Good and gracious God, at this time of pandemic
help us to know that we are not abandoned.
Assist us in bearing this cross of suffering,
illness and death.
Guide us to an increase in Faith
in the life, death and Resurrection.
May we see that the difficulties of
this moment can be carried
with the Light of Your Love.
We pray in the Name of Jesus Christ,
Our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Dear Lord God,
it was steady and predictable
to live in stability for a long time.
Now, there is much uncertainty
How long will this pandemic last?
In ages past, our ancestors also had
experiences of pandemic
We are not the only ones to know
this kind of illness and possible pending
suffering.
Faith teaches us that you will not abandon us Lord God.
So, we lean on your promise to stay with us
for all time.
Let us be sources of encouragement and support
for one another as brothers and sisters
as we face the changes and pandemic of our time.
With God, all things are possible.
May the God who gives us power and strength
grant us peace and solidarity
to live each day with goodness and grace
In Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
The golden glow of a late autumn afternoon
brightens leafless tree limbs.
Joy lingers in the memory of sunny days from long ago.
A warmth remains to bear the coming winter’s cold
and imagine spring’s new life.
Help me dear Lord be aware
of your faithful presence wherever I am.
Amen
— By Columban Fr. John Comiskey
There is a certain rhythm in our life cycle
of birth, growth, aging and death.
With the pandemic, this passing of stages
in life has been abruptly changed for so
many people.
Lord, help us at this time when our brothers
and sisters are in pain and dealing
with sickness and loss due to the
corona virus
Let us know in a deeper gift, that You are
with us;new even in this time of uncertainty
and illness.
We place this prayer in the loving hands
of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Most merciful and Triune God,
We come to you in our weakness.
We come to you in our fear.
We come to you with trust.
For you alone are our hope.
We place before you the disease present in our world.
We turn to you in our time of need.
Bring wisdom to doctors. Give understanding to scientists.
Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill.
Protect those who are most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Welcome those who have died into your eternal home.
Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in your care.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Amen.
— By a Columban Lay Missionary
Lord of all creation, we are reminded in this month of October
of your call to your followers, that, through our baptism
we have been made sharers in the mission of the Church
to “go and make disciples of all nations”.
Through different times in human history you have invited us
to share in the task of transforming our world so that people
of all nations and cultures may have the opportunity
of experiencing the saving love and mercy of your Son Jesus Christ.
The world of today is torn by division, conflict and mistrust
and the planet on which we depend for our survival is threatened
with extinction through greed and ignorance of the consequences
of not preserving the gift of creation which you have bequeathed to humankind.
Empower us through the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be courageous
and zealous in bearing witness to the Gospel.
Grant to leaders of different nations a listening ear, to hear the cries
of the poor and afflicted in their midst, that people everywhere may share
in the riches of your creation and become partakers in the task
of making all things new in the name of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.
-- By Fr. Bernie McDermott
My Jesus, I desire to receive You into my soul.
I know that I am not worthy, but I come to You,
my Divine Physician, with humble faith
like the sick people in the Gospel.
Only say the word and I shall be healed.
Through this virtual Communion let me draw life
from You and be able to love and serve You better.
May Your kingdom come in my heart and in all the world.
God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit -
let my life and leadership
reflect your influence.
Give me the strength to lead like Jesus,
focused on doing the Father's will
and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Pulsating through our world, oceans and land
the tropics and artic, our home
flows the presence of God
loving a myriad of creation faces.
Embracing every species in its habitat
with a niche for the smallest
a preferred place for ones pushed to the side –
the Spirit lives in every atom, life and species.
Jesus taught to look to the flowers of the fields
beautiful outpourings of God’s self-giving
cared for in loving kindness, fragile
at risk without the aid of friends.
God’s covenant promise
imbedded in earth as our common home
is the Good News that heals and satisfies
gives hope and happiness.
Creator God,
we pray in thanks for earth as our common home.
– Columban Fr. Charles Rue
Gracious God. Hear this our prayer in these disturbing times.
We ask you to hear the sounds of those who are
gasping for each breath in hospitals, nursing homes
and old age facilities, and those suffering alone
on the streets of our cities and towns.
Reach out with your healing power
to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones.
Be present to the doctors, nurses and front line carers
who are exhausted from their efforts
in this time of a pandemic that threatens
the lives of so many of your people worldwide.
Strengthen with your wisdom our public government
and health officials who are seeking ways to stop and control
the spread of this virus by encouraging their citizenry
to be calm, reflective and obedient to the restrictions
imposed for the benefit of all.
We make this prayer in your most holy name.
Amen.
— Columban Fr. Mike Dodd
It is difficult to make sense of what is happening
in our world suffering from the virus.
We might be tempted to feel abandoned.
But give us the confidence, Lord,
that out of all this can come a deeper knowing
of your love and care for us.
Yes, we are vulnerable but may that vulnerability
open us to a deeper sense of your presence in our lives.
Amen.
– By a Columban Missionary
Dear Jesus,
I thank you from my heart
for the health and safety of my children.
It feels so good to see them full of life and happiness.
They are so precious to me and I want them to be safe and well.
We are now keeping ‘social distance’ from other people
to protect our own health and the health of the whole community.
I know I cannot expect them to accept this sudden change in our lives.
They are getting impatient with the extra restrictions.
And I am growing impatient with them.
Give me the wisdom I need to bear with them,
when they say they are bored and I think they are selfish.
And when they act up help me remember they too are fearful.
Help us all be reassured by your presence among us.
Amen.
— Columban Fr. John Burger, U.S. Regional Director
Lord, during this time of anxiety and distress
our patience can run thin.
Yet deep within us we know
that we can place our trust in you.
You provide us with the strength we need.
You do not burden us with any force
that we cannot overcome.
Sustain us Lord with your overwhelming kindness.
Amen.
– By a Columban Missionary
Lord you are my light and my salvation.
Whom or what should we fear?
As we hear in Paul’s letter to the Romans,
nothing that exists not any power nor any created thing
can come between us and the love of God
made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.
At this time of distress and anxiety,
help us, Lord, to trust that your love overcomes all.
Amen.
– By a Columban Missionary
