Loving God,
You are the giver of all we possess, the source of all our blessings. We thank and praise You.
Thank you for the gift of our children.
Help us to set boundaries for them, and yet encourage them to explore. Give us the strength and courage to treat each day as a fresh start.
May our children come to know You, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
May Your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love, so they may know peace, truth, and goodness.
May their ears hear Your voice.
May their eyes see Your presence in all things.
May their lips proclaim Your word.
May their hearts be Your dwelling place.
May their hands do works of charity.
May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord. Amen.
by St. Thomas Aquinas
Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen.
(Source: Catholic Online)
Generous Father,
We thank you for so many gifts -- the gift of family and friends, the gift of life and health, the gift of Your constant love that sees us through life's hardships and suffering, blessings and joys.
Thank you for everything we have. Through your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we turn to You in faith today; help us never to take for granted Your gifts. Help us to share and use all the we have to show the world the way to You.
In this coming year, help us to join with all the catechists and other ministers in this community who share their faith with others.
Through the Holy Spirit, help us to pray, to love, to live as you want us to live. We commit ourselves to thank You in prayer daily, to share the Good News of Salvation, and to use the gifts You give us for the benefit of our parish, community and the world. Amen.
God, Almighty Father, unfurl my sails as I embark on this journey. Steer me in the right direction that i may follow Your will, to do what You have chosen me to do with a heart that is right and just.
Lord Jesus, launch me on this mission of evangelization. Grant that I may spread the Good News of salvation that You have given us through Your death and resurrection with steadfast courage.
Holy Spirit, guide me along the way, be the wind in my sails. Channel Your gift of grace that I may become a valiant witness to the Gospel, to speak the truth with love and compassion to all those I am called to serve.
All this I ask in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.