Prayerful Concerns of Our Parish Community – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Here are our Prayers of the Faithful from this weekend, which was the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Dec 31-Jan 1). We hope these are helpful to you as you continue your own spiritual practice and conversations with God.

Through Jesus Christ, born of Mary, let us welcome the year 2023 by turning to God in prayer:

We pray for the Church of God throughout the world and here, for Pope Francis and our leaders, that they be people of faith, courage and compassion, for former Pope Benedict, that God be gentle with him, and for us, that we be carriers of the light and hope of Jesus in our world, we pray to the Lord.

At the start of this new year, we pray that with your help we can let go of the past, our failures, our guilt and shame and lift up our eyes to look to the future. Strengthen our resolve, enlighten our minds, and inflame our hearts with love for you and for all our brothers and sisters, especially those we find difficult or those we have been taught to fear or judge, we pray to the Lord.

We thank you and ask your blessing on those people who matter to us, who have given themselves to us. We ask you to bless those people who often go unnoticed or whose presence is unwanted, for we believe you are present to us through all of them. We pray to the Lord.

Bless those who have suffered this week from winter storms and lost power, those stranded far from home. Bless those who suffer every week from lack of food or shelter and those who have been forced to flee from their homelands. Bless those gathered at our southern border and guide our government to compassionate and wise decisions about what to do. We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the Sisters of Mercy who have served and are serving the people of Maine. As they renew their commitment to Mercy today – and to us – bless them with consolation and all the gifts they need to continue their work and witness. We pray to the Lord.

Open our minds and imaginations to see that the Christmas story is not something to put way with the decorations but instead is a radical invitation from God to join in making the world a better place, and that in the gift of God’s Spirit, this is actually possible. We pray to the Lord.

Bless and receive those who have gone before us, especially those who have died in this past year. We remember Mary Smith, sister of Fr. Vince Curtin, SJ, and all our loved ones. At this liturgy we place in your hands:
4:30 PM  Jimmy & Kay Nappi by Robert & Linda Nappi
7:30 AM  For the People of the Parish both Living & Deceased
9:30 AM  Mary J. Mazziotti by Pamela Burnell
5:00 PM  Charlotte A. O’Connor by David M. O’Connor
We pray to the Lord.

We offer you these prayers and our hearts. Help us to approach this new year filled with the joy of your companionship, as we step out in faith with you, ready to face the future, whatever it may hold. Amen.