Pray In May with Mary's Meals

This month the charity Mary's Meals is inviting individuals, churches and faith groups to pray for its work feeding hungry children in some of the world's poorest countries and to ask for God's continued blessing for its mission, as part of a new campaign called Pray In May.

Mary's Meals, which is named after Mary the Mother of Jesus, is built on a foundation of prayer and the many little acts of love from its supporters and volunteers in the UK and across the world.

Pray In May seeks to recognise the special place of prayer in Mary's Meals' work, which has helped the charity grow from its humble beginnings, feeding 200 children in Malawi in 2002, to expand to reach more than 1.8 million children in 19 countries today.

Mary's Meals is encouraging individuals, churches and prayer groups across all Christian denominations to participate in Pray In May in a number of ways. These include saying prayers for its work during church services and using its prayer guides. The charity has produced a series of downloadable resources to support these activities, which are available on its website.

Mary's Meals has also recently launched a new faith-based gift card, featuring an inspirational quote from St Teresa of Calcutta, which would make an ideal present for christenings or confirmations.

Father Simon Firth, of The Parish of the Holy Cross and St Helen, in Ashton-under-Lyne, is among those taking part in Pray In May.

He explains: "I've been a supporter of Mary's Meals for many years and our parish sponsors the charity's work at Makalanga Primary School in Malawi. We're really looking forward to taking part in Pray In May and dedicating time and prayer to this.

"Each Saturday morning in May, we will devote a Holy Hour to Mary's Meals at our church and we'll also say the Rosary. Prayer is usually a personal thing, but it's lovely to think that other parishes and groups across the UK are uniting in this for the same mission."

Emma Hutton, Head of Grassroots Engagement at Mary's Meals, says: "Prayer has played such an important part in Mary's Meals' mission right from the very beginning and helped us to transform the lives of children in some of the world's poorest countries, by providing them with a daily nutritious meal in a place of education.

"We hope that many people of faith, as well as churches and prayer groups, will join us in solidarity during Pray In May. The power of prayer can move mountains and we believe it will ensure that our work continues to flourish, so that we can provide life-changing meals to even more children and offer them the hope of a brighter future."

Mary's Meals - founded in Argyll, Scotland, in 2002 - now feeds more than 1.8 million children in 19 countries around the world, working with local communities on the ground and volunteers.

While recognising the special place of prayer in its work, Mary's Meals consists of, respects and reaches out to people of all faiths and none.

For prayer guides, faith-based gift cards and inspiration to Pray In May with your church or faith group, visit: www.marysmeals.org.uk/prayinmay