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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28) "Blessed are you among women, |
Prayer of Thanksgiving for Our Priests
You came from among us to be, for us, one who serves.
We thank you for ministering Christ to us
and helping us minister Christ to each other.
We are grateful for the many gifts you bring to our community -
For drawing us together in worship,
for visiting us in our homes,
for comforting us in sickness,
for showing us compassion,
for uniting us in marriage,
for baptising our children,
for confirming us in our calling,
for supporting us in bereavement,
for helping us to grow in faith,
for encouraging us to take the initiative,
for helping the whole community realise God’s presence among us.
For our part, we pray that we may always be attentive to your needs
and never take you for granted.
You, like us, need friendship and love,
welcome and a sense of belonging,
kind words and acts of thoughtfulness.
We pray also for the Priests who have wounded Priesthood.
May we be willing to forgive and may they be open to healing.
God our Father, we ask you to bless our Priests
and confirm them in their calling.
Give them the gifts they need to respond with generosity and a joyful heart.
We offer this prayer for our Priests, who are our brothers and friends.
Amen.