Priest – Brothers and Sisters let us join together in prayer to our Heavenly Father asking Him to look favourably on our needs and the needs of the Church and the world.

Reader – The response to our prayers is – Hear our prayer

Let us thank our God that our Holy Father has returned safely to Rome and pray that he will continue to call for greater efforts to work for world peace and an end to poverty……pause…….Loving Father…..

We pray for Joseph Samuel Oyston who is to be baptised this weekend and for his family that they may grow in faith through the grace of this holy sacrament ……pause….  Loving Father…

The readings this week lead us to pray for all married couples that they may always be faithful to their marriage vows………pause……Loving Father….

Let us pray for all who are ill, infirm, disabled in any way or house-bound that they may know God’s healing comfort and receive compassionate care………pause…. Loving Father….

Let us pray for the repose of the souls of all who have died recently and for the comfort of their relatives and friends. We remember especially Patricia Cording and Bernie Mills who have died this week……..pause……Loving Father….

As all the political parties meet at this time, we pray that whoever is in power now and in future will rule our country with integrity and justice………Loving Father….

In a few moments of silence let us place our own needs before our Loving Father…………

Let us ask Mary, mother of us all, to intercede for us as we say…..Hail Mary

Priest – We make all our prayers to our Loving Father through Jesus Christ His Son and our Saviour…………

Amen

Priest:  My friends, we have God for our help, so let us bring forward all our needs.

Reader: The response is; Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: We pray for Pope Francis — that he may travel safely as he visits Cuba and the United States.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: For all Christians — that they may learn to put other people before themselves.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: We pray for migrants seeking a safe home in Europe – that its citizens may give them a friendly welcome.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: For peacemakers — that God may help them persevere, despite the obstacles they encounter.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: For children who have suffered from harm or abuse — that God may come to their aid and protect them from further danger.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: We pray for all who have died, that the Lord may keep them in eternal peace. We remember especially Angela Williams, mother of Linda Lobo who died this week.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

We ask Mary, our Mother, to join her prayers with ours as we say Hail Mary…

Let us pray for a few moments in the silence of our hearts.

Priest: God of power and might, you uphold our lives and keep us in your care: help us in our needs, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Celebrant will introduce and also conclude the prayer.

The reader should pause for several moments between the intercession and its response.

Leave about 20 seconds for the quiet prayer. There is no response after this – move straight to the

Hail Mary.

CELEBRANT: Sisters and brothers, our God has compassion, He hears the cry of our appeal. Let us place our trust in Him as we ask Him for all our needs.

READER: (The response is): Come to our help.

READER:  Let us pray for the church and the forthcoming Synod on the Family. May it be an occasion of fruitful discussion guided by the Holy Spirit and not filled with rancour, distrust and dissension.

…….. (PAUSE)……….. Lord ……. Come to our help.

READER: We pray for the teachers in our schools that they may strive to bring out the best in each pupil and help them become useful members of society.

…… (PAUSE)…… Lord ……. Come to our help.

READER:  We pray for refugees from Syria, Libya, Sudan and so many other parts of the world, that they may find shelter and safety. May we as a parish show mercy in helping them.

…. (PAUSE)…… Lord  …. Come to our help.

READER: Let us pray for those who suffer any form of racial discrimination in our society, that God may strengthen them and change the hearts of those who discriminate against them.

(PAUSE)…… Lord …. Come to our help

READER: Let us pray for those who are sick, lonely or in distress. May they know the Lord is with them in their suffering and will help them through it.

(PAUSE)…… Lord .…. Come to our help.

READER: Let us quietly ask for any personal needs or those of friends or relatives. (Long Pause)…. Let us ask the intercession of Mary, mother of the Lord: Hail Mary …..

After a short pause the Celebrant will conclude the prayer.

CELEBRANT:  Father in heaven, look down upon us in our need and come to our help, through Your Son Jesus Christ in union with the Holy Spirit, now  and forever, Amen.

and forever, AMEN.

Bidding Prayers for the 23rd Sunday of the Year 2015

Priest: We come together knowing that God loves us and is concerned for us; so let us humbly, but confidently pray for our needs and the needs of our world

Reader;   The response is;

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

We pray that the Church may succeed in reaching out to the wider world, so that more people may come to know our loving God – – – – -pause – – – – – –

Lord in your mercy – (Hear our prayer)

This week the tragedy and suffering in the lives of asylum seekers has been brought home to us.  We pray that politicians and leaders may find the courage and wisdom to address these difficult issues.  And we pray for families fleeing war torn countries everywhere … … … pause … … … … …

Lord in your mercy – (Hear our prayer)

In our own country at this time of year we pray for farmers and for the success of the harvest.  May our plenty encourage us to support those who do not have enough to eat, both here and abroad..…. pause …………..

Lord in your mercy – (Hear our prayer)

This week some 40 parishioners from the 3 Churches and from St Francis Parish will be going on a Pilgrimage to Sicily.  We pray for the success of the Pilgrimage. May it provide a time of reflection and renewal. ………..pause…..

Lord in your mercy – (Hear our prayer)

In silence let us pray for our own needs and the needs of our families and friends ….. …………long pause……………

We ask Mary to add a mother’s prayers to our own saying;

Hail Mary………….

Priest: God of love, listen to our petitions and grant them through him who lives in glory with You and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Priest:  We pray for the needs of all people both here and in the wider world

Reader: The Response is   …….. increase our faith

We pray for Pope Francis, who is carrying the weight of people’s expectations for the Synod on the family in October

PAUSE

Lord  …………increase our faith

We pray for all who are without the comfort of home

PAUSE

Lord…………increase our faith

Jesus rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees who were clinging to human traditions and only paying lip service to God.  May we worship truly from our hearts.

PAUSE

Lord  ………increase our faith

We pray for our three parishes.  May this time of change encourage us all to open our minds and hearts and also the doors of our churches in order to become true disciples of Jesus.

PAUSE

Lord ………increase our faith

We pray for all those who have died, especially members of our own family and community, may the Lord welcome them into everlasting life. We remember especially Ellen Williams, daughter of Terry and Anne Culbertson who has died this week.

PAUSE

Lord ………increase our faith

Let us pray quietly for our own needs

LONGER PAUSE

We pray to Mary who always showed steadfast love as we say Hail Mary………

Priest    Heavenly Father we make our prayers with trust and hope.  We ask this through Jesus your son and the Holy Spirit for ever

Amen