Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

Fourth Sunday of Easter Sunday, April 25, 2021

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Fourth Sunday of Easter Sunday, April 25, 2021

We offer our prayers this Sunday to the Father through his Son, Jesus, who laid down his life so that we may have life eternal.   

  1. That instances of shepherding that have gone so wrong in the Church, leaving broken lambs to face their fears, will be vanquished by the voice of the Good Shepherd calling for unity of one flock.  We pray to the Lord.
  2. That those who are on the margins or do not belong to the flock of Jesus will hear the welcoming voice of the Good Shepherd calling them to know him as he knows them through our outreach.  We pray to the Lord. 
  3. That the one-year conflict in Sudan that has killed 14,000 and forced half the population to be desperate for humanitarian assistance will find peace through negotiation that resolves differences, ends the threat of massive starvation, and halts the abuse of civilian pawns of war.  We pray to the Lord.
  4. That as we celebrate the Word Day of Prayer for Vocations, we might better “discover who we are, what our gifts are, where we can make them bear fruit, and what path we can follow to become signs and instruments of love, generous acceptance, beauty, and peace.”[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  5. In thanksgiving for “mothers and fathers who do not think first of themselves but shape their lives through relationships marked by love and graciousness, openness to the gift of life, and commitment to their children and their growth in maturity.”1  We pray to the Lord.
  6. That young people will let Jesus draw them to himself, let him challenge them by his presence, and make room for him so that they will find happiness by following him and giving themselves completely to him should he ask it.[2] We pray to the Lord.
  7. That each of us may be a pilgrim of hope, “discovering our own vocation and its place amid the different gifts bestowed by the Spirit [so that] we can become for our world messengers and witnesses of Jesus’ dream of a single human family united in God’s love and in the bond of charity, cooperation, and fraternity.”1  We pray to the Lord.
  8. That we will be men and women of hope bringing the Gospel message to the specter of a piecemeal world war, the flood of migrants fleeing their homelands in search of a better future, the burgeoning numbers of the poor, the threat of irreversibly compromising the health of our planet, and the difficulties we encounter each day that risk plunging us into defeatism.2  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That each of us may find our vocation and in that vocation be a messenger of joy, a source of new life, a builder of peace, and a person committed to caring lovingly for those around us in every place where we live.2  We pray to the Lord.
  10. In thanksgiving that Fr Christopher was sent to St. Isabel as pastor 21 years ago and for his faithful service to his parishioners and the Sanibel community.[3] We pray to the Lord.
  11. That those who carry the injuries of war will not live in anger but will find the ability to forgive and the grace to establish peace in their hearts and in their communities.   We pray to the Lord.
  12. That those who have died will be led by the Good Shepherd to verdant pastures and beside restful waters in the house of the Lord where they may dwell forever.  We pray to the Lord.

God our Father, we give you thanks for your answer to our prayers knowing that your kindness endures forever. Amen.

[1] Quote from Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 21 April 2024.

[2] Based on Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, 21 April 2024.

[3] Fr. Christopher Senk arrived at St. Isabel Church in Sanibel on April 23, 2003 and has inspired the community since that date.  Noteworthy, also, is this week’s 49th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate on April 25, 1975.

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