The traditional “World Day of Prayer” will be celebrated on 5 March. Promoted and supported by Christian women throughout the world, the Day has become one of the most important annual ecumenical events. “It shows says a press release that women, beyond their differences of confession and religious expression, want first and foremost to unite round Christ”. Catholics and Protestants have this year adopted a prayer liturgy prepared by the women of Panama with the title: “With faith women prepare the future”. With this initiative the women’s ecumenical movement wants to affirm that “prayer and action are inseparable” and that women “have an essential role of peacemaking to play in the world”. A collection is also held as part of the event; it enables projects in favour of women and their families to be funded. Half of the money collected during the Day will be devolved to projects in many countries of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The other half will go to the organizing country. This year the funds will be used for healthcare programmes in the rural regions and slum quarters of the capital of Panama.
