Father Francis Katuta of the Diocese of Mazuzu offered a reflection on the eighth day of the Diocese of Phoenix Black Catholic Ministry’s Novena for Racial Justice.

“My brothers and sisters, I welcome you to the eighth day of our novena for racial justice,” Katuta posted on Facebook. “I’m Father Francis Katuta, and the theme for today is ‘power with, not power over.’ Indeed, when God created us he gave us the power and authority over all creation. Therefore, we are leaders in so many ways in the world.  In the way we do things, the way we act, and the way we lead our lives, points to the fact that we are leaders and we ought to do what is required and the things that please God all the days of our lives."

Father Kauta added that it is significant to reflect on the power of leaders as an avenue to show others racial justice or racial injustice.

According to the church’s Facebook page, Father Kauta, a scholar, author and citizen of Zambia, led a Novena for Racial Justice from Jan. 8-16 that was hosted by the Diocese of Phoenix Black Catholic Ministry.

The church said on Facebook that every day of the Novena had a special intention with prior intentions, including the image of God “as true nature of human dignity,” “the intrinsic and unconditional value of the human person,” “oneness of human origin as true nature of social justice,” social identity, along with the “principles of justice and fairness.”

The word Novena is derived from the Latin word for nine, according to Blessed is She, which signifies reciting a novena prayer for nine consecutive days, and the number nine could also refer to the nine months that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, or when the Apostles and Mary prayed for the nine days between Jesus’s Ascension into Heaven and Pentecost.