Prayer

Creator God,

Sometimes life can be hard. The demands of work can pile up and our responsibilities can wear us down. In such times we are most grateful for the gift of humor. Humor often becomes such a vital ingredient in our ability to be resilient. Stir within us a desire for laughter and an appreciation for the opportunity to delight each day in the joy of life. Help us learn better how to take life seriously while never forgetting the soul cleansing power of humor. Amen.

Prayer

God of Life,

We celebrate the Sisters of the Humility of Mary today, giving you thanks for their example in ministry and the many spiritual gifts they have so generously shared with us, as Bon Secours Mercy Health: their creativity and responsiveness in serving community needs, their simplicity and joy while stewarding the land and all the resources you provide, their courage and fervor in advancing justice and peace… These gifts and more flow from a unique spirit of ministry that we are privileged to honor today and every day. As we do so, help us to follow faithfully in the Sisters’ footsteps, sharing your abundant life with all people, especially those who are poor, vulnerable, and underserved. Amen.

Prayer

Unifying spirit,

We are fortunate that we get to share our work with so many talented, mission-driven people. As we unite our efforts again today, help us bring our very best selves into the teams we serve, so that our collective gifts and skills might better serve the needs of our patients and families, and the communities around us. Humbly we ask that this ministry would stand out for the impact we are able to make, thanks to our embrace of meaningful, authentic teamwork. Amen.

Prayer

God beyond time,

We often need help managing our time, for there is so much to do and so many needs awaiting our response. Humbly we seek your wisdom in planning our days and investing our time. Give us keen discernment so we can engage our energy in the right things in the right measure, learning to prioritize those activities that you are calling us to do in each coming moment—including the call to rest from our labor—and let the remainder wait for tomorrow. For the previous gift of time, we thank you. Amen.

Prayer

God of life,

On this Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, we give thanks for St. Kateri’s example and recommit to our own practices of virtue and service for the good of others, no matter who they are or where they come from. Inspire us to be bold in our faith, pledging our lives in response to your call and encouraging others to stay the same course. May all those who are discouraged today find themselves richly blessed in exchange for the good work they are doing and may we all experience the joyful satisfaction that comes from serving a cause bigger than ourselves. With gladness and hope, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Living God,

Give us the freedom, flexibility, and agility to develop new ways of flourishing in a volatile, ever-changing world. Strengthen our resolve to accept necessary risks at the necessary time, so that we may always respond creatively to new circumstances. Help us to foster a positive attitude that can reframe our challenges as opportunities or even blessings in disguise, as we strive to become the people you have called us to be and bring good help to all those in need. By your grace, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Gracious God,

Empower us to become people of ever greater unity, integrity, and love. People who can speak the truth while extending grace and kindness, appreciating how we are all ultimately children before you. May we hold one another accountable to seek the common good together, even as we learn to trust each other more by sharing openly our vulnerabilities and weaknesses. In this way may we come to enjoy an experience of community built on a firm foundation of love—the kind of love that mirrors your own, covering a multitude of sins. Amen.