On Monday, September 14, at 6 pm at the Church of the Holy Family (315 E. 47th Street), the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See will sponsor the annual Prayer Service in anticipation of the beginning of the 75th Session of the U.N. General Assembly.

The Holy See Mission has been sponsoring this Prayer Service each year since 1987. This year, because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions limiting the amount of attendees to just 50 participants — rather than the normal 320-plus — the Prayer Service by necessity is by invitation only and will be attended mainly by Permanent Representative, U.N. Staff, NGO delegates and a small representation of religious leaders.

Because only a small portion of the standing-room only attendees are able to come in person this year, the Holy See Mission will livestream the Prayer Service on the Mission's YouTube page.

At the Prayer Service, attendees will pray for an end to the global pandemic and all those affected, for peace in war torn areas, for care for our common home and all of its inhabitants, as well as for the peoples of the world that the U.N. seeks to serve.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will give the Meditation. Secretary-General António Guterres will speak via video message.

The music will be provided by the Schola of Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in Manhattan.