An ardent invitation to unity, to mutual help and to trust in the Lord who constantly strengthens us and helps us to bear our weights: it is with this message full of hope that the World Day of Prayer (JMP) was celebrated on March 6 in more than 120 countries on the theme: “I will give you rest: come!” (Mt 11, 28-30).
Each year, the texts are written by the Interfaith Women’s Committee of a country, in collaboration with international representatives. The material for 2026 was prepared by the women of Nigeria with Katie Reimer, executive director of the International Committee headquartered in New York.
The illustration, the work of a young Nigerian artist, Gift Amarachi Ottah, represents the daily reality of rural women. In the foreground, the three women dressed in traditional clothing represent the diverse cultures of the country.
The authors of the material write: “We collectively reflected on the theme of the Day from the context of our experiences as Nigerian Christian women. We hope to inspire other women around the world to unite and pray as one people. By placing our trust in God, who bears our burdens, we become one body in Christ, receiving and bringing comfort to the world.” In the liturgy, they cite a powerful Nigerian proverb which says: “The pain of one is the pain of all.” And they teach to overcome resignation and passivity because suffering must be faced with courage, commitment and collaboration, finding strength “in powerful and confident prayer, uniting ourselves across continents in compassion and hope.”
From their words emerges a vivid picture of the challenges they face: the shame and lack of self-esteem of young people, the loneliness and difficulties of widows, systematic oppression, misery and despair.
The testimony which speaks of religious persecution is particularly incisive and moving: “My name is Jato and I am a Christian mother who lives in northern Nigeria. Every day, when I send my 14-year-old daughter Amina to school, my heart sinks with worry. You should know that Amina is the same age as Leah Sharibu was when she was taken from her school in Dapchi, a few hours away from here. Leah’s story worries me. A young girl, with an unwavering faith, who refused to deny Christ, even in the face of detention. Eight years have passed since Boko Haram kidnapped her, and she is still their prisoner today. I look at Amina, I can’t help but think: “What if it had been her?” It is a daily choice, a daily abandonment. But in making this choice, we discover that our burdens truly become light and that in God we find our rest.
The symbol of the Day is the bowl calabashan object made from a squash, which is used in rural areas to harvest food and sell the crops. A sign of God’s providence which brings nourishment and comfort in life’s difficulties. Throughout 2026, the women of the JMP movement commit to praying every day for the women of Nigeria. The collections collected during the Day of March 6 are used to finance projects in favor of Nigerian women. Thus, networks of solidarity and links of authentic sisterhood between women around the world are multiplying. (donatella coalova)
