Intercessions ~ Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

UK Refugee Gospel Choir ~ Church of the Immaculate Conception ~ London

At the start of a New Year,/ we pray to forgive anyone who has caused us trouble or sorrow this past year./ We pray as well that we would be forgiven for our own mistakes,/ foolishness or offenses against others./ May we grow in goodness this year./ We pray to the Lord.

January First is called the World Day of Peace./  In our world of hatred and war/ we pray for the courageous souls who offer their lives for the making of peace./ May we live as peacemaking children of God./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for families in crisis,/ for those who live where there is no peace,/ but only conflict,/ fear,/ pain and disorder./ We pray for industries which make huge profits off the militarization and weaponization of our world./ May we learn this year to value human life over money./ We pray to the Lord.

At Christmas,/ God comes to be with us as a little child,/ and so we pray for the children of the world in all their need./ For the children who hide from bombardment,/ who hold-on in sea crossings,/ who are pained by hunger,/ who are abandoned and fearful./ We pray to the Lord.

At Christmas we pray for our families/ and entrust them in their concerns to Mary's maternal care/ and God's great kindness./ asking for good health/ and the resolution of problems which prevent growth and balance./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the sick,/ the vulnerable and the weak/ to be supported in friendship and care./ We remember the people who have died this past year,/ mindful of the many who died recently in the Indonesian tsunami./ May those in mourning know the restoration of joy and peace./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Feast of the Holy Family and January 1, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

On this Feast of the Holy Family,/ we pray to learn a true globalism,/ with its far-reaching sense of family,/ born not of theology or law,/ but of love./ We pray to the Lord.

This weekend celebrates Mary's Maternity./ We pray for the world's mothers,/ and that every child would be welcomed and loved./ We pray for the forgotten children of Syria,/ Yemen,/ South Sudan,/ Somalia,/ Nigeria,/ Myanmar,/ Bangladesh and the Republic of Congo./ May they be embraced and saved./ We pray to the Lord. 

January 1 is World Day of Peace,/ We pray for the de-escalation of tensions with North Korea,/ mindful that a world war would degrade our planet utterly./ We ask for leaders to be truly wise men./ We pray to the Lord.

In the new month of January,/ we pray for the safety,/ peace and well-being of those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of a new year,/ may we heed the Christmas message of Pope Francis/ and abandon whatever is superfluous,/ false,/ malignant and deceitful/ and embrace what is essential,/ true,/ good and authentic./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who are stressed or fearful at the start of the new year./ For persons who live without security or joy./ May we work this year to overcome indifference,/ misunderstanding and hostility./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions for the Feast of the Holy Family

We're holy children of Bethlehem too.

We pray for the entire human family at Christmas time/ asking for all people to learn how to treat others well./ We pray to the Lord.

On this Feast of the Holy Family,/ we pray for families that  are on the move:/ homeless,/ immigrants,/ refugees and exiles./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the world's children,/ mindful today of those who are exploited,/ enslaved,/ terrorized,/ unwanted,/ uneducated./ We pray to the Lord.

Bless world leaders with insight/ and a new willingness to safeguard peace for the sake of families entrusted to their care and protection./ We pray to the Lord.

Saturday was the Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr./ We pray in a heart-solidarity with the Christian martyrs of the Middle East and Africa,/ and for the conversion of those who do hateful and deadly things./ We pray to the Lord.

As we contemplate Mary's pregnancy/ and the delivery of her Child,/ we pray for children waiting to be born:/ for their protection,/ welcoming and health./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who have died this past year,/ to receive the forgiveness of sins/ and the fullness of life promised by Jesus/ born of Mary at Bethlehem./ We pray to the Lord.