Weekly Prayers of the Faithful

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time August 24, 2025

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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time August 24, 2025

We offer our petitions to the Lord confident in his steadfast kindness toward us. 

  1. That the Regional Meeting of Bishops and Pastoral Workers of Human Mobility held in Costa Rica will be effective in guiding the Church to pray for those who leave their homes, accompanies them, and promotes coordinated actions on their behalf to ensure that their dignity as children of God is respected.  We pray to the Lord. 
  2. That world leaders will make genuine efforts to establish peace in warring lands that ensures the welfare of families, children, the elderly and all people of good will who desire harmony and tranquility in their lives.  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That those suffering from fires in Spain, floods in Pakistan, other challenges of nature will find safe shelter and generous communities that will help them to recover.  We pray to the Lord. 
  4. That the observance of World Humanitarian Day last Wednesday will lead to an amplification of “the voices of religious leaders and people of faith appalled by the atrocities perpetrated in Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and other conflict zones.”[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  5. That missionaries from nations of every language will see God’s glory and proclaim that glory to the distant coastlands and throughout the world. We pray to the Lord.
  6. That we will endure the trials we face in life without losing heart, making straight paths for our feet so that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.  We pray to the Lord.
  7. That students and teachers will begin the new school year with enthusiasm for the opportunity to learn the truth of the beauty of God’s creation through their study of the arts, the sciences, theology, and the community of friends they establish.  We pray to the Lord.
  8. That we will live humbly leaving decisions who is “first” and who is “last” to God and treat those in our communities who are lonely and downtrodden and all people with kindness, gentleness, and concern.  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That observance of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief will lead nations “to promote and protect human rights, including human rights of persons belonging to religious minorities [and all faiths], including their right to exercise their religion or belief freely.”[2]  We pray to the Lord.
  10. That in honoring the victims of the slave trade on this International Day of Remembrance, we will assert that “it is time to abolish human exploitation [and trafficking] once and for all, and to recognize the equal and unconditional dignity of each and every individual.”[3] We pray to the Lord.
  11. That God may smile on those suffering in body, mind, or spirit, be merciful to them, turn his regard toward them, and grant them peace.  We pray to the Lord.
  12. That those who have died and who knock at heaven’s door will be welcomed through the narrow gate into the arms of the Lord and the company of all the angels and saints for all eternity.  We pray to the Lord.

God, our Father, we offer these petitions to you knowing that you answer all our prayers with your fidelity that endures forever. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[1] Quote from statement of the humanitarian action arm of the Catholic Church, August 19, 2025.

[2] Quote from United Nations statement on International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, August 22, 2025. 

[3] Quote from Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO concerning the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, August 23, 2025. 

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