Prayer for Pope Leo XIV

Loving and faithful God,
We thank You for guiding the Church and giving us a new Pope.
Bless him with wisdom, courage, and a heart filled with love.
May he lead with kindness and truth,
and help bring Your light to people all around the world.

Give him strength to care for the Church,
to speak for peace, justice, and hope,
and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

May the Holy Spirit guide him every day,
and may we support him with our prayers and faith.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CHILDREN— 25 MAY 2025

On Sunday, 25th May, all children present at Mass will be invited to come forward and receive a special blessing. This is a beautiful opportunity to surround our young ones with prayer and encouragement as they grow in faith. I warmly invite you to bring your children, grandchildren, and to invite as many families as you can to join us for this special occasion.

Let us ask Mary our Mother to pray for children and a deepening of our acceptance and love for children. Come, Holy Spirit, show us your beauty, reflected in the faces of children all over the world. Come, Jesus, you who make all things new, who are the way that leads us to the Father, come and remain with us always. Amen.

Prayer for Confirmation Candidates

Loving God,
We thank You for the young people preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Fill them with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit:
Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgment, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence, and Wonder and Awe in Your Presence. Help them to grow in faith, hope, and love,
and to follow Jesus with joyful and generous hearts.
Guide them as they take this important step on their journey of faith.
May they always know Your presence in their lives
and be strong witnesses of Your love in the world.

Bless their families, teachers, and sponsors
who support them on this journey.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

LAUDATO SI’ WEEK 

LAUDATO SI’ WEEK 17th – 24th May is a global celebration where we remember Pope Francis urging us in his encyclical Laudato Si’ to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. In Laudato Si’,

Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of loving God, one another, and creation. He calls for an ecological conversion, and a transformation of hearts and minds towards greater love and care for the planet. This love extends to both the natural world and our fellow human beings. Today, with the universal church, we celebrate 10 years of inspiration and action since Laudato Si’ was promulgated. And as a Catholic Earthcare Parish, we celebrate our part in the journey towards the Laudato Si’ Goals set before us by Pope Francis to achieve ecological conversion.

How can you be involved in caring for our planet at home?

How Can I Help Save the Planet at Home and Pray?

 At Home

You can take small actions every day that care for God’s creation:

• Turn off lights and devices when you're not using them
  
  
• Use less water – turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
  
  
• Recycle paper, plastic, and cans properly
  
  
• Reuse bags, containers, and clothes
  
  
• Compost food scraps if you can
  
  
• Walk or ride your bike instead of using the car when possible
  
  
• Pick up litter and keep your community clean
  
  
• Take care of plants and animals around you
  
  

These actions show love for the Earth and all the people and creatures God made.

 Through Prayer

You can also care for creation through prayer:

• Thank God for the beauty of the Earth
  
  
• Pray for people affected by pollution, floods, or drought
  
  
• Ask God to help you make good choices for the planet
  
  
• Pray for world leaders to protect the Earth
  
  
• Reflect quietly in nature and feel close to God