2024 Prayer and Service
Prayer andService Magazine
1. Remembering with gratitude
2024 Prayer Intentions
The Prayer Network in the world
2. Spirituality of the Prayer Network
What does the Heart of Christ mean? Celebrating a Jubilee year
3. Dreaming 2025
2025 Prayer Intentions Pilgrims of Hope
Dear friends of the Prayer Network,
We are pleased to present this renewed version of the Prayer and Service magazine, where we symbolically gather some of what we have lived and prayed together throughout 2024. We also share part of what we dream for the mission we will carry forward in 2025.
At the heart of all we are and do, we gratefully recognize the presence of the Risen Jesus, who meets us in the diversity of our contexts and speaks to us from His Heart, inviting us into a mission of compassion.
During this Jubilee Year—celebrating 350 years since the apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, 180 years of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer and Eucharistic Youth Movement), and the upcoming celebration in Rome 2025 Lord Jesus fills us with hope and reminds us that, above all, He has loved us (“Dilexit nos,” Rom 8:37).
As pilgrims, we hope these images and texts inspire us to reflect on the immense love and goodness we have received from His Heart. In discovering the “width, length, height, and depth of His love” (Eph. 3:18), may we also learn to love and serve with Him in all things.
Fr. Cristóbal Fones, SJ Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Networ
1. REMEMBERING WITH GRATITUDE
PRAYER INTENTIONS 2024
JANUARY
FOR THE GIFT OF DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH
We pray that the Holy Spirit may help us to recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community and to discover the richness of different traditions and rituals in the Catholic Church.
DIVERSITY
FEBRUARY FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL
We pray that those with a terminal illness, and their families, receive the necessary physical and spiritual care and accompaniment. ACCOMPANYING
MARCH FOR THE NEW MARTYRS, WITNESSES TO CHRIST
We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm. WITNESSING WITH ONE’S OWN LIFE
APRIL FOR THE ROLE OF WOMEN
We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world. RECOGNIZING EQUAL IN DIGNITY
MAY FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS
We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel. INTEGRAL FORMATION
JUNE FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES
We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.
WELCOMING THE STRANGER
JULY FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK
We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
AUGUST FOR POLITICAL LEADERS
We pray that political leaders be at the service of their own people, working for integral human development and for the common good, especially caring for the poor and those who have lost their jobs.
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AS SERVICE
SEPTEMBER FOR THE CRY OF THE EARTH
We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climate change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.
CARE FOR THE COMMON HOME
OCTOBER FOR A SHARED MISSION
We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.
CORRESPONSABILITY
NOVEMBER FOR ANYONE WHO HAS LOST A CHILD
We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.
CONSOLING
DECEMBER FOR PILGRIMS OF HOPE
We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.
RECOGNIZING THE RISEN CHRIST
Prayer intentions not only help us to recognize the realities of the world, the challenges of humanity, and the mission of the Church that call for prayer and action; they also serve as spaces where the novelty of the Lord’s Spirit is incarnated. This renewal reveals how God makes all things new, especially when these intentions highlight areas of vulnerability or challenge.
Each prayer intention this year has been an invitation for us to allow ourselves to be touched by this renewal and to encounter the ways in which the Lord has revealed Himself through them. Each intention carries a message, an invitation, a call.
What new light has the Lord given to me this year in my life of faith?
What new paths have opened up by embracing the mission to pray and act on the Pope’s prayer intentions?
We invite you to reflect on the past year, to revisit your experiences, and to discover the Lord’s presence in your journey of prayer and in living out the mission of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in your everyday life.
The Pope’s Prayer Network Around the World
New Support in the International Office
The Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, has appointed Fr. Cristóbal Fones, SJ, a Chilean Jesuit, as the first International Deputy Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer and Eucharistic Youth Movement). He will take on this new mission in Rome in January 2024.
International Team Meeting
From January 24th to January 27th, 2024, some members of the international team of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network gathered in person in Rome to share the global diagnosis of the mission and to plan coordinated actions for the coming years.
Read more
New European Coordinator for the Prayer Network
This year, Fr. António Sant’Ana, SJ, was appointed as the European Coordinator of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. Fr. Antonio joined the team of continental coordinators who support the International Director along with He Bettina Raed (Latin America and the Caribbean), Fr. Jagdish Palmar, SJ (South Asia), Fr. Alberto Irenus, SJ (Asia Pacific), Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ (North America), and Fr. Valter Cassamano, SJ (Africa).
Read more
XII Latin American Meeting of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network
Between April 21 and 27, the XII Latin American Meeting of the Pope’s Prayer Network (groups of the Apostleship of Prayer and EYM), took place in Santiago de Chile. The participants had the opportunity to reflect on their mission through personal prayer spaces, and later shared their experiences in life communities that were integrated across different groups as well as with their apostolic teams
g and the Caribbean
Between May 6 and 9, the management team of the international office participated in the 50th Assembly of the Conference of Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean (CPAL) that took place in San Miguel, Buenos Aires, Argentina. They had a space to present the Pope’s Prayer Network in the continent, talk about its connection with the apostolic areas and their different modalities of participation.
Formation Meeting of The Way of the Heart Francophone Africa
From July 2 to 4, 2024, an in-person meeting was held in Côte d'Ivoire, led by the PanAfrican training team of the Pope's Prayer Network. This event marked the culmination of six months of videoconferences on The Way of the Heart, which brought together over 50 participants from various parts of the continent. Approximately 20 directors, coordinators, and members of the Prayer Network in Africa attended this meeting.
Meeting of Jesuit Mayor Superiors Asia Pacific Conference
Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYM) Camp in the United States
From August 9 to August 11, the national VEYM camp was held in the state of Florida to celebrating 40 years of its presence in the country. The International Deputy Director, along with the U.S. National Director and Continental Coordinator, Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, were in attendance and spent several weeks visiting various aspects of the organization’s work.
National Eucharistic Congress - MEJ Madagascar Centenary
From August 23rd to 26th, hundreds of young people from MEJ gathered in the city of Antsiranana to celebrate the centennial of MEJ Madagascar. This celebration coincided with the National Eucharistic Congress. On this occasion, the Pope delivered this message to them: "Once you have encountered Christ in adoration, once you have touched and received Him in the Eucharistic, you can no longer keep Him to yourselves, but must become missionaries of His love to others."
Central America Meetings
The Way of the Heart in Indonesia
National Camp of MEJ Taiwan
As part of the 60th anniversary of MEJ Taiwan, the national camp took place in September, one of the celebratory activities organized by the movement this year. Plans d t t bli h t i th Di d A hdi ith th l f
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
Pope Francis made his 45th apostolic journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore between September 2nd and 13th. During his trip, he met with the Jesuits. In Indonesia, Fr. Sumarwan SJ, National Coordinator of the Network, presented Him some souvenirs. Fr. Venâncio Pereira SJ, national coordinator in East Timor, introduced Pope Francis to Fr. João Felgueiras SJ, who was the first director of the Apostolate of Prayer Fr João is now 103 years old!
Read more
The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network Accompanies
the Synodal
Journey
Since October 2021, we have been accompanying the synodal journey with the closeness and power of prayer. In collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Synod and the International Union of Religious Superiors, we have shared over 315 prayers from various parts of the world on the website www.clicktopray.org/synod and on the Pope's prayer app, Click To Pray. Additionally, during the second session, we actively participated in the "Sponsor a Synod Member" campaign, alongside with the "The Church Listens to You" group.
International Visit at the Spanish National Meeting
In the jubilee context, the National Meeting in Spain honored those who have been pivotal to the history of the Prayer Network in the country since its arrival in Barcelona, just a few years after it began in France. Father Cristóbal Fones SJ participated in the Council Meeting and later in the gathering led by its director, Mr. David Fornieles, offering a reflection on reparation within the current context of our mission.
New Statutes of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network
In this year of prayer, Pope Francis a d the final statutes of the Pope's Worl Prayer Network, which he signed on 2024. The Vatican Foundation has ex the term of the Council member, cla matters related to the administration assets, and established the appointm two deputy directors to assist the international director in his mission.
Read more
New Members for the International Team
PTo support the new organizational structure required by the pontifical work, Ana Benítez joined the international office in September as direct assistant. Additionally, Henrique Almeida has been added to the communications team as a graphic designer, along with Joseph Quyen as a community manager.
New International Dep
On September 1, Bettina Raed was appointe International Deputy Director of the Pope’s Prayer Network by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, V Secretary of State. The proposal was made b Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Art as it is a work entrusted to the Society of Je will last 5 years.
Meeting of Major Superiors of Religious Congregations
Within the framework of the Jubilee commemorating the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary in Paray-le-Monial, an important meeting took place from October 14 to 15. This event was co-organized by the Sanctuary, the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, and the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists). It brought together major superiors and representatives from over twenty Religious Congregations linked to the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus. Read more
IV National Congress of Brazil with International Participation
From October 18 to 20, the IV National Congress of the Apostleship of Prayer - Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network in Brazil took place. It was organized by the National Director, Eliomar Ribeiro SJ, along with his team. The event was attended by the International Director, Frédéric Fornos, SJ, the international deputy directors, Cristóbal Fones, SJ, and Bettina Raed, as well as the director of Portugal and European Continental Coordinator, Antonio Sant’Ana, SJ. The theme, “Humility and Meekness” (Mt 11:29), resonated with the spirit of the Jubilee of the Heart of Jesus.
National Meeting in India with International Participation
On November 11th and 12th, the international deputy directors, Cristóbal Fones, SJ, and Bettina Raed, attended the National Meeting in Lucknow, India. There, they had the opportunity to facilitate a formation session for mission leaders on the pedagogy of the Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM) and The Way of the Heart. They also visited the mission at Ranchi, Dindigul and Trivandum along with the National Director Jagdish Parmar, SJ.
2. THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE PRAYER NETWORK
WHAT DOES THE HEART OF CHRIST MEAN?
This is the question that Father Pedro Arrupe, SJ, asked himself and posed to the Society of Jesus. Let's revisit some of his words from a homily delivered in Valladolid in 1970.
"Devotion to the Heart of Christ is the summary of all Christian doctrine... this Christ is known when one delves into the treasures of His Heart, which on one hand is a symbolises love, and on the other has been the organ in which Christ's human love for mankind has beat."
Therefore, anyone who wishes to know this Heart must "consume the Gospel." There, in its fullest expression, is the Heart of Christ; in all its authenticity: in His gestures, His silences, His words, His sorrows, His attitudes.
"And when one asks why this authenticity of Christ, we see a phenomenal aspect to this figure: that He is the savior... Christ is Savior because He saved us, mankind."
In the Gospel, we find the beats of this Heart that saved us out of love. There, His expressions throb. Christ the Savior gave Himself out of love for the Father and for us, His brothers and sisters whom His Father loves to madness. Out of love He died and rose again, and wished to remain with us, given as nourishment in the Eucharist. And not only there, but also dwelling in our hearts and dispersed throughout the world in the heart of each of our brothers and sisters. In the Heart of Christ, we are one with all of them.
“Today more than ever, looking at how our world is progressing, "we cannot be content with those comforting ceremonies; let us think that outside the Church there is much of God's people who do not attend either out of ignorance, impossibility, or malice. We must feel ourselves as heralds of Jesus Christ, we must go out, make contact with those people who perhaps in many cases, with good will, find themselves, as I say, apart from this flock of Jesus Christ."
How current and alive this missionary invitation remains in a wounded world that needs compassion in concrete gestures!
Indeed! In the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, we live this devotion with apostolic drive and charisma, as a mission of compassion for the world, open to the needs of brothers and sisters. That is why the Holy Father's prayer intentions are the place where our mission becomes incarnate, where compassion becomes concrete through prayer and action. There we feel ourselves, in Father Arrupe's words, as "heralds of Christ," apostles of His mission of compassion for the world.
CELEBRATING A JUBILEE YEAR
On December 27, 2023, the Jubilee of the Heart of Jesus began. This marks the commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial, and will culminate on Friday, June 27, 2025, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.
This period of grace coincides with the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer and the Eucharistic Youth Movement). It presents a special opportunity to deepen our shared spiritual formation journey: The Way of the Heart, which is our unique way of living out the devotion to the Heart of Jesus with its apostolic dimension.
Throughout this year, several shrines and parishes across various continents have already expressed their desire to join this mission of compassion, and several events have been held worldwide to express this spiritual renewal, beginning with the Shrine of Paray-Le-Monial itself in December of last year.
Moreover, experiences of The Way of the Heart have been strengthened in diverse cultural formats and realities, including training for formators in various languages. Digital and in-person meetings at national, regional, and continental levels continue to be a key part of this celebratory movement, bringing significant vitality to our mission of compassion for the world.
VIETNAM
VIETNAM
BOLIVIA
ANGOLA
FRANCE
SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
ZIMBABWE
GREECE
ANGOLA
EEE UU
UGANDA
ANGOLA
SOUTH KOREA
BANGLADESH
EAST
COSTA RICA
COSTA RICA
TIMOR
GUATEMALA
PORTUGAL
PARAGUAY
BURUNDI bRASIL
3. DREAMING 2025
Prayer intentions 2025
JANUARY
FOR THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION.
Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.
RESPECTING THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION
FEBRUARY
FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE.
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
ACCOMPANYING DISCERNMENT
MARCH FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS.
Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.
FORGIVING
APRIL FOR THE USE OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.
USING WITH DISCERNMENT
MAY FOR WORKING CONDITIONS.
Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
PROMOTING WORK THAT FOSTERS HUMANITY
JUNE THAT THE WORLD MIGHT GROW IN COMPASSION.
Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
STRENGTHENING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
JULY FOR FORMATION IN DISCERNMENT.
Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.
LEARNING TO DISCERN
AUGUST FOR MUTUAL COEXISTENCE.
Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.
PROMOTING PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
SEPTEMBER FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF CREATION.
Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
OPENING TO CREATION
OCTOBER FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS.
Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity. COLLABORATING FOR THE COMMON GOOD
NOVEMBER FOR THE PREVENTION OF SUICIDE.
Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.
REACHING OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING
DECEMBER FOR CHRISTIANS IN AREAS OF CONFLICT.
Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope. WORKING FOR PEACE
PILGRIMS OF HOPE
A year for the hope…
“Hope is the central message of the coming Jubilee which, in accordance with an ancient tradition, the Pope convenes every twenty-five years. My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope who will come to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local Churches. May it be a time for everyone to have a genuine and personal encounter with our Lord, the “door” of salvation (cf. Jn 10:7.9), whom the Church is always tasks to proclaim everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1).” Pope Francis
20240509_spes-non-confundit_bolla-giubileo2025.html (text from the Bula Spes Non Confundit on the Jubilee of Hope)
The Prayer Network invites you to walk in 2025 hoping on the Lord, because “Those who trust in the Lord… will run and not faint” (Is 40:31).
“Our life is a pilgrimage, a journey that drives us beyond ourselves, a path in search of happiness. The Christian life in particular is a pilgrimage towards God, our salvation, and the fullness of all good...”
“However, it is normal that, although we started our journeys with enthusiasm, sooner or later we begin to feel weary..."
“The solution to weariness, paradoxically, is not to stop and rest. Rather, it is to set out and become pilgrims of hope. This is my invitation: walk in hope! Hope overcomes all weariness, all crises, and all anxiety, giving us a strong motivation to move forward, for it is a gift received from God himself...”
"I encourage you to approach the jubilee pilgrimage with three fundamental attitudes: gratitude, so that your hearts open to praise for the gifts received, especially for the gift of life; seeking, as an expression of our heart’s unquenchable thirst to encounter the Lord; and finally, repentance, which helps us to look within, to acknowledge the wrong steps and decisions we sometimes make, and thus be able to turn to the Lord and the light of His Gospel..."
“This is my advice to you: do not set out as mere tourists, but as pilgrims. Do not be like superficial sightseers, blind to the beauty around you, never discovering the meaning of the roads you take, fleeting experiences to be captured in a selfie. Tourists do this. A pilgrims, on the other hand, fully immerses in the places they encounter, makes them speak, and turns them into part of their quest for happiness. The Jubilee pilgrimage is meant to be the outward sign of an inward journey we are called to make towards our final destination.” Pope Francis
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/es/messages/youth/documents/papafrancesco_20240829_messaggio-giovani_2024.html
The 5 quotations are the Pope's message to the youth on November 24, 2024, Christ the King, World Youth Day.
