Pandemic unites Christians in prayer

With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting the religious communities’ outreach to the faithful, various attempts have been made by Christians to join in prayer using online media. One such attempt came from the Holy Father himself when he called upon all Christians throughout the whole world to pray in unity the Our Father prayer. He invited all Christians all over the globe to unite on March 25 at noon to pray for the entire world suffering from the pandemic. The pope made the invitation to the world on March 22 at his midday Angelus address that was live-streamed from the Apostolic Library.

He said, “In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the threat of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices toward heaven. I invite all the heads of the churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Almighty, the omnipotent God, to recite at the same time the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, taught us. I, therefore, invite everyone to do this several times a day, but all together, to recite the Our Father this coming Wednesday, 25 March, at noon, all together. On that day on which many Christians recall the annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word, may the Lord listen to the united prayer of all of his disciples who are preparing themselves to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ.”

Bishop Sullivan immediately sent a message to all the Christian bishops and judicatory heads throughout New Jersey to join with the Catholic community here in South Jersey to pray the Our Father at noon on March 25. Bishop Sullivan, after sharing the pope’s invitation with the various Christian leaders to join Catholics in prayer on March 25, added, “May our joint prayer to our Heavenly Father draw us closer to Christi and remind us of our unity in the one baptism that we share. May it ease our fears and petition our Heavenly Father to help us during this time of human need! I am eager to join in prayer along with the entire Christian community for those suffering at this time with COVID-19, and the vast army of caregivers risking their own well-being to minister to their brothers and sisters in need. Let us be of one mind and heart as we join together at noon reciting in unison the prayer that our Savior taught us!”

Responses from various Christian leaders came in to Bishop Sullivan’s invitation from throughout the state. Bishop Tracie Bartholomew, from the Lutheran Synod of New Jersey, said in response, “We have encouraged our Synod to pray each day at noon and have included a prayer for each week. We will encourage them in this tomorrow and let them know we are in solidarity with our Roman Catholic siblings as well.” Rev. Rick Springer, Stated Clerk of the New Jersey Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, wrote in response, “Thank you for your invitation to prayer. We certainly need that as our Savior is speaking loudly, calling men and women to repentance and faith. I will pass along your invitation to prayer to the pastors in our presbytery. May our Lord have mercy and may his will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”

Here in the United States all bishops from all dioceses were encouraged to reach out to their Christian brothers and sisters to pray together for all those suffering and those ministering to their needs by Bishop Joseph Bambera, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, who is the chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. He also sent a letter to all heads of Christian Churches here in the United States saying, “I would like to respectfully extend a special invitation for you and your community of faith, if you wish, to join us in the global initiative of all Christians coming together for prayer. The act itself is simple: the recitation of a prayer that most of us say on a daily basis. However, the symbol of our uniting together in Christ during these tragic times will surely inspire our people. We also can never forget the power of prayer. Thank you for all the sacrifices you as a church leader must be making during these challenging times. I would ask in your kindness that you remember all of us in the Catholic community in your prayers as we promise you a remembrance in our own.”

May we continue to pray with all our brothers and sisters in Christ for our world besieged by this terrible pandemic. And may he continue to deepen our ties of love and fraternity as Christians!