Women of all faiths are invited to participate in the annual World Day of Prayer on March 12 in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Church Council will be the sponsor for the service.

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christians of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer on the first Friday in March each year. However, according to ages and countries development, many countries have changed the day.

The annual international event unites Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and other Christians from more than 170 countries in a common day of prayer. There are more than 180 countries will participate this year. The event was started by women in Hong Kong in 1940.

Each year, a theme is chosen and a country writes the service that is read at churches around the globe. The aim of the event is focus on women who cannot get fair opportunities in some development countries. This year, Poland is the featured country.

For 2005, the WDP will focus on the needs of the Polish people as their country continues its struggle to move from communism to a free-market economy and democratic political system. Therefore, Polish women involved in the prayer scripted a service with the theme "Let Our Light Shine."

The first WDP celebration observed by Polish women was in 1927; the second in 1948; since 1962, the observance has taken place regularly, uniting growing number of Polish churches in many towns.

This year marks the 118th year of this tradition focused on global solidarity of women gathering to pray and work for peace and justice worldwide.

The sponsor claim churches, faith organizations, followers, without dividing different sects, races, cultures, classes, and sexes to come together to pray and act in solidarity. They hope during the service people can share hopes and fears, joys and sadness, opportunities and needs. Christians will regain strengths through this gathering.