NATIONAL BLACK CATHOLIC APOSTOLATE FOR LIFE
WITNESSING THE GOSPEL OF LOVE AND THE GOSPEL OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY
c/o St. Clare Friary
440 West 36th Street New York, N.Y. 10018-6326
Voice: 212.868.1847
email: tnbcalife@aol.com

Kwanzaa For Life
2006-2007
National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life
Jesus, Giver of Life, make us people for life!

 

   Kwanzaa for Life
 

        Once again we have the opportunity to rededicate our Christian commitment to respect life.  Kwanzaa for Life offers us a prayerful meditation to recall the seven principles of Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Umoja (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).  In prayer we answer the call to commitment to these principles in our daily lives.  We remember old ways and discover new ways to make our communities and our lives more loving and more beautiful.

      We celebrate the Incarnation of Jesus into our lives so that we may share that life with others.  We recall His words to us in John’s gospel: ‘I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10)

     As we celebrate, we pray that the Lord may grant us sight until His revealing light dawns upon our human view.  May His Incarnation bid us to answer the call to faithful service so that we may share His life!


Jesus, may we... be in the Light...walk in the Light... talk in the Light...pray in the Light... act in the Light!


Kwanzaa
for Life 2006 composed by
James P. Newson, Jr.,
Copyright ©2006,
National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life,
New York, NY
All Rights Reserved.
Kwanzaa for Life 2006 may be reproduced provided such reprints include the following:
Reprinted from the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, Copyright ©2006, New York, NY All Rights Reserved.

print version
click here


www.blackcatholicsforlife.org

On

 



 




 

The Kinara of the Soul

The Kinara is a seven-place candle holder that represents the original stalk from which all African people sprung. 
 It also represents reason and social structure. In
Kwanzaa for Life it represents the soul of each individual, the vessel which contains the
spirit of life.


RESPONSE:

 

JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE,
 MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!

UMOJA  UNITY

 




UMOJA unity

   The world works to divide us.  Often we would rather be only concerned for self.  Teach us to reject division and choose unity.  In Christ there is no East nor West, no South nor North, no superior nor inferior.  All that God created is good.


RESPONSE: JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE, MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!

 

KUJICHAGULIA SELF-DETERMINATION

The world defines who we are.  Often we would rather seek to image ourselves as those we are not.  Teach us to recognize who we are and whose we are.  Help us to learn how to allow others to know and love themselves.  All that God created is good.



RESPONSE: JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE, MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!
 

 

UJIMA COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY

The world often instructs us to blame others for our misfortunes.  We are encouraged to work and hoard our life-giving resources for our own benefit.  Teach us to share responsibility for our communities.  Help us to work together in your name for the common good.  Maybe then we can see a new day filled with generosity of spirit to share with others.


RESPONSE: JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE, MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!
 

 

UJAMAA COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS

The world continues to entice us to squander our wealth and resources.  Lord Jesus, in business grant us the wisdom to choose as you would have us choose.  May we choose in favor of those who uphold our inherent dignity and support our growth.


RESPONSE: JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE, MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!
 

 

NIA PURPOSE
 

The world helps us to forget why we are here.  Jesus said to love God with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus said it.  We believe it.  We ask Him to help us answer the call to love and serve so that we may return to greatness.

 


RESPONSE: JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE, MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!
 

 

KUUMBA CREATIVITY
 

The world often shows us images of ways to self-destruct and destroy others.  Guide us, Lord, to use our creative gifts to give or enhance life for ourselves and others.  Bless us and continue to enrich our creativity.  Holy Spirit make our hearts like unto yours!


 


RESPONSE: JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE, MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!
 

 

IMANI FAITH


The world abounds with cries of fear, doubt, and confusion.  Bread of Life, feed us with the strength of our ancestors who knew how to keep hope alive each day by day.  Give us the faith to shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, console the grieving and the broken hearted, comfort the sick and the dying, give solace to those in despair and danger, teach the ignorant, and bring joy to all.
 


RESPONSE: JESUS, GIVER OF LIFE, MAKE US PEOPLE FOR LIFE!
 


NATIONAL BLACK CATHOLIC APOSTOLATE FOR LIFE

 

KWANZAA FOR LIFE 2006

(December 26, 2006
through January 1, 2007)

 

Let Us Also Offer The Following Prayer:


During
Kwanzaa for Life, let us also offer the following prayers:
     The Lord’s Prayer,
     The Marian Prayer (Hail Mary),
     Psalm 27
and

Kwanzaa for Life Prayer

  Lord, our God, Giver of Life, make us people for life as we celebrate the festival of Kwanzaa and the African American heritage.  Shine on our thanks and praise for life.  Strengthen us with your grace and mercy, so that we may choose life.  Guide us to respect life from its beginning to its natural end.  Help us to always be true to our nature as you created us because all that you made is good.  Finally, lead us on to eternal glory with you our Creator, our Inspiration, our Redeemer, our Sanctifier, Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

.

 
 

 

Sending Forth Hymns....
The Lord Is My Light #132 Lead Me, Guide Me or This Little Light of Mine #190 LMGM or Lead Me, Guide Me #168 LMGM or Go Tell It on the Mountain #22 LMGM

National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life - Kwanzaa for Life 2006 composed by James P. Newson, Jr. — NBCAL © www.blackcatholicsforlife.org



The National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life was inaugurated in the fall of 1997, with the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus and the Franciscan Solid Ground Ministry as sponsors and with the support of John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York and the Archdiocese's Office of Black Ministry.
 

NBCAL Board of Consultants

 

Most Rev. J. Terry Steib, S.V.D., DD Episcopal Advisor,
 Rev. Fr. James E. Goode, OFM, Ph.D President - NBCAL, Dr. Beverly A. Carroll (USCCB: SAAC),
Ms. Martha Carter-Bailey
(NABCA), Rev. Fr. Fred J. Briers. CR (NBCCC), 
Ms. Therese Wilson Favors, (NABCA),   Very Rev. Glenn D. Parker, CSsR (NBCCC),
Supreme Knight Gene A. Phillips, Sr., (KPC), Supreme Lady Geralyn C. Shelvin (KPCLA),
Sr. Barbara Spears, SNJM (NBSC),   Deacon Marvin T. Threatt, Ph.D Pres.(NAAACD),
Rev. Monsignor Mauricio West, V.G. (NBCCC),Michael Youngblood (NAACYMN),  
Mrs. M. Annette Turner Pres. NABCA (Ex-officio),
Sr. Patricia Haley, SCN Pres. NBSC (Ex-officio), Deacon Dunn Cumby Pres. NBCCC (Ex-officio)


Partnership: 
National Black Catholic Congress
Ms. Valerie E. Washington, Executive Director

Xavier University,

          Institute for Black Catholic Studies
            Dr. Jamie T. Phelps, OP, Ph.D.
        Director

NBCALife