Prayer

Great redeemer,

Our ministry’s value of stewardship calls us to respect your creation through the daily choices we make, including what we do with our waste. In a “throwaway culture” like ours, help us become more creative and innovative, putting to good use all the resources we are blessed to possess. May we continue as a ministry to support sustainability efforts, and on a personal level may we always mindful of our connections within the whole web of life you have woven. With gratitude, and hope, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God in our joy,

Empower us to stand out as joyful people, full of good humor. Not in denial of the misfortunes we see, but as a demonstration of our resilience and our hope that you will bring to fruition every seed of kindness and love that’s been planted by the many who believe in a harvest to come. With all seriousness, help us treasure our capacity for humor and respect our laughter as a sign of your spirit of freedom bubbling up in our midst. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

Help us find healthy ways to maintain our sense of balance between all the responsibilities we carry. As we do so, may we learn to approach our sleep as a spiritual discipline just as much as a bodily demand. Let sleep be for us a spiritual sign that you have provided, reminding us that we are not so limitless and cannot afford to neglect our own self-care. With serious and intention, guide us into rest-giving, life-affirming, soul-nourishing sleep. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of peace,

We celebrate the Feast of Lorcán Ua Tuathail today, remembering with gladness the life of this devoted servant, church reformer, and humble leader of Irish Catholicism. May we all be so willing to put others first and serve your causes of justice and peace in all our lands. As we extend your mission today, give us a greater sense of appreciation for the breadth and depth of the tradition of compassion that informs who we are as a ministry, and why we are here. Amen.

Prayer

Spirit of kindness,

We should marvel more often at how you made us both sacred and social. You made us in such a way that we are transformed inwardly through our service on behalf of others. On World Kindness Day, help us embrace this great mystery of our common bond, by seeking to cheer one another and show each other genuine kindness. Colleagues and friends, patients and families and all of our neighbors. May we find inner peace by serving them all with kindness. Amen.

Prayer

All-loving God,

This is one area of our lives where you seem to allow no compromise, no in-between, no easy alliance between forces. You teach us that our attachment to money is a threat to our freedom to love and trust you wholeheartedly. In a challenging economy like we face today, liberate us to live into your truth more and more. May we be free of every unhealthy attachment so we can love you as you invite us to do, receiving all as gift and loving our neighbor without constraint. As we serve your mission today, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Almighty God,

We bless you today, the one true rock of salvation, our deliverer and our refuge. Today, we express our gratitude for the selfless service offered by our veterans on behalf of our nation. May we be inspired by their example of courage and commitment to pursue the mission of mercy and care you entrust to us. Stir within us the willingness to offer our thanks to the veterans serving alongside us in our shared ministry. And may all our veterans, living or dead, be honored, as we commit ourselves to extending the values for which they gave their lives: dignity, freedom, justice, and peace. In admiration and love, we pray. Amen.