkinson, East London

A recent missal shows the Mass of �Our Lady Mother of Africa� on April 30 in Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland and Nigeria.

April 30 is the feast of Our Lady Mother of Africa. “…pray the Rosary on April 30 for her intercession for Africa and the world�or even just a decade, or a single Hail Mary”

Pope Francis ended his address to our bishops on April 30 last year on their ad limina visit with the words: �May the saints of Africa sustain you by their intercession. May Our Lady of Africa be always at your side�.

Mary is our caring, loving Mother. Could we perhaps contact every Catholic we know to pray the Rosary on April 30 for her intercession for Africa and the world�or even just a decade, or a single Hail Mary? And add: �Loving Father, bless us, the people of Africa and the world, and help us to live in justice, love and peace.� Mary, Mother of Africa and the World, pray for us.�

Perhaps we can attend the Mass?� Or pray often, on any dates we choose?

Mary will not forget Africa, the land which sheltered the Holy Family from Herod�s violence. Nor will she forget that the only man who helped Jesus on his terrible journey was Simon of Cyrene, a city in current-day Libya, who perhaps had to be forced to overcome his African traditional customs which limited ubuntu to one�s own family, tribe and ethnic group.

Pray that Africa will again pick up the cross of the world�s suffering and sin and lead us behind Jesus.

In 1984 our bishops distributed prayer cards for Southern Africa, and recently prayer cards have been received for the Middle East. Why do we not pray for Africa?

For free leaflet with the St Francis Peace Prayer adapted for Africa, SMS your name and postal address to 083 544 8449.

Let us pray � fervently and often!