Let us pray together:
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your love!
Lord God, you alone are holy,
and your holiness is seen in the lives of the saints.
You called Saint Cloud to serve your people in the priesthood
and he, in turn, humbled himself
in the world for your sake.
May his prayers and example
encourage us to serve you as
priestly people.
Through his intercession, may we
follow Jesus more faithfully and
live as a people holy in your sight.
Through our Lord Christ Jesus,
your Son, who lives and reigns
with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Leader:
Abundant God, and giver of all good things, we thank you for the many blessings that have provided strong faith and cherished devotion in the Diocese of Saint Cloud for generations.
Reader 1: We, Your people, look to the future asking for the guidance of Your wisdom, understanding, courage and hope trusting You will continue Your blessings for years to come.
Leader:
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” Corinthians (1:25)
(Pause)
Reader 2: God of all Wisdom, open our ears to hear Your voice, our hearts to discern Your will, and our eyes to envision new possibilities.
Leader:
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs (19:21)
(Pause)
Reader 3: God of all Understanding, assure that the voices of persons from all generations, all vocations, all nationalities, and all areas of the diocese are welcomed and respected as we listen to each other.
Leader:
“I command you: be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God, is with you wherever you go!” Joshua (1:9)
(pause)
Reader 4: God of all Courage, quell our fears as we acknowledge the spiritual and practical realities of our day and prepare for the days to come. Renew our commitment to You and to each other.
Leader:
“For I know the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope.” Jeremiah (29:11)
(pause)
Reader 5: God of all Hope, empower us to discover the richness we have and to invigorate our every effort to strengthen our mission to be Your voice of hope, hands of justice, and heart of mercy with joy, now and for future generations.
All: May our patron, Saint Cloud, intercede on our behalf and lead us to Your grace. We pray this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the countless blessings You give us, for the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and for the many graces that help us grow closer to You.
We ask that You send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts that we may continue grow in Your love, and learn to love one another as You have first loved us.
Give us a spirit of understanding that we may choose to listen, a spirit of knowledge to trust in Your ways, the wisdom we need to speak prudently, courage to serve one another, and a sense of reverence that will lead us into the ways of holiness.
Help us to understand that You have called us together that we might bring the mission of Your love to a world that surrounds us. Move us beyond ourselves. Let us become the Body of Christ for our Area Catholic Community, our parishes within, and their surrounding territories.
Give us the heart of Jesus, joined with the heart of His blessed mother that we may intercede on behalf of a world in need.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.