Prayerful Concerns of Our Parish Community – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

We share these Prayers of the Faithful from the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept 2-3, 2023) knowing that we offered these prayers together as a community, yet we may also find them helpful during our quiet times of personal reflection this week:

God, you created our world for beauty and you created us for companionship and love. Sometimes our world becomes a place of suffering and injustice, and powerful people abuse their influence and misuse their position. We pray for those who suffer injustice. We also pray for the powerful people. And sometimes that might mean praying for ourselves.

God of mercy, bless our brothers and sisters suffering from hurricanes, floods, and fires, natural events that are worsened by what we humans have done to our earth. Inspire good people to reach out and help them. We pray to the Lord.

Guide Pope Francis in his courageous and compassionate leadership of our church. He has spoken truth about our Church, and some will not accept his words. Protect him from harm. Open hearts which are set against him. We pray to the Lord.

Our calendar calls Monday “Labor Day.” In the midst of end-of-summer events, let us remember those who work in unsafe conditions and those who are not paid justly. Guide us so that we do not blame workers in other countries for the problems here. Rather unite us in thought, word, and deed, to the betterment of all peoples. We pray to the Lord.

Many voices surround us and claim to be speaking truth. Open our minds and hearts to search for what is really true: in our relationships, our communities, church, and politics. We pray to the Lord.

For those who suffer because they have spoken the truth and acted against evil in their families, and communities, we pray to the Lord.

Our faith affirms the words and example of Jesus. At our death life is not ended but changed. We pray for all who have died that they now experience that change. At this liturgy we especially place in your heart:

4:30 PM  Peter Kelly by Ken & Mary Pinkham

7:30 AM The People of the Parish both Living & Deceased

9:30 AM  Benedetto Lancia by Stephen & Cindy Rendall

5:00 PM  John (Jack) Lee by Family

We pray to the Lord.

Today we offer you these prayers. We acknowledge that you did not promise us life would always be easy. In fact, you want us to join you in responding to cruelty and inequality and greed by speaking truth and acting with compassion. You promise always to be with us, especially when life is difficult. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.