One another, Baptism of the LordA

January 11, 2026

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29 (28); Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17

Sisters and brothers, our baptismal vows call us to compassion and mercy on behalf of those in need. We offer our prayers for the church and the world:

For the Church: that we may participate more fully in the mission of Jesus and place our gifts and talents in God’s service: let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace of humility: that we may enter into the woundedness and vulnerability of humanity and allow God to raise us to fuller life: let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to listen: that we may recognize the many ways that God calls us, invites us to life, and provides opportunities for us to respond: let us pray to the Lord.

For a new springtime of justice: that we may strive to fulfill all righteousness in our words, actions, and relationships so that God may be glorified in all things: let us pray to the Lord.

For a renewed awareness of God’s covenant with us: that we may abide in God’s commitment to be our God and perceive the length and breadth of God’s love for us: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are preparing for baptism and for all who are newly baptized: that the Spirit of God will guide their growth in faith, wisdom, and holiness: let us pray to the Lord.

For a greater awareness of the deepest longings within our hearts: that we may recognize the hopes and dreams which God has placed in our hearts and allow God to lead us to their fulfillment: let us pray to the Lord.

For the gift of hope: that we may share the Good News with others so that they may find light, meaning and possibility in times of trial: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are discerning vocation choices, for those considering marriage, the single life, religious life, or ministry: that God will open them to greater self-understanding, inspire them to greater love, and strengthen them in their commitments: let us pray to the Lord.

For the members of Congress: that God will give them a clear understanding of the truth and courage to address the issues before them for the good of the nation: let us pray to the Lord.

For the members of state legislatures: that God will guide them in their deliberations, help them to work together for the common good, and inspire them with new insights in confronting the major issues of society: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are ill: that God’s Spirit will rest upon them, relieve their suffering and restore them to wholeness: let us pray to the Lord.

For peace and an end to violence: that God will inspire leaders as they seek to negotiate peace in the Middle East: let us pray to the Lord.

For greater respect for human life: that hearts may be opened to the value and dignity of all human life from conception until natural death: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are recovering from natural disasters, particularly from the wildfires in Australia: that God will preserve them from danger, give them courage and strength, and speed the assistance which they need: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have experienced violence: that God will heal their wounds and memories, free them from fear, and protect them from further harm: let us pray to the Lord.

Lord God, you revealed your Son in the waters of the Jordan and anointed him with the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim good news to all people. Sanctify us by the same Spirit, that we may proclaim the healing power of the gospel by acts of love in your name. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2026d, January 11). The Baptism of the Lord. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011126.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

One another, EpiphanyA

Epiphany A,B,C

January 04, 2026

Sirach 24:1-2, 8-12; Psalm 147; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18; John 1:1-18

God has blessed creation with a great variety of gifts and gathered all people into one family, so that in sharing, we might strengthen and be strengthened by one another. We gather into our hearts and minds the universe entrusted to us, remembering its needs before God and this company:

For the Church: that, through our words and deeds, we may be a Light to those who are searching for direction and a sign of hope for those seeking to begin again: let us pray to the Lord.

For God’s blessing on the New Year: that God will fill the coming days with health of body, mind, and spirit; renew the gifts of the Spirit within us, and inspire us with new ways to share our gifts and resources with others: let us pray to the Lord.

For greater trust: that, like the Wise Men, God’s Light may guide us through the unknown of the coming days as we rely more deeply on God’s love and care for us: let us pray to the Lord.

For a spirit of wonder: that our hearts may be filled with joy as we recognize God’s many gifts to us in our relationships, our opportunities, and our freedoms: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have fled war zones, disasters, persecution, or discrimination: that God will help them to establish new lives and experience justice and respect in their new communities: let us pray to the Lord.

For catechumens and candidates: that their search for Christ and a Christian Community may lead them to an ever-deepening experience of Emmanuel: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who do not know God: that they may perceive the signs of God’s love in their lives and like the wisemen, be persistent in searching for God who is the source and fulfillment of their lives: let us pray to the Lord.

For a renewal of prayer in our lives: that we may make time for God each day of this year and be attentive to God’s invitations and promptings in our hearts: let us pray to the Lord.

For greater unity and cooperation within the human family: that God will heal the wounds between various groups, open hearts to the talents of every person, and help us work together against violence, drug abuse, and poverty: let us pray to the Lord.

For those bound by fear: that God will free their spirits, help them to trust God’s providence, and open a vision of the future for them: let us pray to the Lord.

For the members of Congress: that God will give them clear understanding of the issues in our society, courage to address them, and helpful insights to improve the common good: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have experienced abuse: that God will heal their pain, guide them to healing resources, and give them strength: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are ill: that God’s healing love will restore them to wholeness and strengthen them throughout the coming year: let us pray to the Lord.

For the people of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Palestinian territories: that God will ease their burdens, open opportunities for them, and establish peace and justice in the Holy Land: let us pray to the Lord.

Grant that these prayers, O God, may be enriched by our commitment not only to pray them, but to live them in your Son’s name. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2026, January 4). The Epiphany of the Lord. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010426.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

One another, Holy FamilyA

December 28, 2025

Sirach 3:3-7, 14-17; Psalm 128 (127); Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-23

Nurturing God, remembering the exile of the holy family and Herod’s slaughter of the children, we remember all who need our sustaining love. Hear our prayers for the church and the community in the world:

For the Church: that like Mary and Joseph, we may face the future with faith and trust in God, no matter what trials or uncertainties may stand before us: let us pray to the Lord.

For healings of relationships in our families: that the Spirit of God will show us how to love one another more deeply, support one another each day, and forgive one another generously: let us pray to the Lord.

For all married couples: that they may continually find new ways of growing in love and of supporting one another with heartfelt compassion and patience: let us pray to the Lord.

For all children: that they may appreciate the gift of their parents and grow in wisdom and virtue each day: let us pray to the Lord.

For all engaged couples: that they may continue to discover how God has gifted them to each other and how they can help each other grow in faith and love: let us pray to the Lord.

For deeper awareness: that each member of a family may recognize their responsibilities to one another and fulfill them with compassion, kindness and patience: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have no families and for those who are alienated from or have been rejected by their families: that they may experience love and acceptance through this Christian community: let us pray to the Lord.

For parents of missing or run-away children: that God will watch over and protect their child from harm, and open a pathway for them to reconnect: let us pray to the Lord.

For patience for parents: that God will help parents to be patient as their daughters and sons mature and begin to develop their lives: let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are experiencing divorce: that the Christ Child may bring healing and hope to their hearts: let us pray to the Lord.

For all immigrants and refugees: that God will guide and sustain them, help them to adjust to all the new things that they experience, and protect them in their new homes: let us pray to the Lord.

For families who have fled warfare and violence: that they may stay bonded as a family, persevere through hardship, and continue to support and encourage one another: let us pray to the Lord.

For all children: that they may experience love and encouragement as they grow and use the gifts and opportunities to enrich the human family: let us pray to the Lord.

For greater appreciation of human life: that God will guide us in nurturing and protecting all human life: let us pray to the Lord.

For families suffering from financial crisis or unemployment: that God will open new opportunities for parents to use their gifts and to provide for their children: let us pray to the Lord.

For the people of Bethlehem and all the holy land: that God will inspire leaders in undoing injustices and wounds, in ending violence, and in establishing a just and lasting peace for all inhabitants of the Holy Land: let us pray to the Lord.

For peace amongst nations, ethnic groups, religions, and in our city streets: that God’s love made visible in the Christ Child may turn hearts from violence and open new paths of peace and justice: let us pray to the Lord.

Grant that all people may hear together the song of joy, and find their homes in the garden of justice and hope, that we may experience the fullness of life, which is your will for all, in the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025dg, December 28). Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122825.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.