That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, work for peace and free our world of injustice, discrimination and poverty so that all can live together in joy, freedom and equality
[Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD…
[response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
Before the dark horror of war and violence in Ukraine, Syria and Yemen, before the harsh darkness of the millions in refugee camps yearning for freedom, peace and a place to belong: we stand with their afflicted peoples; we pray the light of peace to come and never be extinguished;
[Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD…
[response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
We pray for all the Church’s catechumens as they journey towards the Light of Christ in Easter Sacraments; for our children journeying towards Jesus’ love in Baptism, Eucharist and Reconciliation: may they each know God’s blessing and may the joy of following Christ touch their hearts
[Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD…
[response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
We pray for all who are suffering from the effects of Global Warming: rising oceans, more extreme weather conditions and pollution of the oceans – may we see the light and change our life-styles so as to heal our planet for future generations; we pray especially on this Mothers’ Day for all mothers who have to watch their children suffer or die of famine and preventable disease, especially in Afghanistan and the Yemen
[Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD…
[response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
We pray for our mothers on this Mothering Sunday, thanking them for choosing to love us; we pray for mothers who know the sorrow of bereavement or separation, especially those mothers who are forcibly separated from their children because of having to seek safe refuge in a foreign land; for single mothers as they seek to give all the love needed by their children; and for children who do not experience a mother’s love; for all women whose yearnings for a child have not yet been fulfilled
[Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD…
[response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
For all LGBTQ+ people and all young people of the Church that they will speak their voice, their hopes and dreams, and so build a Church where they can belong and flourish, and so use their gifts, building a Church that will respond creatively to their yearnings and challenges
[Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD…
[response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
For healing for all afflicted with blindness; for light for all trapped in the darkness of depression; for the sick, specially all wounded in body or mind because of discrimination and rejection of their identity; we pray also for…
For all who have died recently, especially for … and all killed in the Ukraine war, both Ukrainian and Russian
and all whose anniversaries are at this time
[Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD…
[response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
Mary, bring the light of Christ’s love to all mothers and guide the families preparing for a child’s baptism this Easter…
HAIL MARY…
Let us pray in a moment of silence…