The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) is 175 years old and celebrates it with the Pope in an International Encounter
On June 28-29, 2019, the Apostleship of Prayer, now the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, will celebrate its 175th anniversary in Vatican City with the Holy Father and more than 6,000 guests.
(20 June, Vatican City) - The International Meeting of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) is just a few days away in Vatican City. This service of the Holy See, which includes the Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM), celebrates not only the 175th anniversary of its founding, but also the 10th anniversary of the beginning of its recreation process, approved by Pope Francis five years ago.
The inauguration of this commemoration will be on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on Friday, June 28, 2019, in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican City.
Fr. Frédéric Fornos, SJ, International Director of this institution, appointed by the Holy Father in 2016, has emphasized that beyond the foundation of the Apostleship of Prayer in 1844 - in his words, "an event of our history" - what is being celebrated is the present as the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, today a pontifical work, after 175 years. "Our birthday leads us to thank the Lord for his faithfulness, to look at how He acts today as well as yesterday, and to open ourselves even more to his mission of compassion for the world”.
From the organizational team of the event, each national team is invited to accompany the celebration from their own countries during these two days in June, or to come to Rome to unite with all the faithful in prayer and joy. More than 6,000 people from 52 delegations from Europe, America, Africa and Asia-Oceania are expected to attend.
The International Encounter will be inaugurated on June 28, at 10 a.m., with the different regions that make up the Network, in the Paul VI Hall. Around noon, Pope Francis will join in the celebration to pray with all those present. Later, at 7 p.m., there will be a Mass in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, presided over by Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus. On Saturday, June 29, most of the directors and national coordinators of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (including his youth branch, the EYM) will meet between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. To close the event, from 6:30 p.m. the meeting of the young people, monitors and animators of the Eucharistic Youth Movement will take place in the Chapel of La Sapienza University. The EYM is the international movement of Christian formation for children and young people from 5 to 25 years of age. As such, it participates actively in the dynamic of prayer and service that characterizes the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.
As indicated in its statutes, the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) reinforces its mission to mobilize Catholics through prayer and action in the face of the challenges of humanity and the mission of the Church, making their own the joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of the People of God and of all humanity.
About The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network
The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network is a pontifical work. Its mission is to mobilize Catholics, through prayer and action for the challenges of humanity and the mission of the Church. These challenges, discerned by the Pope, are expressed under the form of prayer intentions which he entrusts to the entire Church. This mission is part of the dynamic of the Heart of Jesus, a mission of compassion for the world. It was founded in 1844 as the “Apostleship of Prayer”, and is present in 98 countries; it is made up of more than 35 million people. Its youth branch is EYM - the Eucharistic Youth Movement. The Pope approved new statutes in March 2018, and constituted this ecclesial service as a pontifical work. His International Director is Fr. Frédéric Fornos, S.J. More information at http://www.popesprayer.va