Day 1 (23 July)

Listening to God's Word

Heavenly Father,

As we begin this novena, we thank You for the gift of Mary,
who listened with an open and trusting heart to Your call.
Open our ears to hear Your voice amid the many distractions of daily life.
May Your Word guide our thoughts, our decisions and our actions.
Through the intercession of St Mary of the Angels
and inspired by St Francis of Assisi, teach us to seek Your will above all else.

As a parish family, may we grow each day by faithfully listening to Your Word,
so that we may Pray with greater devotion,
be Formed as faithful disciples,
and Go wherever You call us.

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine, and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,
All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word, that we may Pray with faith, be Formed by Your Son, and Go forth to bring Christ to the world.

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

______________________

Day 2 (24 July)

Trusting God's Promise

Heavenly Father,

Mary trusted completely in Your promise and placed her whole life in Your hands.
When we face uncertainty, strengthen our faith,
When we are afraid, fill us with hope.
Teach us to rely on Your loving providence rather than on our own strength.
Through the intercession of St Mary of the Angels
and inspired by St Francis of Assisi, help us to trust You more deeply each day.

May our parish become a community that confidently follows Your will,
so that together we may Pray with confidence,
be continually Formed by Your truth,
and Go with courage to share the hope of Christ.

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine, and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,
All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word, that we may Pray with faith, be Formed by Your Son, and Go forth to bring Christ to the world.

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

________________

Day 3 (25 July)

Serving with Love

Heavenly Father,

Mary carried Christ to Elizabeth with generosity and joy.
May we also bring the love of Your Son
to those around us through humble acts of kindness and service.
Inspired by St Francis of Assisi,
teach us to recognise every person as our brother or sister.

Help us to build a parish where no one feels forgotten,
where those in need are cared for,
and where charity becomes a joyful witness to the Gospel.

As we continue to walk according to Your Word,
may we Pray with grateful hearts,
be continually Formed in the love of Christ,
and Go to serve others with humility and joy.

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine, and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,
All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word, that we may Pray with faith, be Formed by Your Son, and Go forth to bring Christ to the world.

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

__________________

Day 4 (26 July)

Welcoming Christ with Joy

Heavenly Father,

Mary welcomed Your Son with faith, love and humility.
Open our hearts to welcome Christ each day: in Your Word,
in the Holy Eucharist, and in every person You place in our lives,
especially the poor, the lonely and those who seek hope.
Through the intercession of St Mary of the Angels
and inspired by St Francis of Assisi, free us from selfishness
and help us to live with simplicity, gratitude and generous hearts.

May our parish become a place where all feel welcomed,
where Christ is encountered, and where Your love is made visible.

May we Pray with joyful hearts,
be continually Formed by Your presence,
and Go forth to welcome others as You have welcomed us.

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine, and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,
All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word, that we may Pray with faith, be Formed by Your Son, and Go forth to bring Christ to the world.

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

_________________

Day 5 (27 July)

Following Christ in Faithful Obedience

Heavenly Father,

At Cana, Mary led others to her Son with the words,
"Do whatever He tells you."
Give us generous hearts that are ready to listen and faithful enough to obey.
Through the intercession of St Mary of the Angels
and inspired by St Francis of Assisi,
help us to place Christ at the centre of our lives.
May His Gospel shape our choices, our relationships and our service.
Bless our families, our ministries
and all who seek to follow You.

As one parish family, may we Pray with confidence,
be continually Formed by the Gospel,
and Go forth to witness to Christ through our words and our lives.

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine, and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,

All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word, that we may Pray with faith, be Formed by Your Son, and Go forth to bring Christ to the world.

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

______________

Day 6 (28 July)

Remaining Faithful in Hope

Heavenly Father,

Mary remained faithful at the foot of the Cross,

trusting in Your love even in the midst of suffering.

Strengthen us whenever we face trials, disappointments or uncertainty.

Comfort the sick, the grieving, the lonely and all who carry heavy burdens.

Through the intercession of St Mary of the Angels

and inspired by St Francis of Assisi,

help us to remain faithful to Christ

in every season of life.

May our parish become a source of hope, compassion and encouragement, where all find strength in Your presence.

May we Pray with perseverance,

be continually Formed by the mystery of the Cross,

and Go forth to bring hope to those in need.

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine,

and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,

All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word, that we may Pray with faith, be Formed by Your Son, and Go forth to bring Christ to the world.

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

_________

DAY 7: (29 July)

Living by the Holy Spirit 

Heavenly Father, 

With Mary, the Apostles gathered in prayer 
as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. 
Fill us with that same Spirit, 
that our hearts may be renewed and our faith made strong. 

Through the intercession of St Mary of the Angels 
and inspired by St. Francis of Assisi,
make our parish a community  united in prayer,
joyful in worship,
and generous in service. 

Bless our priests, religious, families, children, youth, the elderly,
and all who serve in our parish. 

May Your Holy Spirit help us to Pray with deeper faith, 
be continually Formed into the likeness of Christ, 
and Go forth with courage to build Your Kingdom. 

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine, and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts. 

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,
All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word, that we may Pray with faith,  be Formed by Your Son, and Go forth to bring Christ to the world. 

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord
All: Amen 

___________

Day 8 (30 July)

Going Forth on Mission

Heavenly Father,

through our Baptism,
You have called each one of us to be missionary disciples.
Open our eyes to those who are searching for hope,
longing for love, or waiting to encounter You.

Through the intercession of St Mary of the Angels
and inspired by St Francis of Assisi,
help us to proclaim the Gospel not only with our words,
but through lives of humility, compassion and joyful witness.

May our parish never keep the Good News to itself,
but become a welcoming and missionary community
that reaches out to every family, every neighbour
and all who seek Your mercy.

May we Pray with confidence,
be continually Formed by Your Word,
and Go wherever You send us,
bringing Christ to the world.

Leader: Let us now entrust to the Lord the petitions offered at the shrine, and the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.

(Pause)

Leader: St Mary of the Angels,

All: Teach us to live according to Thy Word,
that we may Pray with faith,
be Formed by Your Son,
and Go forth to bring Christ to the world.

Leader: We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

To the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I give myself and consecrate to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, my person and my life, my actions, pains and sufferings, so that I may be unwilling to make use of any part of my being other than to honor, love and glorify the Sacred Heart.

This is my unchanging purpose, namely, to be all His, and to do all things for the love of Him, at the same time renouncing with  all my heart whatever is displeasing to Him. I therefore take You, O Sacred Heart, to be the only object of my love, the guardian of my life, my assurance of salvation, the remedy of my weakness and inconstancy, the atonement for all the faults of my life and my sure refuge at the hour of death.

Be then, O Heart of goodness, my justification before God the Father, and turn away from me the strokes of his righteous anger. O Heart of love, I put all my confidence in You, for I fear everything from my own wickedness and frailty, but I hope for all things from Your goodness and bounty.

Remove from me all that can displease You or resist Your holy will; let your pure love imprint Your image so deeply upon my heart, that I shall never be able to forget You or to be separated from You.

May I obtain from all Your loving kindness the grace of having my name written in Your Heart, for in You I  desire to place all my happiness and glory, living and  dying in bondage to You. Amen.