On-line session in September 2021.

As it is traditional to meet every two years in the European space of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, we wanted to keep – in this time of pandemic – a meeting by zoom. Quarantine obligations on our way back home, the possible contamination by very aggressive variants, did not however eliminate the importance of exchanging about our mission, which continues.

We were there from twenty-two European countries, with representatives of the Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM) from five countries. We came to know new people, especially from the Malta team, which came in large numbers. There have been recent changes in several teams: in France, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and finally in Central Europe where four former Jesuit provinces and five countries have united (Germany, Austria, Latvia, Lithuania and Switzerland) – in the Prayer Network several countries were already working together in the German-speaking area (Deutscher Sprachraum); the German-speaking sharing group observed a minute's silence for Simon Lochbrunner, the former coordinator of the Prayer Network in Germany, who died recently in a car accident.

We strive to make known the challenges of humanity and the mission of the Church, which involves making people aware of Jesus' compassion for the world. This is made clear by the Pope's Video (which in Poland is broadcast on national television); also Click To Pray, the Pope's official prayer platform. A World Day of Prayer for the challenge chosen by the Pope as a monthly intention reinvigorates the First Fridays, in solidarity with those who suffer, with the desire to help, to encourage, to keep hope alive.The main tools of our offering to the Lord are simply our joys, our sorrows, our time, our day. 

Sometimes an exceptional event is entrusted to us: for example, on 11 June 2021, the 100th anniversary and renewal of the consecration of Poland to the Heart of Jesus was celebrated in the Jesuit church in Krakow, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (photo opposite); Fr. Robert Więcek, S.J., director of the Prayer Network in Poland, was entrusted with the preparation of this celebration, which was attended by 96 bishops. 

The Way of the Heart is our spiritual in-depth itinerary, presenting the Heart of Jesus in a missionary approach. Our international office edited first in Spanish a book for each of the nine steps of the Way of the Heart. You can find them via the following link : https://issuu.com/popesprayernet/stacks/c15b35fe52704222a38308f2f2c0f089 

Fr. Frédéric Fornos, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, told us also about Click To Pray, the digital platform of the Pope’s Prayer, at the service of a synodal Church. You are most invited to download it. You will also be able to join in the Prayer for the Synod through a prayer website that will start in the beginning of November ; this website is also entrusted to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network : to support the synodal process, on Tuesday 19 October, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, have launched with the support of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See a new version of Click To Pray, the Pope’s prayer app: www.clicktopray.org Together with the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops and the International Union Superiors General, we have launched a website to pray for a synodal Church: www.prayforthesynod.va 

Thierry Monfils