↩️ ↪️ Catholic Women Preach

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Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: Sisters and brothers, on this first Sunday of Lent, we have been reminded of the stories of our ancestors—how God blows breath into lumps of clay and spirits into valleys of dry bones. Knowing that even in what feels like death-dealing times, God is moving to bring life, let us offer our prayers with the confidence that them bones can rise again.

The response is: Lord, breathe your Spirit upon us.

Lector/Deacon:

1. For the Church, the Body of Christ. That we may reject any "theology of the land" that oppresses, and instead embrace the theology of Christ, who calls all people to freedom, boldly proclaiming that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God. We pray to the Lord.
2. For the world and its leaders. That in these times when people are being taken off streets, arrested, or deported, those in power may be moved by God’s spirit to cease creating "death-dealing situations" and instead work for justice and liberation for all sisters and brothers. We pray to the Lord.
3. For those in special need—the enslaved, the imprisoned, and those whose hope has dried up. That the God who breathed into dry bones in Ezekiel’s time will blow breath and spirit into them today, assuring them that they are created to be free and will rise again. We pray to the Lord.
4. For this local assembly gathered here. That as we journey through Lent, we may remember who we are, pay attention to those around us, bring others along with us, and always bring a song of hope into the darkness. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: God of freedom, who took a little water and a little sand to make humanity; you have always breathed life into that which the world calls dead. Hear the prayers of your people seeking unders

↩️ ↪️ Jeff Cavins

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Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: Sisters and brothers, as we follow Jesus out of the waters of baptism and into the wilderness of these forty days, we know that we too will face temptation. Let us pray with confidence to our Heavenly Father, who desires to strengthen the bond we share with Him as His beloved children.

Lector/Deacon:

1. For the Church, the Body of Christ. That during this Lenten season, we may rely totally on the Word of God to withstand the attacks of the enemy and remain faithful to our mission. We pray to the Lord.
2. For leaders of nations and all those in authority. That they may resist the temptations of the "pride of life" and worldly power, choosing instead to serve the common good with humility and justice. We pray to the Lord.
3. For those currently in a "wilderness" period of life, battling the lusts of the flesh or the eyes, or feeling separated from God. That they may find strength in the victory of Jesus, the faithful Son, and know that the Father is near to them. We pray to the Lord.
4. For this local assembly gathered here. That as we face our own daily temptations, we may allow nothing to compromise our filial relationship with our Heavenly Father, always trusting in His providential care. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: Heavenly Father, your only begotten Son showed us how to defeat the enemy by clinging to Your Word and trusting in Your love. Hear the prayers we offer today, and grant us the grace this Lent to overcome every temptation that tries to separate us from You. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.being. Hear the prayers we offer, and grant us the Holy Spirit, that the faith we profess wih our lips may be manifested truly in our lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Bishop James Golka - 2023

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Prayers of the Faithful

Celebrant: My brothers and sisters, as we begin this great and holy season of Lent, the Church calls us back to the basics of our faith. Let us approach our Creator, who formed us from the clay and breathed life into us, with our petitions for ourselves, the Church, and the whole world.

Lector/Deacon:

1. For the Holy Church of God as we begin this journey towards Easter; that this Lenten season may draw us deeper into the mystery of the Lord’s suffering and death, preparing our hearts ready for His Resurrection. Let us pray to the Lord.
2. For a renewed awareness of our creation; that we may remember we were formed by God for friendship and communion with Him, and recognize that every breath we take is sustained by His spirit. Let us pray to the Lord.
3. For all humanity struggling under the weight of original sin; that we may resist the temptation to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong, and instead trust solely in God’s wisdom and commands. Let us pray to the Lord.
4. For protection against the snares of the devil; that when we are caught at our weakest moments and tempted to forget who we are, we may remember that we are already created in the image and likeness of God. Let us pray to the Lord.
5. In thanksgiving for Jesus Christ, who entered the desert to find us where we were lost; that His triumph over the temptations of power and worldly pleasure may assure us that Satan has no final power over us. Let us pray to the Lord.
6. For all of us gathered here; that we may use these forty days to mend broken relationships and renew our communion with the God who loves us, staying close to Christ in the desert of this season. Let us pray to the Lord.

Celebrant: God of our beginnings, you planted a garden for us to live in friendship with you, and when we were lost, you sent your Son into the desert to bring us back. Hear the prayers we offer you today and breathe your Spirit into us anew this Lent. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Know Before You Go

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Presider: Gathered as a people marked by ashes, about to embark on our forty-day journey through the desert with Christ, let us bring our prayers before the God who breathes life into dust.

Lector:

1. For the Church, embarking on this pilgrim journey of Lent: That we may have the courage to walk with Christ through the deserts of our lives, plotting our steps carefully to become a more faithful and holy community. We pray to the Lord.
2. For world leaders and those in positions of power: That they may resist the temptation to view others merely as pawns for victory or objects to be used, and instead work to shape a world reflecting God’s image and likeness. We pray to the Lord.
3. For those who feel insignificant or lifeless, like dust and ashes: That they may hear God’s reminder that they are deeply loved, and feel the breath of the Spirit gifting them with abundant blessing. We pray to the Lord.
4. For those currently walking through the "real deserts" of our communities—especially day laborers waiting on corners, immigrants beginning new stories in broken English, and those working in the intense heat of restaurant kitchens to build a home among us: That we may dare to see the eyes of Christ in them and accompany them in their thirst. We pray to the Lord.
5. For all of us facing the complex temptations of modern life: That when we are tempted to seek "easy victories," dangerous shortcuts, or material comfort over spiritual sustenance, we may remain steadfast on the holy journey. We pray to the Lord.
6. For those who have lost their way through mistakes, obstacles, or the "hiccups" of life: That they may not lose hope, but find in Christ the healing power to move beyond their past and bring forth new voice in their lives. We pray to the Lord.
7. For our beloved dead, who have completed their mission journey from the manger to the resurrection: That they may now rest forever in the abundant life promised by our Creator. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: God of the desert and the sown field, you formed us from the dust and breathed your Spirit into us. Hear the prayers we offer as we take these first bold steps into Lent. Help us to see your face in the thirsting world around us and to be lights of Christ for one another. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: Sisters and brothers, we enter this season not with gloom or dread, but grateful for this "gift of time" to prepare for the Paschal feast. As spiritual explorers setting out on a divine adventure to draw closer to God, let us offer our petitions with open and receptive hearts.

The response is: Lord, hear our prayer.

Lector/Deacon:

1. For the Church. That through our observance of this holy season, we may move beyond the surface and act as "spiritual explorers," growing in deep understanding of the "riches hidden in Christ." We pray to the Lord.
2. For the world. That those distracted by "counterfeit desires"—the pursuit of money, gadgets, and ambitious social advantage—may discover a true hunger for Christ, the living bread that alone gives happiness and peace. We pray to the Lord.
3. For all who are facing "tribulations and temptations," and for those who feel attacked by the "Father of Lies." That the Holy Spirit who led Jesus into the desert will strengthen their virtue, grow their hope, and remind them of their true identity as God’s children. We pray to the Lord.
4. For our parish community as we begin this forty-day retreat. That we may have the courage to say "no" to superfluous indulgences so that we may say a greater "yes" to God’s presence and will in our lives. We pray to the Lord.
5. For all of us gathered here, whose lives are like quilts in progress. That we may patiently work with God's grace to "rip out" our mistakes and re-sew our lives, trusting that God will accept our imperfect patchwork as a beautiful, finished creation. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: Gracious God, you call us to strip away distractions so we may rediscover our deepest desire for you. Give us right dispositions as we begin this Lenten journey. Strengthen our relationship with you in the desert, that we may arrive at the Paschal feast with joy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amr to you and make us true bearers of your light in darkness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ 1-Minute Homily

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Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: Sisters and brothers, as we enter this Lenten season, we are reminded that temptation often comes disguised, using partial truths to lead us into the lie of sin. Aware of the enemy's tactics, let us pray with confidence to God, who is the ultimate Truth, for the strength to resist.

The response is: Lord, grant us discernment.

Lector/Deacon:

1. For the Church. That like Jesus in the desert, she may firmly reject the devil’s attempts to twist Scripture and truth into reasons for testing God. We pray to the Lord.
2. For leaders of nations and all burdened by injustice. That when they are treated unfairly and rightfully seek justice, they may have the grace to resist the lie that revenge is the answer. We pray to the Lord.
3. For those who feel "tricked into sinning," whose difficult life circumstances have become excuses to justify actions contrary to God's will. That the Holy Spirit will illuminate the lies hidden behind the facts. We pray to the Lord.
4. For our parish community during this Lent. That we may use this season to learn the tactics of the enemy, becoming stronger in resisting the temptation to turn facts into excuses for sin. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: God of all truth, protect us from the Father of Lies. Help us to see clearly when facts are used to set us up for a fall. Grant us the wisdom to know your will and the fortitude to choose it, especially when tempted. We ask this ts turn to you and ask for the mercy you so freely offer. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

↩️ ↪️ Priests for Life

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Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: Brothers and sisters, as we enter the powerful season of Lent, we are reminded that true freedom is found not in defining good and evil for ourselves, but in embracing the will of God. Let us offer our prayers to the Father, the Lord of all our choices, for the transformation of our culture and our own hearts.

The response is: Lord, guide us in your truth.

Lector/Deacon:

1. For the Church. That during this Lenten journey, she may courageously proclaim that authentic freedom is found only in obedience to God, offering a radical alternative to a culture that prioritizes personal choice over life itself. We pray to the Lord.
2. For the world and its leaders. That humanity may resist the ancient temptation to write its own moral law, recognizing that we are called to know good from evil, but not to decide it based on our own desires. We pray to the Lord.
3. For a transformation of the "pro-choice" mindset. That eyes may be opened to the tragic error of validating choices merely because they are chosen, even when it means the ending of an innocent life, and that all may come to see obedience to God as a free embrace of what is true and good. We pray to the Lord.
4. For the pro-life movement and the Church’s ministries to expectant mothers. That they may continue to be true defenders of freedom by providing the grace, tools, and concrete alternatives needed to enable people to choose what is right. We pray to the Lord.
5. For all of us gathered here. That we may look to the obedience of Jesus Christ as the pattern for our lives, understanding that following His will is not slavish servitude, but the path to redemption and the foundation of a culture of life. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: Almighty God, you created us for freedom, yet we so often enslave ourselves to our own will. Hear our prayers and grant us the grace this Lent to reject the lies of the Evil One. Help us to freely choose obedience to your law, that we may become builders of a culture that respects life in all its stages. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.e Spirit of Christ, that we may haverit of Christ, that we may have the strength to protect the innocent and the courage to love one another as you love us. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ SOLT Liturgy Prep

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Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: Brothers and sisters, as we enter the desert of Lent, we recall that we share in the very Divine Life breathed into us by God. Let us now approach our Good Father, trusting in His fidelity and asking for the grace to conquer sin through the victory of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Lector:

1. For the Church, that during this holy season, we may shake off the "forgetfulness of the Divine Life within us," and remember our dignity as beings carrying the very breath of God. We pray to the Lord.
2. For the world and all who are searching for fulfillment, that they may reject the serpent’s lie that God is an adversary or arbitrary tyrant, and come to see His laws as the path to true happiness. We pray to the Lord.
3. For those struggling with grave temptation, that they may look to Jesus in the desert and find strength in His fidelity to the Word of God, refusing to doubt the goodness of the Father. We pray to the Lord.
4. For our own community, that we may cease trying to "snatch happiness by our own efforts," and instead learn to receive life as a gift by participating more fully in Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord.
5. For all who have died, that through Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death in our human flesh, they may now share fully in His eternal life. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: God of all goodness, you did not leave us in the garden of our defeat but met us in the desert of our temptation. Hear our prayers and grant us the same fidelity that your Son displayed, so that we may walk with Him toward the victory of the Cross. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Ame may ever remain in right relationship with you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ The Word on the Word

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Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: On this first Sunday of Lent, as we hear creation stories of God blowing breath into a lump of clay and into dry bones, let us remember the enslaved and free ancestors who sang in "death-dealing times" that "them bones are going to rise again". Trusting in the God who creates us all to be free, let us offer our prayers.

Lector: For the Church, that our theology may truly be the "theology of Christ," the one that calls people to freedom and affirms that we are all sisters and brothers made in the image and likeness of God. We pray to the Lord.

For the world, that in our own times where there are "death-dealing situations" going on, such as people being taken off the street, arrested, or deported, we may commit ourselves to work for freedom. We pray to the Lord.

For those whose bones are dry "in so many different ways," and for those who are told that God created them for bondage, that they may experience God blowing breath and spirit into them once again so they may live. We pray to the Lord.

For this local assembly, that as we bring together our experience and our faith seeking understanding, we may remember who we are, pay attention to the needs around us, bring someone with us, and "always bring a song". We pray to the Lord.

Presider: God who blows spirit into dry bones, you call us to freedom even in the midst of all that is happening. Hear the prayers we bring before you and help us to tell our stories and do our theology, knowing indeed, that "them bones can rise again". We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.