PRIEST: Today the Word of God begins to point us towards the coming Feast of Pentecost, speaking as it does of the Spirit, the other Advocate who will stand with us and speak up for us. Today we mark as a parish the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse caused in any setting, and especially that within the Church. Too often leaders of the Church have not been advocates, speaking up for those who have been abused by clergy and religious, have not been bearers of the Spirit of Truth! As we approach the great Feast of the Spirit’s Power and Love and as we journey with our young people towards the Sacrament of Confirmation, let us all seek a deeper openness to the Spirit speaking through each other, especially through the wounded and alienated. Let us ask forgiveness for every way that we and the Church resist the Holy Spirit whom seeks to lead us into a ‘New Way of being Church’…
READER: The Spirit is wisdom …
When we are unable to see or listen
to the wounded and hurting among us,
and so do not listen to the voice of the Spirit…
LORD HAVE MERCY…
The Spirit is unity …
for the times we have served division rather than unity;
when we have not tried to reach out to those hurt by the Church
when we too quickly turned away from having
the difficult conversations that might have helped.
CHRIST HAVE MERCY…
The Spirit is love …
when we have not welcomed gently cared compassionately,
or defended courageously those abused, in whatever way,
in our communities…
LORD HAVE MERCY…
PRIEST: May our God who is all love
speak his Word of Mercy,
breath his Spirit of forgiveness,
and send us to be reconciliation and healing
for one another and for our world,
to bring all to everlasting life…
AMEN!