Priest:   As our Father’s beloved sons and daughters, let us humbly approach Him with joy in our hearts

          We pray for the Church: that all her members will have open ears to hear God and the grace and confidence to bear witness to His joy, peace, hope and healing love. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

          We pray for our world: that all nations will act to protect the poor, vulnerable and marginalised, and work together with joy for the betterment of all. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

         We pray for catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God, that they might be its witnesses, with courage and creativity, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, with joy and much peace. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

       We pray for blessings on all expectant mothers. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.               

       We pray for all migrants and refugees: that they will be welcomed, and cared for, with joy and love. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

        We pray for all in need of physical and mental healing, especially during the darker moments of the pandemic; and for all those who are sick, and those who care for them. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

         We pray for those who have died, especially Bernard Shields Senior, who passed away recently. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

          In a moment of silence let us offer those prayers held in our hearts.

LONGER PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us join these and all our prayers to those of our mother Mary as we say: Hail Mary…

Priest:     Heavenly Father, give us the grace and courage to spread your joy on this Gaudete Sunday. We bring all our prayers before you in the name of your son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.