ATLANTA--In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations Dec. 10, 1948, the Maisha House of Prayer is praying weekly for the realization of one of the rights in morning and evening prayer services through early December.

In its first 10 articles, the declaration lists the rights of all people, including entitlement to life, equal dignity and security of person; to not be held in slavery or servitude or be subjected to torture or cruel degrading treatment or punishment; to be treated equally under the law and receive equal protection under it; to not be subject to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile and to receive a fair and public hearing to determine rights and obligations and criminal charges.

Prayer services at Maisha House, staffed by Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, are held Monday through Saturday at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Mass is celebrated on Thursdays at noon.

The 11 a.m. service involves 30 minutes of silent prayer for particular needs while the morning and evening prayer times include songs, petitions, Scripture and intercessory prayer. The evening prayer services on Tuesday and Friday focus on the needs of Atlanta for an hour and include 20 minutes of silent prayer.

Individuals of all faiths and those seeking faith may visit the house without appointment for the services and to pray, drop a prayer request in the prayer basket or discuss aspects of their lives with one of the sisters.

As Maisha House, which means life in Swahili, strives to bring Christ’s gift of abundant life to all people and nations, the sisters invite all to participate in the fall U.N. Declaration of Human Rights celebration which began Oct. 4. The other 20 articles of the declaration will be the topic of prayer in 1999 and 2000.

“We’re praying each week for the human rights to become reality. It’s a way of acquainting people with them,” said Sister Loretta McCarthy, SBS, a director at the prayer house. “Over a three-year period we will pray for that (entire declaration) to become a reality.”

In Advent, the prayer house will also hold a day of reflection Dec. 12 and will sponsor an outdoor tree-lighting service by a wooden German Advent tree with Scripture readings, intercessory prayer and hot chocolate on Dec. 4, 11 and 18.

Since moving to a larger location last spring which can accommodate groups of 50, Maisha has expanded its archdiocesan prayer ministry by serving an increasing number of visitors and by offering meeting space for various Catholic groups. The house, founded in 1990, is located at 520 Parkway Drive, NE, Atlanta. For information call Maisha House at (404) 872-0096.