Feast of the Holy Family 31st December 2006

Intercessions Feast of the Holy Family 31st December 2006

Priest:: God sent his Son into our world as a helpless child
who needed the warmth and protection of a human family.
In our helplessness we turn to him in prayer.

Reader: 1. Let us pray for the Church, the family of those who follow Christ;
may we show to all we meet the love and care of the Holy Family. (pause) Lord in your mercy...

2. Let us pray for the leaders of nations;
may they enact laws and pursue policies which protect family life.
We pray for peace in parts of the world where violence is endemic
Especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. (pause)
Lord in your mercy...

3. Let us pray for all families, especially those experiencing difficulties;
may the prayers of the Holy Family help to unite them in love. (pause)
Lord in your mercy...

4. We pray for the sick and housebound members of our parish,
that they may experience God's love in a new and deeper way
this coming New Year. (pause)
Lord in your mercy...

May Mary, the wife of Joseph and the Mother of the Lord, join her prayers to ours as we pray, Hail Mary. . .

In silent prayer let us bring our own personal intentions to the Lord.

Priest: Father, you sent your Son into the human family
to bring about the work of redemption.
Help us to appreciate all you have done for us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

3rd Sunday of Advent 17th December 2006

Intercessions 3rd Sunday of Advent 17th December 2006


Priest: As we await with joy the Lord who will renew us with his love,
we bring our prayers to God in trust and confidence.

Reader: 1. For Archbishop Vincent, his auxiliary bishops,
and all priests, deacons, religious and people of this diocese.
May the Holy Spirit renew us this Advent and bring us closer to the Lord
in prayer, in love and in joy. (pause)
Lord in your mercy...

2. Let us pray for the Christine and Peter who have renewed their marriage vows today
that the Lord may continue to pour down his blessings upon them
(pause) Lord in your mercy. . .


3. Let us pray for the souls of the women found dead in Ipswich.
We pray for their families and friends who mourn them,
for the police, priests and social workers who work to provide support
at this frightening time and for all who are ensnared in the evils
of drug addiction, prostitution and other forms of exploitation. (pause)
Lord in your mercy.

4. Let us pray for all who are separated from their loved ones,
especially those in hospital, in prison or in the armed forces;
may the joy of the Lord's coming unite them in his love. (pause)
Lord in your mercy...

5. Let us ask the Lord for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us,
that we may never become blinded by materialism and self-sufficiency
but always recognise our need of God's love and mercy. (pause)
Lord in your mercy...

May Mary, who rejoiced in God her Saviour, join her prayers to ours as we pray, Hail Mary.

In silent prayer let us bring our own personal intentions to the Lord.

Priest: Father in heaven, may your gifts of joy and love give us the courage
to remain faithful to the work of your Son until he comes again in glory
we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

2nd Sunday of Advent 10th December 2006

Priest: Let us offer our prayers to God who desires all humanity
to see and know the salvation that he offers.

Reader: 1. Let us pray for the whole Church, that Christians everywhere may,
by the power of the Holy Spirit, live up to their baptismal calling
to help spread the Good News. (pause)
Lord in your mercy.. .

2. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
may this holy city of three faiths be blessed,
and may all the children of Abraham learn to live together
in peace and harmony. (pause)
Lord in your mercy...

3. Let us pray for all doctors, nurses,
and those whose task it is to care for the sick and the wounded;
may God give them sensitive hands and compassionate hearts. (pause)
Lord in your mercy. . .

4. Let us pray for the young people in our diocese,
especially in its parishes and schools,
that they may feel encouraged to play an active part in the life of the Church. (pause)
Lord in your mercy.

May Mary, the one filled with the Holy Spirit, join her prayers with ours as we pray, Hail Mary. .

In a moment of silent prayer let us bring our own personal intentions to the Lord.

Priest: Father, bless us with an understanding of your ways,
and strengthen us in times of doubt.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Walk with Me prayer

The Walk with Me prayer
as used in the Archdiocese of Birmingham

Lord God, our light and our salvation
we praise you for your gifts
of life and faith.
We thank you for the desire
that you have planted in our hearts:
our yearning to see your face.
Help us to meet you in prayer,
to walk in your ways,
and to speak to others
of our joy and consolation
in your presence.
Give us faithfulness
in this present life
so that we may come to know
and praise your beauty,
with all our brothers and sisters
in the life to come.
We make this prayer
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

1st Sunday of Advent 3rd December 2006

Intercessions 1st Sunday of Advent 3rd December 2006

Priest: As we stand ready for the coming of the Lord,
let us offer prayers to God who guides the humble in the right path.

Reader: 1. Let us pray for Archbishop Vincent, and his auxiliary bishops,
Philip, David, and newly appointed Bishop William;
May the Lord bless and empower them to lead our diocese
with courage and deep faith. (pause)
Lord in your mercy. . .

2. Let us pray for the leaders of all nations,
that they may serve their peoples by working for a just and peaceful world.
We think especially of those whose countries are torn by war and famine (pause) Lord in your mercy. . .

3. We pray for those who suffer depression,
for those in despair and for those who see no meaning or purpose in life. May the Lord help them to discover the wonder of themselves
and all creation, and the eternal destiny of all things. (pause)
Lord in your mercy. . .

4. Let us ask the Lord to bless the sick and housebound of our parish
that they may experience God's love in a new and deeper way this Advent. (pause) Lord in your mercy...

We ask Mary, who pondered God's Word in her life, to join her prayers with ours as we pray, Hail Mary.. .

In a moment of silent prayer let us bring our own personal intentions to the Lord.

Priest: God our Father may the light of your truth enter our hearts,
that we may see more clearly what promise your coming holds out for us and have the courage to live our lives for you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ordinary Time Sunday 24 17th September 2006

Priest

Let us pray for the gift of faith, that we may trust the Lord
and follow him, even in suffering and in death.
We ask him for the needs of the world,
in the knowledge that God’s ways are not easy to accept.

Reader

1. Let us pray for the Church in this diocese,
for her work in evangelising to the people of this area,
for her witness to the Lord through her ministry of care
to those in need, through individuals
and through organisations as the Father Hudson’s Society
Lord in your mercy

2. Let us pray for peace and justice in the world,
especially for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa.
May the Holy Spirit guide and bless those working for peace
and those helping the victims of violence.
Lord in your mercy

3. We pray for the terminally ill and the dying
that they may find strength and comfort through faith.
Lord in your mercy

4. We pray for ourselves that we may be inspired
to manifest our faith by the good works that we do.
May the Lord help us to serve those who need our help.
Lord in your mercy

Let us ask Mary to help us to stand, as she did, by the cross of Jesus. Hail Mary.

Let us pray for a few moments in silence.

Priest:

Father, we thank you for giving us your Son
so that we may have the courage to follow in his footsteps
and so share in his glory.
We make our prayers in his name, Jesus Christ the Lord