JANUARY 1, 2006 — MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
INTRODUCTION
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. It is also the World Day
of Peace and, of course, New Year’s Day. On this day of new beginnings, let us join
believers all over the world and pray to the Prince of Peace to make us peacemakers and,
like his mother, Christ-bearers to the world.
PENITENTIAL RITE
Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God and Son of Mary: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace and King of all Creation: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, live in us and recreate us as a peacemaking people: Lord, have mercy.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Num 6:22-27 The Lord bless you and keep you.
Gal 4:4-7 The Son, born of a woman, that we might receive adoption
Luke 2:16-21 He was named Jesus.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
PRESIDER
As we begin this new year, let us pray to be like Mary and say “Yes” to God’s plan for
us.
MINISTER
Help us say “Yes” to peace … to become peacemakers in our daily lives … we pray,
Help us say “Yes” to life … to protect those whose lives are threatened: the poor, the
unborn, the sick and the dying … we pray,
Help us say “Yes” to love ... to honor the old ... to cherish the young ... to welcome the
stranger ... we pray,
Help us say “Yes” to joy … to witness to God’s delight in every person ... we pray,
Help us say “Yes” to hope ... to trust in God’s plan for us and for our world ... we pray,
Help us pray now for those for whom we have promised to pray … (significant pause) …
for those who most need our prayers ... we pray,
Help us pray now for what we need in this new year … (significant pause) … for what
we need to become the holy men and women you call us to be … we pray,
PRESIDER
Good and gracious God, you chose humble Mary as a fit dwelling for your son. Help us
to honor your presence among us and make us wise and strong enough to build each other
up into your city on earth, the vision of your peace, the body of your Son, who is Lord for
ever and ever. Amen.
JANUARY 8, 2006 — EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
INTRODUCTION
My friends, today we proclaim that God is God of the whole world and that the salvation
won by Jesus Christ is salvation for all. On this Day of Epiphany, let us turn away from
darkness and welcome God’s light in every corner of our lives.
PENITENTIAL RITE
Lord Jesus, you came to bring light to those in darkness: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you came for every person of every nation: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, make us people of the light, welcoming all on our path: Lord, have mercy.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isa 60:1-6 Nations shall walk by your light.
Eph 3:2-3a,5-6 Gentiles are coheirs of the promise.
Matt 2:1-12 The magi came from the east, following the star.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
PRESIDER
Brothers and sisters, on this day we celebrate the gift of the Gospel to the Gentiles, let us
remember our duty as believers and pray for the whole world.
MINISTER
Let us pray for peace … for peace among the nations and in all the troubled areas of the
world … for peace wherever people make war in the name of God ... we pray,
On this day of Epiphany, let us pray for the church ... for each member of the church as
we struggle with the darkness is in our lives ... for the grace to recognize the face of God
in each person we meet ... we pray,
Let us pray for those who most need our prayers ... for the very poor ... for those who do
not have enough to eat, a place to live, a job ... for those whose lives are threatened today
... we pray,
Let us remember those in our community who are seriously ill and have asked for our
prayers ... (names) ... for all who are struggling with cancer, heart disease and other longterm illnesses ... we pray,
And let us pray quietly for a moment for all those for whom we are especially concerned
… (pause) ... for those we love and those we know who are hurting and all those for
whom we have promised to pray ... we pray,
PRESIDER
Good and gracious God, protect us in our struggle against the darkness of our lives, assist
us in our efforts to do good, and encourage us as we strive to be children of the light.
Calm our minds and enlighten our hearts, that we may hear your voice and know your
presence among us. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord. Amen.
JANUARY 15, 2006 — SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
INTRODUCTION
Today’s readings are about listening for God’s voice and following where God leads us.
This weekend we honor one who answered God’s call — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Let
us quiet our minds and calm our hearts and listen for God’s call to us this day.
PENITENTIAL RITE
Lord Jesus, you came to show us the way to the Kingdom: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you are the path and you are the guide: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, give us listening ears and generous hearts to follow you: Lord, have mercy.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
1 Sam 3:3b-10, 19 Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.
1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20 Your body is a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit.
John 1:35-42 We have found the Messiah.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
PRESIDER
This weekend men and women all across our nation are remembering the life, work and
death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Let us join them and pray for our country, our
neighbor and ourselves.
MINISTER
Dr. King was an African-American man who served as our nation’s conscience. For an
end to racism and all unjust discrimination ... we pray,
Dr. King was a Christian and the Gospel was his guide. For faith in Jesus and the strength
to follow him wherever he leads us ... we pray,
Dr. King was committed to nonviolent response to those who would do violence to him.
For the courage of our convictions ... we pray,
Dr. King was a man of prayer. Let us commit ourselves to prayer before we act ... to
prayer for those who most need our prayers this day ... for the sick and the dying, the
poor and the disenfranchised; for all those who have no one to pray for them ... we pray,
We remember those who have died ... (names) ... for all those who have died this past
week ... and for those men and women who have died for the cause of civil rights in our
nation and for the cause of justice everywhere ... we pray,
PRESIDER
Good and gracious God, you are the creator of every human being and you call all of us
to be your sons and daughters. Help us to see your face in each person we meet this day,
your will in every task set before us. We pray always in Jesus’ name. Amen.
JANUARY 22, 2006 — THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
INTRODUCTION
This week, Christians of every nation observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In
our country we recall the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, decided on this date in 1973
and making abortion the law of the land. Let us ready ourselves to hear God’s Word and
ask the Lord for the wisdom to apply the Gospel to today’s world.
PENITENTIAL RITE
Lord Jesus, you announce the Kingdom of God and call us to repent: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you called your disciples to follow you: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, help us answer your call to repentance and discipleship: Lord, have mercy.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 The Ninevites repent and God shows them mercy.
1 Cor 7:29-31 Time is running out.
Mark 1:14-20 Jesus calls us to repent, and the disciples follow him.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
PRESIDER
Let us join with Christians throughout the world and pray for all those whose lives are
threatened.
MINISTER
During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, let us pray for the work of church leaders
who are finding paths to unity … for a spirit of hospitality and cooperation in our
common work of building the Kingdom ... we pray,
Let us pray for the leaders of government and all those who affect public policy … for
people of influence in business, the media, education, the churches and health care ... we
pray,
We pray for all victims of abortion: for the children who did not live and grow; for the
women who grieve the loss of their children; for every person of our society who is
valued less because of the legal sanction of taking a human life ... we pray,
Let us pray for all those whose lives are at risk ... for the very old and the very young and
those yet to be born ... for the poor, disabled, imprisoned, unemployed, uneducated ... for
those without hope for their future ... we pray,
For those who are sick ... (names) ... for all who have asked for our prayers ... we pray,
We remember those who have died ... (names) ... and for those who are mourning the loss
of a loved one ... we pray,
PRESIDER
Good and gracious God, Creator of all life, hear our prayers this day. Give us the grace to
be generous in our dedication to finding solutions to our society’s problems that will
respect the life of every human being. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
JANUARY 29, 2006 — FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
INTRODUCTION
In today’s Gospel we hear that when Jesus spoke, the people were “astonished” at his
teaching. God speaks to us when we gather. Are we astonished? Today’s psalm response
is, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” Let us pray that our hearts be
softened and our minds opened to hear God speaking to us today.
PENITENTIAL RITE
Lord Jesus, you are the Word made flesh: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you speak to us in Word and Sacrament: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds to hear your voice: Lord, have mercy.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Deut 18:15-20 Our God will raise up a prophet.
1 Cor 7:32-35 Be free of anxieties.
Mark 1:21-28 Demons recognize Jesus as the Holy One of God.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
PRESIDER
It is the duty of all believers to pray the for salvation of the world. Let us pray.
MINISTER
Let us pray for peace ... for peace among the nations ... for peace within families and
communities ... for peace within our hearts ... we pray,
We pray for the church ... for the work of the church in the world: peacemaking between
enemies ... the protection of life ... the care of those who are forgotten by society ... we
pray,
Today we begin Catholic Schools Week. For the young people of our community ... for
Catholic schools and parish schools of religion ... for those whose work it is to form our
children in the faith ... we pray,
For those most affected by the winter cold ... for the elderly, those who are homebound
and those who live on fixed incomes ... for those who work outside ... for those with
colds and flu ... for the poor and those without homes ... we pray,
We pay for those who are sick or in pain ... (names) ... and for those who care for them …
we pray,
We remember those who have died ... (names) ... and for those who mourn … we pray,
PRESIDER
Gracious God, you loved us so much that you sent your Son to teach us about you and
bring us to the Kingdom. Help us to hear his voice in our hearts, to see his face in each
person we meet and his work in each task set before us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.