Prayer

God of truth,

There is a place where we can stand before you and express our deepest and real lament. A place where we are driven to cry out in complaint, groaning, and tears; unsure of your intentions and longing for a pathway to open amid what feels like such ruin. For all those who are in that place of lament today, we pray for them and ask that you would be faithful to hear and respond to their cries. And as a people called by your name, may we all become more present to each other in times of challenge and pain, that we might embrace our suffering together as companions in healing. In your time, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Holy God,

We give thanks and celebrate the life and witness of Thérèse of Lisieux today. This holy woman was so faithful in becoming her God-given self. Her words and deeds remain so wholly instructive for us that, indeed, we hail her as a “doctor” of our Church and an inspiration for our lives of faith. May we all find our focus today on the calling we have been given as the persons God has made us to be, that we might become our true and best selves, fully alive and effective as we extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer

God our foundation,

Our hearts pour out with concern and compassion for the victims of Hurricane Ian, and for all those affected by natural disasters around the world today. We pray for your deliverance, safety, and comfort to come to them. May we who are watching from a distance never take for granted our access to so many necessities and comforts. Instead may we be all the more conscious, grateful, and thereby inspired to share with, provide for, and support those who lack what they need to flourish. In solidarity with all those in need today, we pray they will find a firm place to stand and for abundant life to be restored. Amen.

Prayer

Divine Heart,

As we go about our business today—entering rooms and sitting at tables, encountering others and engaging in ministry… Wherever we go, give us the courage to practice integrity, defined as an undivided commitment to who and what we are as a ministry called by your name. Lead us to embody your mission and by sharing your heart for the life of the world. Yes, wherever we go, let us go with all your heart. Amen.

Prayer

God of compassion,

We have been called to extend your compassionate ministry to a world in need. And we know that many right now are slipping further into various forms of crisis, struggling with basic necessities and even more complex pressures, buckling beneath the weight of what they must carry. Forgive us if we ever stood in judgment and renew in us the spirit of true solidarity. Fill us with awe-filled compassion for those who are poor, so that by your spirit within us may we lighten their burdens and walk forward together. Amen.

Prayer

God our center,

Today we give thanks for the life and witness of St. Vincent de Paul. Like Vincent, who so faithfully served those that were outcast and marginalized by society, may we also make a difference in the lives of those who may be neglected and overlooked. As we commit to provide them with the highest quality care, help us at the same time to touch their hearts with a healing and comforting presence. May it be so today, Amen.

Prayer

Ever good God,

As our Hindu colleagues enter this fall Navratri, we celebrate with them the victory of good over evil. While the world can often appear dark to our eyes, we always have reason to hope and find beauty. Inspire us all, whatever our backgrounds, to discover new ways of serving the common good together, so that the ministry we share may be a symbol of goodness and beauty in the communities around us. Amen.