The members of the Administrative Board of the Catholic Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, have declared a 6-month prayer for the nation starting from July to December 2014.
This decision was taken at a meeting held in Abuja on 3rd - 4th June, 2014; based on the security crisis in Nigeria.
The members of the administrative board hereby call on all Catholics, Clergy, Religious and faithful alike to unite in prayers for various intentions from July to December, 2014 according to the following suggested guidelines:
- Family Level: All families to pray the Rosary together at home every Saturday evening
- Parish Level: One hour Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration on the last Saturday of every month of the stated period, anytime between 3pm and 6pm with all the people, Priests and Religious together. The Bishop leads the Holy Hour in the Cathedral.
- National Level: A Rosary Prayer Pilgrimage is to take place at the National Christian (Ecumenical) Centre, Abuja, overnight from Thursday evening 13th till Friday morning 14th November, 2014. We ask all the Clergy, the Religious and the faithful to massively kindly attend this exercise. We implore our Bishops who are Chief Shepherds of the people of God to attend this important event themselves and mobilize Catholics from their dioceses to participate in it. We ask also our Contemplatives to kindly join in spirit the rest of the nation in prayer according to this proposed schedule.
- These exercises will be another sign of our faith in the mercy of God who will surely not ignore our collective fervent prayers through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
They strongly appeal to all to take this call seriously and encourage others to do so as well. The prayer intentions listed below are meant to guide the activities of each month but do not exclude other relevant intentions that may be raised for local need.
July: For the safe release and return of all abducted and kidnapped people of Nigeria.
August: For those who have suffered and are suffering violence because of the crisis in Nigeria.
September: For all security agents who have lost lives, limbs and properties in the service of our dear fatherland.
October: For unity, peace and good governance in Nigeria.
November: For the eradication of corruption and promotion of justice in Nigeria.
December: For the promotion of family values, of the family institution and protection of human life in Nigeria.
