Fourth Sunday of lent YA – Laetare Sunday

That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, work for peace and liberating 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, Gaza and Yemen, before the harsh darkness of those oppressed in Russia and elsewhere for protesting against war and aggression, for the millions in refugee camps yearning for the dawn of freedom, peace and a place to belong, for the 300 hundred children kidnapped in Nigeria: 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, especially for Gabe and Gray; 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, extreme weather conditions and destruction of our forests – 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 because of war, famine or preventable disease, especially in Gaza

     [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 the young people of the Church that they will speak their voice, their hopes and dreams, and so build a Church where they can belong, a Church that will respond creatively to the yearnings and challenges of young Christians  

     [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,  especially … ;

For all who have died recently:  Alexy Nivalny,  and all killed in the Ukraine and Israel/Palestine wars, and in all theatres of conflict
and all whose anniversaries are at this time:

     [reader]              SHINE ON US,  LORD…
     [response]        WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray with us for Pope Francis and the ‘New Way of being Church…

HAIL MARY…

Let us drink from the well of silent prayer for a moment…