Pope Francis has asked that the world to join in a “wave of prayer” Dec. 10 to respond to the needs of the poor and to act to end hunger.
Worldwide prayers will begin in Tonga at noon there and will progress around the globe each noontime until it reaches American Samoa, 24 hours and 164 countries later.
Bishop Malooly will lead a noon prayer in the Diocese of Wilmington and will be joined by the deans: Fathers Norman Carroll, Joseph Drobinski, Stanley Russell, James Lentini, Paul Jennings, Richard Smith and Arthur Fiore.
The staff of Catholic Charities, students and teachers at Catholic schools, and staff at diocesan churches will join the wave of prayer as well.
In addition, people who want to help the country can make a donation of nonperishable food to any Catholic Charities location.
“We have food-distribution programs in every county in Delaware and in Somerset County, Md.,” said Richelle Vible, executive director of Catholic Charities. “We continue to field requests for food assistance in the diocese, and so we are always in need of food donations.”
Donations can be made between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the following locations:
• Main office, 2601 W. Fourth St., Wilmington
• Bayard House, 300 Bayard Ave., Wilmington
• Thrift Center, 1320 E. 23rd St., Wilmington
• Marydale Retirement Village, 135 Jeandell Drive, Newark
• Kent office, 2099 S. Dupont Hwy., Dover
• Sussex office, 406 S. Bedford St., Georgetown
• Casa San Francisco, 127 Broad St., Milton
• Eastern Shore office/Seton Center, 30632, Princess Anne, Md.
Bayard House and Casa San Francisco can accept donations seven days a week. For more information, call Catholic Charities at (302) 655-9624.
Below is the text of the prayer that Bishop Malooly and Catholic Charities staff members will be reciting Dec. 10 at noon:
One Human Family,
Food for All Campaign Prayer
O God, you entrusted to us the fruits of all creation so that we might care for the earth and be nourished with its bounty.
You sent us your Son to share our very flesh and blood and to teach us your Law of Love. Through His death and resurrection, we have been formed into one human family.
Jesus showed great concern for those who had no food – even transforming five loaves and two fish into a banquet that served five thousand and many more.
We come before you, O God, conscious of our faults and failures, but full of hope, to share food with all members in this global family.
Through your wisdom, inspire leaders of government and of business, as well as all the world’s citizens, to find just, and charitable solutions to end hunger by assuring that all people enjoy the right to food.
Thus we pray, O God, that when we present ourselves for Divine Judgment, we can proclaim ourselves as One Human Family with Food for All. Amen.
