Delivering food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor
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Father Dave Caron
- June 19, 2023
Meet the Artist for Day of Prayer
Learn More About the Day of Prayer Artwork of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
At Cross Catholic Outreach, we believe Mary is the Mediatrix of all graces. She continually intercedes for us before God as we serve the world’s poor materially and spiritually for the glory of her son, Jesus Christ.
That’s why the Day of Prayer is so important to us!
Cross Catholic Outreach’s Day of Prayer is held annually on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church, our staff, ministry partners and donors unite in prayer under the loving care of Jesus’ mother.
During our Day of Prayer, Cross Catholic Outreach’s staff sets aside the entire day to pray for the specific intentions of friends of our ministry. This year, we’re partnering with His Eminence Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, to have these intentions delivered to the Vatican for a special Mass offered by the Cardinal himself. This Mass is specifically said on behalf of our donors’ prayer intentions. We are committed to praying for the needs of our donors!
Meet Alfred Oduya
When you submit your intentions online, you will receive a free digital Mass card featuring artwork of the assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven. Alfred Oduya created this beautiful painting specifically for Cross Catholic Outreach’s Day of Prayer. It reflects the Catholic traditions of Kenya, his home country.
We were introduced to Alfred through our trusted ministry partner St. John Bosco Rehabilitation Center in Kitale, Kenya, where Alfred volunteers his time as an art teacher. St. John Bosco Rehabilitation Center rescues children living on the streets of Kitale. The ministry aims to help vulnerable children become responsible, educated adults who are able to lead their families out of poverty.
That’s why the influence of caring adults like Alfred is significant. He has trained children in candle making and mural painting. Under his mentorship, one of the students paints signs and murals in Kitale, providing a stable source of income.
Alfred recently painted a mural at the center. The mural depicts Jesus feeding the multitudes. It is a beautiful reminder to the children that God cares for their daily needs.
Alfred is a graduate of Lodwar High School, Comboni Technical School and Jomo Kenyatta University. Professionally, he is the proprietor of African Art Studio, a community organization in Kapenguria, Kenya. His work is displayed and sold in the National Museum of Kenya, Kuona Trust and has been featured in an art exhibit in Oslo, Norway.
Learn More About St. John Bosco Rehabilitation Center
In northern Kenya, tribal conflicts have driven poor families seeking safety into squatter camps on the outskirts of the city of Kitale. There, children resort to begging on the streets to survive, and few attend school because of the cost of books and uniforms.
Catholic missionaries in Kitale are dedicated to changing those troubling circumstances by sharing the love of Christ, upholding dignity and renewing hope. The Maryknoll Missioners founded St. John Bosco Rehabilitation Center to give displaced children a pathway to a brighter future. Today, the center rescues children once thought lost to life on the streets. It also relies on volunteers like Alfred to make this mission of mercy possible!
Cross Catholic Outreach’s ministry partners at St. John Bosco Rehabilitation Center believe all children were created in the image of God, with a unique purpose to fulfill. Our generous donors help the center provide shelter, food, education and Catholic spiritual formation to children who need love and guidance.
The program at St. John Bosco follows three R’s when helping Kitale’s at-risk children:
- Rescue: First, children are rescued from poverty and harsh life on the streets. The team believes that early intervention is the key to future success.
- Rehabilitation: Children are rehabilitated from life on the streets. They go to an informal school at the center to catch up academically, live in a safe environment, and receive proper nutrition and Catholic spiritual formation.
- Reintegration: If possible, the goal is for each child to be reintegrated into their family and placed in a formal school.
Dedicated missionaries at St. John Bosco Rehabilitation Center follow God’s call to care for the poor and neglected. They also bear witness to an important spiritual truth — all people have intrinsic value and dignity.
Can We Pray for You? Submit a Prayer Intention
Would you like your prayer intentions included in our Day of Prayer’s Vatican Mass? Let us know how we can pray for you by submitting your specific intentions. Feel free to share more than one! After you submit your prayer requests, you will be able to download a free digital Mass card.
We are honored to pray for faithful supporters like you who help us share God’s love with poor families around the world. Please submit your intentions by July 31 to ensure they arrive at the Vatican on time.
