Each year on the occasion of the opening of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN and the Archdiocese of New York sponsor a prayer service for the United Nations Diplomatic Community and personnel, together with religious and ecumenical leaders in the New York area.
This year the Prayer Service will take place Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at 6 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Family, 315 East 47th Street in Manhattan, a block from the United Nations.
Prayers will be offered in gratitude for all that the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly has been able to achieve, and for the success of the 71st Session of the General Assembly. It will be an occasion to entrust to God our efforts for world peace and the development and advancement of the human family. There will also be special prayers for an adequate solution to the ongoing refugee and migration crisis affecting so many parts of the world.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, will give the Meditation. Archbishop Wenski has led the efforts of the US Bishops on migration, international justice and peace.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the President of the 70th Session of the General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft, and the President-elect of the 71st Session Ambassador Peter Thomson are all expected to be in attendance, along with many Permanent Representatives (Ambassadors), heads of UN agencies and other members of the UN community.
Music will be provided by the choir of Holy Trinity Parish in New York, led by Dr. Andrew Yeargin.
After the Prayer Service there is a reception underneath the Church in Holy Family Parish Hall.
Archbishop Auza said that the objective of the event is to “bring together the UN community with believers of the various religious from the greater New York area to acknowledge with humility that many of the problems the international community faces are beyond our expertise, experience and ability.
“We turn to God, each faithful to our own tradition, and ask for his help to bring the peace that has eluded our best efforts in war torn areas, to change our hearts and the hearts of others with regard to the massive refugee and migration crisis, to give us wisdom, courage and perseverance in seeking to lift people out of poverty, protect our common home, and defend the inalienable dignity of everyone.
“We also ask him to bless those who lead and serve at the United Nations and their families. Many tell me it’s one of the more moving events in the annual UN calendar.”
Those who are interested in attending are asked to RSVP online: holyseemission.org/rsvpSeptember13.
