Category: Bidding Prayers

God is perfect Relationship – Love that creates, that both gives and receives, that shares and binds in perfect harmony ….  may the Church everywhere give witness to this creative love and unity, that all people might know their true identity and destiny.

                [reader:]                   GOD OF LOVE
                [response]              HEAR OUR PRAYER

God is perfect harmony at the heart of creation …. We pray for greater respect and reverence for creation, that we will learn how to harvest the world’s resources without polluting and destroying God’s beautiful creation; we pray too for miracles of peace in our war-torn world, especially among the peoples of the Middle East, Myanmar and Central Africa

                [reader:]                   GOD OF LOVE
                [response]              HEAR OUR PRAYER

God is the community of equality that empowers the poor …. we pray for all people who are denied the basic necessities of life and for all refugees and those seeking safe asylum, in particular those who have fled because of their LGBT+ identity: may we safeguard their dignity, made in God’s Image and Likeness; for all political and Church leaders that they will work with honesty, integrity and commitment for justice and equality of opportunity for all.

                [reader:]                   GOD OF LOVE
                [response]              HEAR OUR PRAYER

God is diversity in loving unity … we pray for all who have been wounded by the Church’s rejection of their identity and sexuality: may a new acceptance bring healing to the wounded as each person is empowered to offer the gift they are and the gifts they have to enrich the life and mission of God’s People

                [reader:]                   GOD OF LOVE
                [response]              HEAR OUR PRAYER

God is Unity …. we pray for deeper bonds of friendship and unity between the Churches, in the service of the mission of the Gospel; may we also build together a greater ‘Fellowship of Believers’ as people of different world faiths seeking to build a democratic society of harmony

                [reader:]                   GOD OF LOVE
                [response]              HEAR OUR PRAYER

God is a love that heals and protects … for the people of the Congo and Uganda, afflicted by the Ebola epidemic, for all medical staff working in those areas, especially those threatened by civil conflict in the Congo

                [reader:]                   GOD OF LOVE
                [response]              HEAR OUR PRAYER

God listens to our prayer, and knows our every need …. we pray all who are sick and housebound, for all who carry the wounds of rejection of who they are; we pray especially for …
For all who died recently, especially …  and those killed in war, conflict and terror, especially in the Sudan, and the refugees who have perished in the waters of the Mediterranean: that they might see God face to face
and for all  whose anniversaries occurs at this time:…

                [reader:]                   GOD OF LOVE
                [response]              HEAR OUR PRAYER

Mary, beloved of the Father, dwelling place of the Word made Flesh, overshadowed by the Spirit, pray with us for harmony among all peoples…
                                                   HAIL MARY… 

Let us pray in silence of contemplation for a moment.

The Spirit clothes the Church with Divine Love … we pray that the Church, led by Pope Francis, Bishop Declan and the College of Bishops, may unite all peoples, races, classes and cultures in one great human family,  building a universal civilisation of love – we ask that all hearts of stone expressing discrimination of any kind may be challenged to repentance

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…

        [response] Fill us Afresh with Your Love

The Spirit reconciles all peoples of the earth … we pray that men and women of violence everywhere will cease resisting the Spirit that urges peace upon them;  that both ordinary people and world leaders everywhere will give themselves to the task of building peace – we pray especially for the the peoples of the Middle East, Palestine/Israel, and Central Africa

         [reader]                   JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…

The Spirit renews the face of the earth … we pray that we will learn to live in harmony, and  respect the wonder of creation,  working with God’s creative Spirit to heal our damaged earth and bringing true justice that shares the earth’s abundance with all equally

         [reader]                  JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…

The Spirit showers gifts of ministry and mission upon the People of God… we pray that this Pentecost our elected Catechumens and each one of us will all know a fresh outpouring of

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…

The Spirit leads us to the heart of our God … we pray for a deepening of the stillness of prayer in our lives, and for the welling up of praise and thankfulness: may we each know how infinitely we are loved by our God who dwells at the centre of our being

         [reader]                   JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…

The Spirit sends us out in mission … we pray for all our Parish community that we will be open to God’s ever-new vision for us, together with diverse Christian brothers and sisters, and work to Proclaim Good News and serve the Kingdom in the Inner City; that the whole Church  will act with more courage to live out God’s Option for the Poor

           [reader]                  JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…

The Spirit heals our every wound,  enlightens every darkness:  we pray for all suffering the wounds of war and poverty and for the sick and hurting of our parish family,  for all suffering from the Covid 19 virus and all who care for them; we pray also for …

the Spirit raises the dead: for all who have died recently, … and all victims of the Corona Virus and war and poverty

and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time: … and the victims of the Rwandan Genocide

                         [reader]   JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…

Mary of Pentecost,  help us all to open ever wider our hearts to the Spirit as you did …

                            HAIL MARY…

Let us yield to the Spirit praying within us in a moment of silence…

[1] THE SPIRIT BRINGS LOVE:

The Scripture says ‘Love is always patient and kind’

O God our Father, may we always be filled with the Spirit of Love. Help us love one another as Jesus loved us. May it be our joy to share your love with all the world, healing every wound and reconciling every division. May this Spirit of Love and Wisdom of Your Kingdom guide our Pope, Francis, and our Bishop, Declan

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[2] THE SPIRIT BRINGS JOY:

        The Scripture says ‘…that your joy be complete’

O God our Life-Giver, may the Spirit of Joy be with us always, that joy promised by Jesus to all who follow his Way, that our witness to the Good News may be ever joyful; we pray particularly for all saddened by bereavement, grief or turmoil at this time of Coronavirus  – may their sadness be turned to joy by your healing love

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[3] THE SPIRIT BRINGS PEACE: The Scripture says ‘My Peace I give you…’

O God the wellspring of our Peace, may the Peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding always be in our hearts, and everywhere in all the world. We pray especially for peace in lands where there is conflict and war – in particular we pray for the Holy Land, Syria, Afghanistan and the Cameroon 

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[4] THE SPIRIT BRINGS PATIENCE:

    The Scripture says ‘We wait for what we do not see in patience’

O God ever patient in waiting upon us, grant us to know when to be patient and long-suffering, and when to share your impatience and love’s anger in the struggles against injustice; may your Spirit teach us right patience as we wait upon your touch, and grant us a patient heart for those we find it hard to love

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[5] THE SPIRIT BRINGS KINDNESS:

      The Scripture says ‘Be kind and tender-hearted to one another’

O God who lavishes us with tender kindness, grant us that Spirit of Kindness that will be ever understanding and forgiving after the example of Jesus who befriended all and forgave without limit, even to his disciples who betrayed, denied and deserted as well as those who nailed him upon the Cross

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[6] THE SPIRIT BRINGS GOODNESS:

    The Scripture says ‘Goodness and kindness shall follow me always’

O God of all Goodness, we praise you for your everlasting goodness towards all humanity and our creation. Grant us by your Spirit a hunger for all that is good, gratitude for the goodness in every person and every faith and a heart that listens to the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth … may your Spirit empower us with action to heal our planet, our ‘common home’ assuring true justice the world’s poor

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[7] THE SPIRIT BRINGS TRUST:

        The Scripture says ‘Trust in God and trust in me…’

O God who never leaves us, may your Spirit work in our hearts to bring us to the place of such trust that we will lovingly abandon ourselves into your hands, and offer the gift of trust to one another – may we never disappoint another’s trust in us

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[8] THE SPIRIT BRINGS GENTLENESS:

The Scripture says ‘Happy the Gentle, they shall inherit the earth!’

O God of all gentleness, the world is too full of those who act violently and hurt others, even unknowingly. May your Spirit lead us along the paths of gentleness so that you might heal the aggression in our hearts, and by your Spirit’s power we might heal the aggression that wounds our world

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

[9] THE SPIRIT BRINGS SELF-CONTROL:

 The Scripture says  ‘The Spirit is not timidity, but power, love and self-control’

O God who orders all things for our good and growth, may your Spirit grow in us the self-control that frees spontaneity and freshness in our lives and communities, while enabling us to discern all that will hurt another or ourselves – may we embrace love’s discipline in order to liberate love in each other

        [reader]                    JESUS BREATHE YOUR SPIRIT…
        [response]              Fill us Afresh with Your Love

For the unity of the Church, the Vine of God bearing the fruit of love in the world:  for Pope Francis, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow, Free Church and Pentecostal leaders

                              LORD WE PRAY…
                              Glorify Your Name…

That the world might bear the fruit of peace where there is war, harmony where there is hostility, justice where there is oppression and freedom where people are powerless: we pray for all the peoples of the Middle East, in particular the Yemen, and those suffering in Myanmar, Mali and Hong Kong that their right to peace, security and freedom will be respected by all

                              LORD WE PRAY…
                              Glorify Your Name…

That our catechumens, preparing for the Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist will always stay close to Jesus, as Branches on the Vine, and draw life, truth and love from the Spirit of Christ, and experience the excitement of living in the Holy Spirit  and using their gifts to shape the Vine of Christ, the Church

                              LORD WE PRAY…
                              Glorify Your Name…

We pray for the Spirit of Wisdom to guide us as we vote in Local Government Elections: may God raise up good leadership and may the voices of the poor and marginalised be heard and their needs addressed 

                              LORD WE PRAY…
                              Glorify Your Name…

For more humane and just immigration policies in our land that will listen with compassion to the cries of those fleeing war, oppression and poverty; for a Home Office reformed and fit for purpose; for an end to the denial of the right to  work for those those seeking safe sanctuary among us 

                              LORD WE PRAY…
                              Glorify Your Name…

For the healing of the wounded branches of the Vine: we pray for all bearing the wounds of abuse, for the people of India suffering from Covid, for greater equality of health-care and vaccination provision around the world, and in particular for …
for all who have died recently, especially …. and those who have died of Covid or because of war, terror and poverty;
for all whose anniversaries are at this time

                              LORD WE PRAY…
                              Glorify Your Name…

Mary, Mother of the Church who bore the fruit that is Christ, pray with us for the unity and mission of our Church…

                             HAIL MARY…

We pray in a moment of silence…

The Church’s deepest call is to love without limit: may all humanity know the love the Father lavishes upon us – may the love Christians bear one another unite the Church and heal our world … we pray especially for our Chief Shepherd, Pope Francis and our own Bishop Declan: may they listen to God’s People so as to guide us wisely and courageously

                               [reader:]              LORD YOU CALL US…
                               [response:]        YOUR WILL BE DONE…

The World’s call is to be human and in this pivotal decade to heal creation itself,  to protect the life and well-being of every person and the planet we share:  that all races and nations will struggle for peace rather than struggle in war: for the peoples of Middle East, the Congo, Mali and Cameroon and the world’s many theatres of conflict; for a more humane heart in the UK and Europe to those migrants who risk their lives to escape terror and poverty; for decisive action to combat global warming for future generations

                               [reader:]              LORD YOU CALL US…
                               [response:]        YOUR WILL BE DONE…

Our Parish Community’s call is to embrace Jesus’ challenge to be the Shepherd for the people of the Inner City: may we be God’s ‘field hospital’, gathering the poor and broken into healing, hope and life, and challenging every form of racism and discrimination: following the Shepherd may we reach out to all and inviting them to the Table of the Lord

                               [reader:]              LORD YOU CALL US…
                               [response:]        YOUR WILL BE DONE…

Some are called to ordained ministry or the religious life:  for the students of our Diocese studying for the priesthood in seminaries and for those preparing for the permanent diaconate;  for our young women and men that they might welcome God’s call to serve with their whole lives in ordained Ministry and Religious Life; for the Church that we might be open to new forms of ministry that the Spirit calls and shapes in our age and for our world

                               [reader:]              LORD YOU CALL US…
                               [response:]        YOUR WILL BE DONE…

All of us are equally called through Baptism and Confirmation to holiness and to ministry:  for catechumens preparing for Baptism and Confirmation in the coming weeks; may we all answer the call to be shepherds one to another, serving the Kingdom and the Gospel, with love for one another and our world; that those called to the single life or to Christian marriage may give themselves faithfully to their particular vocation

                               [reader:]              LORD YOU CALL US…
                               [response:]        YOUR WILL BE DONE…

We are all called to life and wholeness:  for all suffering from Covid, especially in India at this time and for all health-care workers caring for them; the housebound of our parish, and for …;
for all who have died recently, especially … Fr Hans Kung and all who have perished on the refugee journey to freedom;
for those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Stephen Lawrence, and …

                               [reader:]              LORD YOU CALL US…
                               [response:]        YOUR WILL BE DONE…

Let us ask Mary, who uttered her ‘Yes’ to God’s Call,  to pray that each will embrace our vocation more profoundly …                                                   

                                                                  HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence to listen to the voice of the Shepherd and follow him…

Thomas remained in doubt until he returned to the community of faith:  for the unity of all God’s Church,  that together we will offer to an unbelieving world a convincing sign of faith, proclaiming the Risen Lord of the Church

                 [reader]                        JESUS IS RISEN…
                 [response:]                 HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Thomas saw and he believed:  for a world that cannot believe because they cannot see;  for a world that cannot believe because they cannot hope;  for a world that cannot believe because they cannot trust – that Christians everywhere and in our Parish will draw many to a renewed faith in the Risen Christ

                 [reader]                        JESUS IS RISEN…
                 [response:]                 HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus vanquishes death: as we pray eternal life for Prince Philip, we ask the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to console and strengthen the faith of his widow, Queen Elizabeth and all the Royal Family

                 [reader]                        JESUS IS RISEN…
                 [response:]                 HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus’ wounds were healing for broken disciples:  may we have the courage to face our own brokenness,  walk with others in their brokenness with an unconditional love,  and allow miracles of healing to flow from our community: we pray especially for our refugee and LBGT friends, that the pain of rejection and judgement may be soon healed

                 [reader]                        JESUS IS RISEN…
                 [response:]                 HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus sent his disciples to touch the wounds of the world, forgiving and reconciling:  that the Church of God will challenge the madness of knife and gun crimes in our cities and towns; will challenge war and terrorism, creating peace and miracles of new beginnings, especially throughout the Middle East and conflict torn parts of Africa; for all communities of Reconciliation – Corrymeela in Northern Ireland; Taizé in France; Pax Christi throughout the world; may we all be living parables of reconciliation

                 [reader]                        JESUS IS RISEN…
                 [response:]                 HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus speaks the Easter ‘Peace’:  may we always serve peace in our fractured world:  serve healing for every distressed heart and wounded mind especially those traumatised by refugee journeys; for peace, harmony and justice in the streets and homes of our City of Bristol

                 [reader]                        JESUS IS RISEN…
                 [response:]                 HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus comes among them and heals:  for the sick of body and mind, and for all who are darkened by depression; we pray in particular for all suffering with the Corona virus and for all caring for them and families anxious for them: …. ;
May Risen Lord share His Resurrection with all who have died recently, especially Prince Philip,  Fr Hans Kung, the victims of Covid-19 and all killed by terror and conflict
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time: …

                 [reader]                        JESUS IS RISEN…
                 [response:]                 HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Mary,  sharing most fully the Resurrection of Jesus, pray with us and for us…
HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of the silence of peace…

May the Church share the humility of our Servant-King, who comes to His world not with the force of power but with the power of love, and so serve the world in its struggles with a humble compassion: we pray both wisdom and courage for Pope Francis and also our own Bishop Declan who was ordained Bishop of Clifton  20 years ago today

                            [Reader:]               COME CRUCIFIED LORD
                            [response:]          GIVE US LIFE!

For the unity of the whole Church gathered at the foot of the Cross this week:  that all Christians in our diverse traditions may move from arrogance to humility, from dogmatism to openness, from division to communion

                            [Reader:]               COME CRUCIFIED LORD
                            [response:]          GIVE US LIFE!

For all who hold authority and government in both Church and State, that they may serve the peace of the world, the dignity of every human person, the justice and protection of the innocent and vulnerable, especially refugees and those seeking safe asylum and all victims of human trafficking and modern slavery: we pray too for the peace of the Holy Land and the whole Middle East region

                            [Reader:]               COME CRUCIFIED LORD
                            [response:]          GIVE US LIFE!

We pray for our troubled City of Bristol, where just protest has become harmful violence: we pray generosity of spirit to re-build trust between the community and the police

                            [Reader:]               COME CRUCIFIED LORD
                            [response:]          GIVE US LIFE!

For all prisoners: that those held unjustly be released soon; that those rightfully convicted be held in conditions worthy of children of God; that our penal system be reformed to serve rehabilitation more than punishment: we pray for all prison chaplains at this time

                            [Reader:]               COME CRUCIFIED LORD
                            [response:]          GIVE US LIFE!

That this Holy Week may see us renew our commitment to Jesus Christ, to his mission of love and mercy in the world;  for the Church’s catechumens whose reception of Sacraments of Initiation is delayed because of the pandemic; that those who have given up their faith may hear again the Good News and return to Christ;  that those who have never believed may find New Life in Christ’s Crucified Love

                            [Reader:]               COME CRUCIFIED LORD
                            [response:]          GIVE US LIFE!

That the wounds of Christ may be healing for those addicted to drugs and alcohol, and for the sick of body and mind:   we pray especially for those suffering from Covid-19 and for all our health and care workers serving them: and for …
that the death of Christ will bring eternal life to all who have died recently, especially the victims of this pandemic and all killed in conflict and war;
for all whose anniversaries are at this time:

                            [Reader:]               COME CRUCIFIED LORD
                            [response:]          GIVE US LIFE!

Let us stand with Mary, before the Cross of a suffering world, and pray in particular for filled with fear because of Coronavirus… 

HAIL MARY…

Let us be still before our Crucified God…

For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, that God will gift him with strength, wisdom and courage as he serves to unbind the Church from all dysfunction and disunity,  leading us along the paths of reform and renewal and inspire us for mission; that we might proclaim Life to a world seeking to discover how to live with renewed humanity: 

                                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

For a world held bound by poverty, drugs, alcohol, injustice and exploitation; for a world imprisoned in cycles of war, violence and the lust for power that leads to aggression; for a world struggling to be free to live in harmony with creation and in peace with each other: that we may have the courage to be prophets of the Justice and Peace of Christ

                                  [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                  [response:]         SET US FREE!

For all held captive and bound by depression and their wounded past, that they experience healing’s freedom; for all who care for or counsel the depressed and emotionally wounded, that wise and profound listening might set free from inner darkness; for the healing of all scarred by memories of terror in the countries from which they have fled

                                  [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                  [response:]         SET US FREE!

For all bound up and entombed in poverty and modern forms of slavery, that they will know their dignity; that the leaders of nations and economies will work together to combat the global Coronavirus pandemic and create greater equality of health care and vaccine provision in the developing nations; for all suffering from famine, racism and class inequality,  and for those enduring life in the world’s refugee camps

                                  [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                  [response:]         SET US FREE!

For our friends among the LBGTQ+ community who have been wounded by the latest Vatican pronouncement; that we might all continue to challenge the Church’s rejection of these valued sisters and brothers in the Body of Christ

                                  [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                  [response:]         SET US FREE!

For those who have neglected their life of faith, that in the enforced solitude of this past year, they might hear and answer the call of Jesus to return to closeness with God;  that in this coming Holy Week many will embrace the Christ who has died for love of them

                                  [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                  [response:]         SET US FREE!

For all serving the sick and victims of the Coronavirus: for nurses, doctors and carers; for the police, emergency services and all essential workers supporting our communities at this time; for all working to roll out the vaccine, especially those holding the Vaccination Clinic here at St Nick’s

                                  [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                  [response:]         SET US FREE!

That the sick be unbound from their suffering by the healing voice of Christ: …
that the dead may be unbound for eternal glory, in particular… and  those who died of the Coronavirus  in this past year
and those whose anniversaries are at this time: …

                                  [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                                  [response:]         SET US FREE!

Mary, Prophet of the Poor, help us unbind the world of injustice
                                                                  HAIL MARY… 

Let us pray for other needs including our new catechumens in a moment of silence…

That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, and free our world of injustice 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 harsh darkness of war and violence in 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 who during this Covid Pandemic feel unable to join us in Church for Mass, that they may know that nothing can separate them, from God’s love in Christ: may our live-streamed Services enrich many with the Word proclaimed and connect them to their Eucharistic Community 

                       [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 the mothers of 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; for children who do not experience a mother’s love; and for all women whose yearnings for a child has not yet been fulfilled

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

For our nation and many nations around the world faced with the challenge of the Coronavirus crisis; for our NHS and other nations’ Health Services as they struggle to bring healing to their populations; for a more rapid and equal provision of vaccines to the poorer nations of the world: may we all continue to act responsibly, caring for each other and seeking the common good

                       [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 those suffering from the Coronavirus and those who care for them: and especially for …
For all who have died recently, especially victims of war and poverty and those who have died because of COVID 19
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…

Jesus says, ‘If you only knew what God is offering…’:   that the People of God will always offer our world the living water of the Holy Spirit to heal the brokenness of war,  melt the hardness of violence,  cleanse the sinfulness of oppression and bring humanity to a new birth; we pray especially for Pope Francis and his Pilgrimage of Peace to Iraq and his meetings both with the persecuted Church of the Middle East and the leaders of the Muslim communities

                                   [reader]            LORD WE THIRST…
                                   [response]      GIVE US THE WATER OF LIFE!

The woman says, ‘Give me some of that water…’:  as the people of the world thirst for peace and freedom,  may conflict end and the people’s cries be heard, especially throughout the Middle East particularly Syria and Yemen, and in Cameroon, Mail and Myanmar; may all the world hear the cries of the women and children caught in war zones and famines of human making

                                   [reader]            LORD WE THIRST…
                                   [response]      GIVE US THE WATER OF LIFE!

Jesus says, ‘Ask and I will give you living water…’:  may we drink deeply from the well of Christ’s love through our prayer, our liturgy, our communion with the poor of the earth – that this Lent will not pass us by, but we will stop and drink from the well of the Holy Spirit’s love and life: we pray especially for the communities and peoples of those part of the world that have suffered extreme weather conditions because of Global Warming

                                   [reader]            LORD WE THIRST…
                                   [response]      GIVE US THE WATER OF LIFE!

The woman says, ‘Come and see the man…’: that we will have the courage and the love to share the Gospel of Jesus, the Good News of God’s Mercy, with friends and neighbours, share our love for Him in our streets and communities – we pray for all on our Adult and Youth Journeys of Faith and all the Catechumens of the Church preparing for to receive the Sacraments of Initiation: may they all know the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives

                                   [reader]            LORD WE THIRST…
                                   [response]      GIVE US THE WATER OF LIFE!

Jesus says, ‘Give me a drink…’:  for an end of Government enforced Destitution and homelessness among our sisters and brothers seeking safe asylum; that we will stop harming our fragile planet, reduce consumption of essential resources, end polluting our earth and its waters;  for our NHS and all health care professionals and all caring for the victims of the coronavirus

                                   [reader]            LORD WE THIRST…
                                   [response]      GIVE US THE WATER OF LIFE!

Jesus says, ‘the water I shall give will turn into the spring of the Spirit inside you…’: for our parents preparing for the baptism of their children; for our children soon to begin preparation for the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation; for all couples preparing for Christian marriage

                                   [reader]            LORD WE THIRST…
                                   [response]      GIVE US THE WATER OF LIFE!

The woman says, ‘He knew all about me!…’:  for deep healing of the hurts of heart and body known only to Jesus;  for all suffering from the Coronavirus and all who serve them; for the sick,  especially …;
we pray for all who died recently especially … and the victims of Covid 19 around the world
and for those whose anniversaries are at this time: …

                                   [reader]            LORD WE THIRST…
                                   [response]      GIVE US THE WATER OF LIFE!

Mary, vessel of the Spirit & Mother of the Church, pray with us and for us
                                                               HAIL MARY…

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