Prayer

Everlasting peace,

We are chronically deprived of silence. And yet we know that to be without silence is to be alienated from ourselves. Distant from that inward space where we can return to our foundations and revive a sense of wholeness. For the sake of our own well-being, grace us today with a peaceful and grounding moment away from unnecessary noise. For the sake of others, may we likewise be mindful of the noises we make in their presence, whether our patients or colleagues or even the acquaintances with whom we share the daily routines. Let our commitment to compassionate care extend even to the atmosphere of sound around us. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of unity,

The polarizations and tensions we feel in society today are symptoms of a deeper, spiritual blindness. We refuse to see how deeply we belong to each other and we ignore the truth of our being, that we cannot flourish in isolation and division. As a ministry, help us stand out as a people united, beyond all division, by hope and compassion. Let the mission we share with you inspire us to find new paths of dreaming and healing that can bring us together more and more. As one people, called by your name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God of earth and sky,

On this Feast of St. Brendan, we set aside time to rejoice in your spirit of creation. A spirit of life and abundance that so often surprises us with the appearance of color and grandeur in even the most unexpected places, refusing to be covered over by our pavement and buildings and roadways. Open our eyes to creation on this most amazing day, that we might see the earth and sky and all natural creatures through your eyes. Simply by being what they are, they echo your own affirmation, that to be is to be good. To be is beautiful. Amen.

Prayer

God of my neighbor,

In a culture reeling from what feels like one heartbreaking disaster to another, it is so tempting simply to shut our eyes and ears and lock our doors. How long, O Lord, must we struggle with even the most basic affirmations of dignity, respect, and belonging? Give us strength to not shut the door on others’ pain. Fill us instead with stamina and wholesome resilience, to continue expressing your heart of compassion within and for our communities. In solidarity, as one human family, so needy before you. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal love,

Our mothers so often reveal to us the paradox of grace united with strength. We are right to say thanks. For their sacrificial love, for their healing and comforting presence, for the way they always know just what to say to encourage and console, but also to urge forward and move on. May our mothers be blessed. We pray also today for those who are grieving the loss of a mother, or those who are hurting because this gift of a loving, mothering presence was either absent or distorted. May these also be blessed and find healing. May we all be inspired to reflect your own maternal heart of love to those we encounter. Amen.

Prayer

God of connections,

May your human family on earth be reminded today and each day that we are truly bonded together. As one people made in your image, we share a common origin and a common destiny. And so for good or for ill, our actions always have an impact beyond us, affecting others far and wide. Give us grace to see this truth in all its dynamism, that we might live into it conscientiously. Help us choose to become a blessing to others, knowing that every action or word will make an impact upon the quality of life we are sharing together. Amen.

Prayer

Creative savior,

The ministry we carry has always relied on the creativity of those who refused to accept the status quo. Women and men religious who believed that you called them to do what they can in responding to needs and healing the wounds affecting their neighbors. We remember this legacy and ask for your help as we strive to extend it. With creativity and insight, may we become better advocates for social change and authentic healing in the lives of all those we serve. May we remain maladjusted to the way things are, that we might better transform them into the way they should be. Amen.