CELEBRANT: Let us turn to the Father with faith and gratitude, for He never rejects our prayers for His help.
For Pope Francis and bishops across the world, that God’s Spirit of Wisdom will guide their words and actions as they lead us all through these difficult times: we pray to the Lord. (Pause)
Lord, in your mercy . . . Hear our prayer
For Government ministers and scientific advisers, that God’s Spirit of Truth will help them to discern the best advice to give to the nation in the light of the constantly changing evidence: we pray to the Lord. (Pause)
Lord, in your mercy . . . Hear our prayer
For all key workers in care homes, hospitals and in the community, that God’s Spirit of Love will empower them to continue to give generously of their care and their skills, despite the difficulties and dangers they face: we pray to the Lord. (Pause)
Lord, in your mercy . . . Hear our prayer
For all who mourn for beloved victims of the virus, that God’s Spirit of Peace will bring them comfort, strength and hope for the future: we pray to the Lord. (Pause)
Lord, in your mercy . . . Hear our prayer
For the children of our parish, especially those who were expecting to celebrate their first Holy Communion soon, that God’s Spirit of Holiness and Grace will dwell in them and in their families and sustain them in this time of waiting: we pray to the Lord. (Pause)
Lord, in your mercy . . . Hear our prayer
For every member of our parish, that, striving to live each day in accordance with Christ’s Commandments of Love, God’s Spirit of Joy will fill their hearts and minds and lead them to praise God for His tremendous deeds and His enduring love: we pray to the Lord. (Pause)
Lord, in your mercy . . . Hear our prayer
Let us ask Mary to be our model of obedience to the will of the Father: Hail Mary . . .
In silence, let us make our own petitions for those who are sick in mind or body.
(Long pause)
CELEBRANT: Father, we cry out to You in this time of great distress and uncertainty.
Help us to put all our trust in You, knowing that we make these prayers through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Month of Our Lady
Dear brothers and sisters,
I hope everyone is keeping well and staying safe these strange times.
May we please join the Holy Father for daily rosary during this month of May. I have attached below the full text of Pope Francis’ letter to all the faithful this month of May.
You can join us everyday at 6.00pm, starting from tomorrow Friday May 1st.
Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78145203409?pwd=cXc1U3gxcUU4clVPWFNLMmJrWWFWZz09
Meeting ID: 781 4520 3409 Password: 8F5rty
Masses from our Church St. Clare’s will be streamed live starting from Sunday 3rd of May at 9.30am. Find out more here!
Wishing you every grace and blessing,
Fr. Emeka.
Psalm 61
In God alone be at rest, my soul; for my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm.
In God is my safety and glory, the rock of my strength.
Take refuge in God, all you people. Trust him at all times.
Pour out your hearts before him for God is our refuge.
For God has said only one thing: only two do I know:
that to God alone belongs power and to you, Lord, love;
and that you repay each one according to their deeds.
Litany of Praise
(Give praise and thanks for all God is and all He does in your life)
Response after each prayer:
Lord, you are my rock and my stronghold!
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:17-22
Christ came to bring the good news of peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Through him, we both in the one Spirit have free access to the Father. So you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors; you are fellow-citizens with the holy people of God and part of God’s household. You are built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. Every structure knit together in him grows into a holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built up into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The word of the Lord.
Reflection: (Fr.Raniero Cantalamessa)
Through the Spirit we are “at home” with God! St.John in his first letter writes: “We can know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us his Spirit”.
This has a practical consequence for us. The Holy Spirit is the answer to loneliness, which, along with fear and weakness, is the greatest cause of human suffering. What really overcomes suffering? Certainly not finding yourself in the midst of a great crowd, but rather having a friend, someone to share thoughts with, a companion. If we are open to him, this is what the Holy Spirit wants to be to us. It was Saint Basil who said that the Holy Spirit was “the inseparable companion” of Jesus during his life on earth, and that the Spirit wants to be the same for us. St.John Chrysostom adds that Jesus “always had the assistance of the most agreeable Spirit” just as he seems to suggest that Moses, all his life long, had his brother Aaron as companion and counsellor.
If it is possible for weakness to provide an occasion for us to experience the strength of the Spirit, it is possible for loneliness to be the occasion and also the stimulus for us to experience the Spirit as “sweet guest”. By faith we know that no one is ever truly alone in this world. If we need to speak with someone about something, and it is simply not possible to find anyone to speak to, we can learn, little by little, to talk it over with that guest who is discretion itself and who also is “perfect consoler” and “wonderful counsellor”.
The Spirit reveals himself at various times, either in power and dynamism or in tenderness and intimacy, and we experience him, sometimes in one way and sometimes in another, depending on our need, our disposition and the grace of the moment. On Sinai, Moses perceived God in the thunder and the stormy wind; Elijah, on the same Mount Horeb, perceived God in the gentle breeze.
Intercessions
Lord, in your mercy . . . Hear our prayer
Closing Prayer: (Timothy Dudley Smith)
Spirit of life within me, possess this life of mine;
come as the wind of heaven’s breath, come as the fire divine!
Spirit of Christ, the living Lord, reign in this house of clay,
till from its dust with Christ I rise to everlasting day.