Today we prayerfully remember: 

-African women who are constanstantly blessing and nourishing their communities with their feminine gifts and charisms 

-African men who seek to protect and provide for their families with much courage and fortitude

-African youth who are so malleable and impressionable by any culture they encounter 

-African governments who are sometimes mislead and misguided in their governance of the people 

-African families who are suffering and struggling with all sorts of difficulties (poverty, unemployment, disease, famine, draught, violence, war) 

Reflection 

Africa is a beautiful Continent which is home to people of different tribes and tongues. 

But even as the Africans are diverse in culture and language, they are held together by the fabric of life, love, faith and family.

The people of Africa by tradition respect human life, celebrate human love, hold unto faith in their God and value family. 

This is the fabric that holds the Africans together, this is the common language in Africa that transcends tongues and dialects, this is the joy and cheer of the people who wake up each day to harsh conditions and difficult situations. 

But in a world that is getting smaller and becoming a global village, Africa is now being led and lured by some of the western nations and organisations, to a cultural cliff beyond which there is a distorted view of human love, a disrespect for human life, a disregard for faith, a disdain for traditional family structure.  

The pull towards this cliff is great and the need of the people is great, so our beautiful fabric is about to be rent and torn to pieces by those who are full of empty promises that will enslave the men, women and children of Africa. 

Today, for the sake of the African people, we turn our hearts in supplication to our beloved African Saint Josephine Bakhita . That she would advocate powerfully in the presence of God for the Continent of Africa to hold unto her fabric of faith, family, life and love.