AUSTRALIANS are being called to set aside July 24 as a national day to pray for rain.
Three broad Church networks have united to invite Australia’s Christians to engage in 40 days of prayer in the face of drought.
The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA), of which the Catholic Church is one of 15 members; the Australian Prayer Network (APN) and the Evangelical Alliance (EA) have made the call for a break in the drought.
The groups are asking Christians to pray on July 24 as the first of 40 days in which individuals and groups would pray about the issues raised by severe drought.
In a joint statement, the groups said despite recent rainfalls, the season for prayer was still relevant.
The Australia-wide call to prayer also includes a hope by Christian leaders for a reflection on our less fortunate world neighbours, where millions go without even clean drinking water each day.
Archbishop Francis Carroll of Canberra and Goulburn welcomed the national prayer day for rain as a significant ecumenical event.
He said he was delighted by the rain received after a similar day was organised in the archdiocese on June 12.
