ARCHBISHOP John Bathersby of Brisbane will a launch a major prayer campaign on July 22, calling for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to transform the face of the archdiocese.
The campaign is based on a similar one initiated by the late Pope John Paul II on his first return visit to Poland in 1979.
John Paul II had prayed, ‘Come down Holy Spirit and change the face of this land’.
Archbishop Bathersby said the effectiveness of the late Pope’s prayer was now part of history. Poland experienced the collapse of Communism shortly afterwards.
Archbishop bathersby called together the prayer groups of the archdiocese on April 23 seeking their support in the light of the many spiritual needs in Brisbane.
The campaign’s official launch on July 22 will be held during a special Mass in St Stephen’s Cathedral at 7pm, to which all members of the archdiocese are invited.
The launch will coincide with the feast of Mary Magdalene, under whose patronage the archbishop will place the prayer campaign.
Archbishop Bathersby said some prayer resources would be available on the evening so that people from all sectors of the archdiocese could participate.
He said planning was also underway for further prayer initiatives.
‘If enough people pray, I am sure that the Holy Spirit will change the face of our archdiocese as surely as the Holy Spirit changed the face of Poland in 1979,’ Archbishop Bathersby said.
