WELLINGTON For the first time, New Zealands Catholic bishops have included a Day of Prayer for Children in their national calendar. The day, first reported in NZ Catholic last year, will be marked on March 1 and has seen a partnership forged between the bishops development agency, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Open Home Foundation, a Christian child and family support service.
The two agencies have produced a prayer card to mark the day and hope New Zealanders will commit to praying for the children of the nation every day.
Although we are making Childrens Day a focus of the call for prayer, our desire is that people will make a commitment to pray for children every day of the year, said Ewen Laurenson, national director of the Open Home Foundation.
We envisage the prayer card being kept in a Bible or prayer book as a reminder to pray for children.
More than 50,000 prayer cards have been produced and distributed to churches of many different denominations that have asked for them.
There is such an urgent need in our world for prayer for children, Mr Laurenson said.
It is only through prayers that circumstances will change to ensure the love and safety of all children.
The prayer reads:
Lord Jesus, we bring to you all the children of the world. Please embrace them with your love.
We pray especially for unborn children and those who are neglected and abused. May every child be safe and loved.
Through you, and by your grace, may we welcome children into our hearts and homes. May each one know how precious they are to you and to us. Amen.
