Priest: God the Father reveals to all the nations that Christ, his son, is to be their Saviour. Confident in his great love for us all – from kings to the poorest of the poor – we voice our needs and the needs of the world. 

Reader: The response to our prayers is Lord, Hear our prayer.

Reader: We pray for the Church, and for all bishops, priests and religious who bring the light of the gospel to those in darkness. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Reader:   We pray for the poor and needy, and the helpless. Let us hear their cry and be the ones to help them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Reader:   Let us pray for ourselves that we may joyously follow our Infant King and bring the light of his love to all we meet.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Reader: Let us pray for those who are sick in body, mind or spirit that they may be helped by caring friends and experience Christ’s blessing.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Reader:   We pray for all our family and friends that have died, may they rest in peace in the light of God’s glory, and may those who mourn be comforted.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Now we ask for the intercession of Our Blessed Lady as we say – Hail Mary….

Let us pray for a while in silence, remembering our own needs and the needs of our families.

Priest: Loving Father, hear the prayers that we make in faith and grant us your blessing. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Priest: Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Nazareth, who experienced joy and sorrow, peace and anxiety just as we do. We bring to the Lord the needs of all families.

Reader: We pray for the leaders of our Church that they may continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit during the year ahead and provide an inspiration for others to follow.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer 

Reader: We pray for our parish family that during the coming year, our faith may be increased and our community life be enhanced.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer

Reader: We pray for children who are suffering from neglect or abuse, and those who are abandoned or orphaned that they may be rescued and cared for.

Lord in your mercy ,Hear our prayer

Reader: We pray for all in our community who are ill, may the Lord bless them and bring them healing.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer

Reader: We pray for deceased members of our own families. May we one day be reunited with them in our heavenly home.

Lord in your mercy , Hear our prayer

Let us ask Mary, the Mother of our Saviour, to support us with her prayers
as we say: Hail Mary……

Now, in silence, we pray for our own needs and intentions.

Priest: These and all our prayers we bring to you , Loving Father, through Jesus Christ , your Son, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

Priest: My friends, we are nearly ready to celebrate the birth of our redeemer, and so we bring to our loving father the needs of the world, the church and ourselves.

Reader: Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire all of us to share wide discussion and exchange fruitful ideas to prepare for the synod of 2023…. Pause … in your mercy. Lord, hear our prayer.

We pay that the leaders of the richer nations will help to supply poorer countries with the emergency aid and the vaccines that they need… pause … In your mercy, Lord…

Let us pray for peace in all areas of war, known and unknown… Pause … In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for those working so hard to keep us healthy; scientists and cleaners, paramedics, and doctors, those who grow our food, who transport and sell it; stewards that keep churches open… pause … In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for Tony Pinnell who died at home this/last week; and for Paul Stewart who died recently in Australia. May the Lord bring peace to all who mourn loved ones… pause … In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer.

For a few quite moments. Let us pray in our own way… Longer pause

Mary was carrying the hope of the world; let us ask her help as we say, Hail Mary…

Priest: Father of the Prince of peace, listen kindly to our prayer, spoken and unspoken, offered in the spirit, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

Priest:   As our Father’s beloved sons and daughters, let us humbly approach Him with joy in our hearts

          We pray for the Church: that all her members will have open ears to hear God and the grace and confidence to bear witness to His joy, peace, hope and healing love. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

          We pray for our world: that all nations will act to protect the poor, vulnerable and marginalised, and work together with joy for the betterment of all. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

         We pray for catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God, that they might be its witnesses, with courage and creativity, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, with joy and much peace. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

       We pray for blessings on all expectant mothers. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.               

       We pray for all migrants and refugees: that they will be welcomed, and cared for, with joy and love. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

        We pray for all in need of physical and mental healing, especially during the darker moments of the pandemic; and for all those who are sick, and those who care for them. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

         We pray for those who have died, especially Bernard Shields Senior, who passed away recently. PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

          In a moment of silence let us offer those prayers held in our hearts.

LONGER PAUSE Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us join these and all our prayers to those of our mother Mary as we say: Hail Mary…

Priest:     Heavenly Father, give us the grace and courage to spread your joy on this Gaudete Sunday. We bring all our prayers before you in the name of your son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.