In the 1930s, Jesus revealed to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska His desire for a special feast celebrating His mercy, to be held on the Sunday after Easter. This day—now known as Divine Mercy Sunday—was officially named by Pope St. John Paul II at St. Faustina’s canonization on April 30, 2000.

Jesus spoke about this feast repeatedly, with the most detailed message recorded in Diary entry 699. There He describes Divine Mercy Sunday as a refuge for all souls, promising an outpouring of extraordinary graces, especially for those who go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on that day. He urges all people, no matter their sins, to approach Him with trust, for “the very depths of My tender mercy are open.”

Although St. Faustina recorded 14 revelations about this feast, Divine Mercy Sunday is not a new celebration created solely from her visions. The Second Sunday of Easter was already a solemnity—the Octave Day of Easter. The title “Divine Mercy Sunday” simply brings into focus the profound meaning already present in the Church’s liturgy: the triumph of Christ’s mercy poured out for the world.

World Day of Prayer Nigeria, a western African country with a rich heritage and diverse ecosystem, welcomes and leads us for the 2026 prayer service.

All are welcome to join together as we pray and reflect on the theme “I will give you rest: come.”, and learn about Nigeria’s history, culture and concerns. The scripture base is Matthew 11, verses 28-30.

World Day of Prayer is an international, ecumenical movement which enables us to hear the thoughts of women from all parts of the world: their hopes, concerns and prayers.

The preparation for the day is vast; the service begins with the selection of a country and theme several years in advance. Once written, it goes to the WDP International Committee in New York for translation and then dissemination to the National Committee in each participating country.

The service is then discussed and edited by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada before being presented nationally, regionally, and locally for branches to make their plans. Finally, at a church in your community, on or near the first Friday in March, will invite people to gather and celebrate the service prepared by the women of Nigeria.

The World Day of Prayer is celebrated in over 120 countries. On March 6, 2026, it begins in Samoa, and prayer in native languages travels throughout the world—through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas before finishing in American Samoa some 38 hours later. A worldwide wave of prayer... Some communities will choose a date other than the first Friday of March to host a World Day of Prayer service in order to best suit their worship needs.