International Service Director - Christian Emphasis

Mrs Elfie Musil

Women’s World Day of Prayer takes place internationally on the first Friday of March every year. In 2013 that will be 1 March.

The origins of the Women’s Day of Prayer go back to the 19th century. The aim was to support women both at home and abroad. Nowadays, a service is held all round the world on the first Friday in March every year.

The women of a different country, chosen each year, write the words for the service. The words are then translated into over sixty languages and thousand dialects. In return, the prayers of women throughout the world are focused on that country. This year it is the turn of France, with the theme of "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25: 31-46).

France has always accepted asylum seekers fleeing on political grounds. Some examples are those from Hungary, Chile and Vietnam. Almost a quarter of the current population has at least one foreign grandparent.

If you can’t celebrate World Day of Prayer on the first Friday in March, choose another date that works for your community and you can celebrate in symbolic solidarity with women around the world.