Any New Zealand Catholic can have a prayer offered for them in Rome next month without leaving the country!
Cardinal John Dew, who is the President of Bible Society New Zealand (BSNZ), will offer prayers for those who have participated in the Poverty and Justice Bible Campaign at his church at the end of November. Their names will be recorded in a special book Bible Society of New Zealand (BSNZ) is preparing for him.
If you would like your name and prayer request added to the book for Cardinal Dew, please visit www.povertyandjustice.nz
Along with his appointment as Cardinal by Pope Francis earlier this year, he was appointed Cardinal-Priest at Sant’Ippolito Church in Rome. It is here that Cardinal Dew has agreed to pray for people who have asked to be remembered.
“It would be a blessing for me to be able to connect Catholics in New Zealand with this very special church in Rome,” he said.
Sant’Ippolito is a 20th century parish and titular church, meaning it has a Cardinal appointed to oversee it, and it is situated in the Nomentano quarter of Rome.
Wellingtonian Bridget Taumoepeau, who has submitted a prayer request, said the initiative would be very unifying.
“Cardinal Dew as our shepherd, is taking our prayers to Rome to his especially designated church. There is a lovely image of the people of New Zealand being united in prayer through our Archbishop with the universal church.”
“There is also the link of our Cardinal to our Holy Father who appointed him and called him to Rome to contribute to the Synod.”
Prayer in Rome is part of the recently launched Poverty and Justice Bible Campaign, a joint initiative of BSNZ and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. The campaign was introduced to Catholic churches nationwide last month.
At its heart is the Catholic Poverty and Justice Bible.
Each Bible purchased will fund another copy that will be given for free to a person who can’t afford one.
To date more than 700 Bibles have been purchased, enabling another 700 ready to be given away. BSNZ anticipates the numbers will be significantly higher than this as the campaign continues.
Bible Society New Zealand’s mission is to help create “easy access to Sacred Scripture”, as called for in Dei Verbum, and to enable greater engagement with it.
Source
Supplied: New Zealand Bible Society
Image: New Zealand Bible Society