Reflections (St Joseph Parish, Tranmere)

Reflections

Prayer for the Alleviation of World Poverty
We pray for the Church throughout the world, that we may be a sign of hope for the poor.
God of hope: Hear our prayer

We pray for world leaders, that they may act together for the cancellation of the debt of countries trapped in the debt-poverty cycle.
God of generosity: Hear our prayer

We pray for the people of countries affected by the heavy burden of international debt, that they may know a just and lasting solution to the problems they face.
God of compassion: Hear our prayer

We pray for ourselves, that through our choices, actions and words we may contribute to the alleviation of poverty in our world.
God of love: Hear our prayer.

Prayer for the Journey of Healing
Almighty and loving God,
You who created all people in your image,
Lead us to seek your compassion as we listen to the stories of our past.

You gave your only Son, Jesus,
who died and rose again so that sins will be forgiven.
We place before you the pain and anguish of dispossession
of land, language, lore, culture and family kinship
that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced.

We live in faith
that all people will rise from the depths of despair and hopelessness.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
have endured the pain and loss of loved ones,
through the separation of children from their families.

We are sorry and ask God's forgiveness.

Touch the hearts of the broken, homeless and inflicted and heal their spirits.
In your mercy and compassion
walk with us as we continue our journey of healing
to create a future that is just and equitable.
Lord, you are our hope. Amen.

Prayer For Humanity

We believe in God the Creator,
loving parent of all who live.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
dying so that all may live.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
sanctifier of all life.

God, inspired by your love for us and your Word to us
and empowered by your Holy Spirit
we resolve, through our words and action
to respect and uphold the dignity
of every person with whom we share this planet.

May your kingdom come
and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen

PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION
In the midst of conflict and division.
we know it is you
Who turns our minds to thoughts of peace.
Your Spirit changes our hearts:
Enemies begin to speak to one another,
Those who were estranged join hands in friendship,
And nations seek the way of peace together.

Let your Spirit be at work in us.
Give us understanding and put an end to strife,
Fill us with mercy and overcome our denial,
Grant us wisdom and teach us to learn
From the people of the land,

Call us to justice

(Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Prayer Card, adapted from the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer for Masses of Reconciliation II)

PRAYER FOR JUSTICE
God, You are the source of human dignity
And in your image every person is fashioned.
Teach us to reverence each person,
To be a friend to anyone in need,
To value those who differ from us,
To receive the gifts offered to us by people from other cultures.

Grant that we may always promote
the justice and acceptance
That ensures lasting peace and racial harmony.

Help us to remember that we are one world and one family. Amen.

Prayer for Vocations

Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who is always mindful of your Church.
Watch over those who are baptised in your name and grant peace and harmony to all families.
We ask you to choose from the families of our parish many priests, deacons, sisters and brothers who will gladly spend their lives making you known and loved.
Amen

PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE:
God grant us the spirit of courage,
that we may have the strength to fight injustice.
God grant us the spirit of challenge,
that we may not accept the status quo without question.
God grant us the spirit of compassion,
that we may see the world from other people's viewpoint.
God grant us the spirit of gentleness,
that we may listen to the voice of the poor
without trampling on their dreams in our rush to action.
God grant us your Spirit,
the spirit of truth, justice and hope
that we may rest and work in the vision of a new future,
where all are linked by the bonds of humanity
not enslaved by the chains of debt.

Stations of the Cross from our church

Download a Flash version here (5.2MB, with sound)

View a Powerpoint version here (2.6MB, no sound)

View a PDF version here (2.8MB, no sound)

The final blessing from the Mass for

Mary MacKillop

Through the example of Mary MacKillop

may you learn to recognise God's will for you

and trust in God's providence. Amen

May her life of service awaken in you

a deep respect for the poor

and a passion for justice Amen

May you share in her courage,

see with her vision,

and love with her heart. Amen

Prayer for Justice
(adapted from the Mass “For the Progress of Peoples”)

God of All Peoples,
You have given us one common origin,
and your will is to gather all humanity as one family in yourself.

Fill our hearts with the fire of your love
and the desire to ensure justice for all our brothers and sisters.

By sharing the good things you give us
may we secure justice and equality for every human being,
an end to all division,
and a human society built on love and peace.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever, Amen.

Jesus said,
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last”.

The Paradoxes of Being a Servant-Leader

Strong enough to be weak
Successful enough to fail
Busy enough to make time
Wise enough to say “I don’t know”
Serious enough to laugh
Rich enough to be poor
Right enough to say “I’m wrong”
Compassionate enough to discipline
Mature enough to be childlike
Important enough to be last
Planned enough to be spontaneous
Controlled enough to be flexible
Free enough to endure captivity
Knowledgeable enough to ask questions
Loving enough to be angry
Great enough to be anonymous
Responsible enough to play
Assured enough to be rejected
Victorious enough to lose
Industrious enough to relax
Leading enough to serve

From: Servant–Leadership Characteristics in Organisational Life
Don De Graaf, Colin Tulley and Larry Neal

St. Teresa of Avila:
"Christ has no body on earth but yours;
no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on the world;
yours are the feet with which He walks to do good;
yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world.
Christ has no body now on the earth but yours."

St Joseph Parish, Tranmere

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