Prayer Requests
Please remember God’s children who are ill, homebound, or hospitalized and need our special thoughts and prayers:
Catherine (Janie) Baker, Marie Bangal, Christina Belvo, Marian
Bramlett (sister of Barbara Sivertson), Jay Brennan, Donald Richard
Butler, Norman “Bubba” Butler, Stephen Cantwell, Mary Alice Carlo, Ralph
Catoe (father of Marisa Beebe), Gloria Christian, Isabel Churchill,
Bambi Combs, Martha Ann Creecy, Nick Didio, Vivian Didio, Mary Dietrich,
Raymond Durant, Mary Farmer, Violet Ferraioli, John and Wanda Ferreira,
Timothy Footman, Theresa McGrath Foster, Maureen Friel, Ron Friel, Jamie
Fuller, Robert Gardner, George Hardy, Jule Hoffler, Amelia Nespoli
Hopkins, Ed “Hunker” Horton, Thomas “Booty” Horton, Ada Howard, Ruth
Howell, Elena Johnson, Michael Jordan (brother of Geralyn Miller), Marie
Jumba, Irene Kilpatrick, Mary King, Frank Kirsch, Bettina Kusiak
(daughter of George and Betty Pond), Vernon Lewis, Luzviminda Lindain,
Bessie Livermon, Joanna Lotito, Helen Maloney, Mary Masters, Bubba
Merrell, Theresa Moore, Jimmy and Joan Moss, Amado Naguit, Earl Nelson,
Marianne Nero (former parishioner), Susan Nespoli, Bonnie Paez, Claude
Parrott, Marjorie Peak, Santa Puglia, Jeffrey Rafferty, Victor Reyes,
Grace Richardson, Jean Rowe, Buddy Sanford, Mike Sedlacko (father of
parishioner Judith
Facenda), Katherine Sheehan, Peggy (Sanford) Simmons, Terry Gossage (son
of Stanley and Mickey Wright), Muriel Skinner, Arthur Smith, Albert
Thereault, Ronald VeRell, Mae Wakefield, Lee Walker, Brigid, White,
Catherine White, and Jane White.
If you wish to add or remove your name to our Prayer List, please call 397-7066.
We continue to pray for our military men and women for their safety, and we pray for their families that they will be blessed with God’s grace and mercy as they await the safe return of their loved ones. If you have a loved one in the military that you would like us to pray for, please call the church office at 397-7066.
Father's Day Prayer
God our Father,
you govern and protect your people
and shepherd them with a father's love.
You place a father in a family as a sign
of your love, care, and constant
protection.
May fathers everywhere be faithful to the
example shown in the Scriptures: steadfast
in love, forgiving transgressions, sustaining
the family, caring for those in need.
Give your wisdom to fathers
that they may encourage and guide their children.
Keep them healthy so they may support a family.
Guide every father with the Spirit of your love
that they may grow in holiness
and draw their family ever closer to you.
Amen.
Mother's Day Prayer
Loving God,
you wrap your arms around your people
and show your everlasting love in the
same way a mother loves her children. We
are grateful for the love you have taught us
through the mothers in our lives: our own mother who brought
us into this world, the mothers of friends who have welcomed us
into their homes and families, our grandmothers who took time
for us, and the mothers who have helped us even though we were
not their children. Bless all the mothers of this world today. May
they know the fullness of love they have shared and be blessed
every day of their lives. Amen.
A Prayer For our Brothers and
Sisters in Haiti Affected by the Earthquake
God of all creation, as we weep with our family in
Haiti, console us. In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look
beyond the disaster to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in
Haiti, as Christ sees us.
Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living
and working in Haiti.
Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to
feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and
stand for justice.
With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue
to work for peace and justice.
Amen.
A PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAITI
“The Harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate
peace.” James 3:18
Out of the depths we cry to You, O God.
We cry to you for our Haitian sisters and brothers.
We thank you for upholding them in their suffering.
Give them continuing strength and comfort.
Give us love and courage to stand with them and work with them
as they struggle for justice and freedom.
Keep us committed to the truth and empower us with your Spirit
of love:
~ a love that always sees possibilities for peace founded on
justice;
~ a love that seeks justice without vengeance and retaliation;
~ a love that reaches out to enemies, as Jesus taught us.
We trust in your continuing mercy as we bring you our own
desire to be in active solidarity with our Haitian brothers and
sisters. Amen
Available as a prayer Card from Pax Christi USA: (814) 453-4955 www.paxchristiusa.org
Please pray for our seminarian! This
summer, our parish had the privilege of hosting Leonard Andrie, one of
the seminarians for the Diocese of Richmond. As Lenny returns to
seminary to continue his theological studies, we invite you to pray for
him. If you would like to write to Lenny to encourage him in his
priestly formation, you may do so at the following address:
Leonard Andrie
Theological College
401 Michigan Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20017
Year For Priests
June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010
In observance of the Year of the Priest, a celebration proclaimed by
Pope Benedict XVI which began on June 19, 2009, we will periodically
feature priests (saints) on their feast days. This week we
celebrate “Moses the Black, Abbot and Priest.” We also ask
that you pray the following prayer for priests throughout the year:
Prayer for Priests
Dear Lord,
We pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests and
through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry. We
pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, “Do
whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). May your priests have the heart
of St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse. May the Blessed Mother’s
own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of
the cross. May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your
love seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls.
Amen. Saint John Vianney, pray for us.
A Prayer for Priests
In this Year of the Priest, O God, we ask
Your blessing on those You have called to priestly
ministry.
May they, above all, be faithful and passionate followers of
Your beloved Son, Jesus.
May they be compassionate, as Jesus was, toward all who
seek spiritual comfort and forgiveness.
May they open wide their hearts to all in need of Your
merciful embrace.
May they be teachers, as Jesus was, steeped in Your Word
and teaching, on fire with it, and breaking it open for all who are
hungry for Your holy and transforming Word.
May they be prophets, as Jesus was, speaking courageously
for what is right and true, proclaiming Your kingdom to all in
need of Your grace and giving voice to all Your children,
especially the poor and marginalized.
May they be prayerful, as Jesus was, hearts burning within
them and set upon You above all.
From the rising of the sun to its setting, may they be the
voice of praise and thanksgiving, and of faith, hope, and love to
all in their care.
St. John Vianney, beloved priest of God, pray for us and for
all your brother priests. Amen.
Prayer for our Children
“Holy angels, who constantly behold the Father’s face, protect our children from bodily and spiritual dangers. Direct them on paths of virtue and, if they stray, to true repentance. Kindle in their hearts a desire for what is good, pure, and beautiful, for He Whom you serve is all Good, all Pure, all Beautiful. Teach them your song of praise to our God. Amen.”
May God bless all of the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, godmothers, and special caretakers of our children with His love, mercy and grace.
Spousal Prayer
“Lord Jesus, Divine Bridegroom, bless my husband and me. Help us to be thoughtful in word and deed, to put away pretense and face each other in deep trust without fear. Help us be quick to discover the best in each other, and guard against fault finding, ill temper, and hasty judgment. Through the grace of the Spirit of unity and love, allow us to grow in appreciation one for the other, so that we may develop grateful hearts and never take each other for granted. With gentleness and kindness may we lead each other to the portals of Heaven. Amen.”
Prayer for the Nation
God of our forebears, In tumultuous times our ancestors made their way to a new land, seeking prosperity and peace. The wealth of a new nation lay before them, as well as the challenge to use wisely the gifts of the good earth and the industriousness of a people forged in the crucible of revolution and the high-minded ideals of life and liberty. Strengthen within us the pursuit of justice, the desire for equality, the love of true freedom. May all the citizens of our country work unceasingly to promote the common good so that all may share in the pursuit of happiness sought by the founders of our land. Amen.
A Father’s Prayer
O St. Joseph, Righteous servant of God, that I may always heed my
Lord, Pray for me. Pillar of strength, that I may share your courage,
Pray for me. Model of a husband’s love, that I may honor my wife before
myself, Pray for me. Protector of the Holy Family, that I may be
shelter, guard and guide, Pray for me.
Knight of purity, that I may master my desires, Pray for me.
Patron of workers, that I may be diligent and faithful in my labors,
Pray for me. Terror of demons, that I may be protected from the wiles of
Satan, Pray for me. Hope of dying, that at my last breath I may know the
joy of salvation, Pray for me. All this I ask in the name of Jesus
Christ with Whom you shared both heart and home. Amen.