By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

A powerful grass roots movement of Catholics and other Christians from around the world will host the 19th Annual International Week of Prayer and Fasting next week to pray for the conversion of nations.

According to Dan Lynch, director of the apostolate known as the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the initiative will commence on Saturday October 1 and run through Sunday, October 9.
 
“The Blessed Mother Teresa was a big supporter and Blessed John Paul II gave two apostolic blessings to all who participate in this prayer and fasting movement,” Lynch said in an e-mail alert.

The goals of the week are:
 
•         To Pray for the Conversion of Nations
•         To Build a “Culture of Life”
•         To Promote Peace throughout the world

During this week-long event, which always takes place in October, the month of the Rosary, people can sign up as individuals, families, groups or parishes and participate in a variety of ways. They can attend daily Mass, make Holy Hours, pray the Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and participate in fasting and sacrifices.
 
There are also several public events that people can participate in, such as the International Day of Prayer in Washington DC which will take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception this Saturday, October 1. They can also attend an awards banquet on Sunday, October 2, to be held at the Georgetown Conference Center which will feature keynote speaker Lila Rose, founder of the pro-life apostolate, Live Action.

“The grasp of the culture of death on our world is growing stronger,” Lynch writes on the website. “Wars, natural disasters, terrorism, abortion, euthanasia, and religious persecution are on the rise as never before. As Christians, however, we are not to despair, but to place our hope in Christ. Now more than ever believers from all traditions and nationalities must unite together to pray and fast.”

Click here to sign up.

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