Prayer of the faithful

3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A (26 January 2014)

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 quiet prayer. There is no response after this – move straight to the Hail Mary.

CELEBRANT: Gracious God, we come to you with our petitions, confident in your love and trusting that you are always ready to hear us when we call to you.

READER: The response is: Hear our prayer.

READER: Let us pray for the whole church, particularly our new cardinals, as well as all our clergy.  We ask you to hold them in your hands and sustain them in all that they do.…….. (PAUSE)……….. In your mercy Lord..…. Hear our prayer.

READER: We pray that those in power will have the strength to bring about the changes necessary to achieve peace in the world and also pray for help for all those who are experiencing persecution because of their faith or who are suffering from the effects of conflict..…..(PAUSE)….In your mercy Lord…..Hear our prayer

READER: We ask you to bless and refresh our parish family.   Increase our faith and trust in You and help us to follow Your will in our hearts as we go about our daily lives.………………. (PAUSE)…… In your mercy Lord..…. Hear our prayer.

READER:  We pray for Terry O’Neill whose funeral takes place next Wednesday and for all those who are suffering bereavement, illness, loneliness, discourage-ment or any other adversity at this time,  may they receive comfort and peace     ………….……………..  (PAUSE)…..In your mercy Lord…..Hear our prayer.

 READER:  Let us pause for a few moments and open our hearts to our Father in Heaven ……. (Longer PAUSE)

READER:  Let us now join with Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we say ….

Hail Mary, full of grace, etc.

After a short pause the Celebrant will conclude the prayer.

CELEBRANT:   Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for all the joys and blessings you bestow upon us.   In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

Priest – On this Peace Sunday we heard the prophet Isaiah proclaim God’s promise: “I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”  Let us pray that the light of Christ  will shine into those many places of darkness in the world

Reader – The response to our prayers is – Christ be our light

For the peoples of those parts of the world where there is conflict between peoples of different faiths that turmoil may be resolved and that the Christians of those regions may give witness to the Gospel and encourage all to live in harmony. We pray to the Lord………..pause

For reconciliation where there is conflict; for peace where there is fighting particularly in the Middle East and Africa; and that Jerusalem may be truly a City of Peace for all nations. We pray to the Lord…………pause

For all those who take risks for peace and justice; we ask God’s blessing today especially on the work of the international Catholic Peace Movement, Pax Christi. We pray to the Lord…………pause

As we begin the week of prayer for Christian Unity, we commend to our Heavenly Father the work of all those seeking to strengthen all that unites the various Christian denominations. We pray to the Lord…………pause

For those children who today commence their First Communion programme that they may grow in faith and love for Our Lord. We pray to the Lord………..pause

For the 3 Churches meeting following the Archbishop’s call for evangilisation that it may bear much fruit. We pray to the Lord……….pause

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died, remembering particularly Kate Haines whose funeral is this Monday – 20^th – and Terry O’Neill whose funeral will take place later this month. Eternal rest give unto them O Lord and let perpetual  light shine upon them

For all those who are ill, infirm or disabled, that they may be aware of God’s healing comfort and experience compassionate care. We pray to the Lord…………pause

In a few moments of quiet we bring our own needs to the Lord……longer pause

We now ask Our Blessed Lady, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace to recommend our petitions to her Beloved Son as we say… Hail Mary

Priest – Father as the Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus, your Son at his baptism, grant that the same Dove of peace may bring healing to our world. We make all our prayers through Your Son Jesus 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 quiet prayer.

There is no response after this – move straight to the Hail Mary.

CELEBRANT: Brothers and sisters, we have gathered here today in great excitement to celebrate our Saviour’s birth. We are confident that Jesus, once a baby, will listen to our needs.

READER: The response is: Hear our prayer.

READER: We pray for the Church.  May we retain the simple joy and awe of the shepherds that the maker of the stars and sea became a child on earth for us.

…….. (PAUSE)……….. In your mercy Lord..…. Hear our prayer.

READER: For the leaders of the all countries of earth. May they talk and work with each other for the good of all mankind and for their citizens.

…… (PAUSE)…… In your mercy Lord..…. Hear our prayer.

READER:  We pray those celebrating Christmas in the Philippines, still in crude shelters, mourning those who were lost. May they find comfort and hope, with many to help them.

 …. (PAUSE)…… In your mercy Lord..…. Hear our prayer.

READER:   Let us pray for the lonely at this time of family gatherings. Let us remember them and reach out to them so that they will know we are one family.

(PAUSE)…… In your mercy Lord..…. Hear our prayer.

READER:  Let us think of our own needs and worries and present them to the Lord.…. (Long Pause)…. Let us ask the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Christ child: Hail Mary, full of grace, etc.

After a short pause the Celebrant will conclude the prayer.

CELEBRANT: Father, through Your Son, Jesus, we know we can ask You to help us. Listen then to our petitions and grant them through Your Son, in unity with the Holy Spirit, Lord for ever and ever, Amen