Working for your kingdom
Lord Jesus, give us the grace to hear your voice,
And the strength to continue working for your kingdom in this time of pandemic.
Do not allow us to be indifferent to those who today suffer the loss of a loved one, or who suffer from the absence of work.
But give us the courage to accompany and side with those who suffer violence or injustice. Amen.
Prayer: Javier Eduardo Martinez Rueda from Colombia. Javier is team director at Programa de Desarollo y Paz, an organisation working on peacebuilding as part of our Hands On Magdalena Medio project.
God's healing hand
To our brothers and sisters who have contracted
and are suffering due to the Coronavirus Disease,
we pray that God’s healing hand may rest upon you.
To medical doctors, nurses and the supporting staff
who are in the frontline of the fight against COVID-19,
may the Good Lord sustain you and inspire you
to render your life-saving services with due care, love and compassion.
To all those who have lost their loved ones due to the Coronavirus outbreak,
we convey our deepest sympathies.
We pray that their souls, through God’s mercy, may rest in eternal peace.
We pray that God may grant all bereaved families his consolation and strengthen their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord.
Amen.
Prayer adapted from the 2020 Easter Message of the Catholic Bishops of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe
At this time
Dear Lord,
At this time of pandemic,
Let us foster respect and solidarity with others, especially those who are weak or poor.
Let us remain calm and ignore unsubstantiated rumours.
Let us take advantage of living together as a family.
Let us attend to moments of prayer.
Let us cultivate responsibility, patience and hope.
Amen.
Prayer adapted from a radio message from Rodolfo Valenzuela Núñez, Bishop of La Verapaz, Guatemala
We lift up our voices
Merciful God,
We place into your care all the refugees and migrants, especially the Rohingya.
God who hurts with humanity, we lift up our voices and pour out our hearts to you,
in sadness and grief, for those who don't have anyone to hear their suffering and pain,
for those who don't have anyone to love and care,
for those who don't have anyone to tell their stories
and especially for those who have been suffering due to this pandemic
and struggling with coronavirus to see another day in their life.
We pray for their courage of heart and strength of mind and body.
Keep them safe from harm.
Amen.
Prayer: Inmanuel Chayan Biswas, who works for Caritas Bangladesh in Cox's Bazaar refugee camp
Prayer of a health worker
Lord, we pray for those who need ongoing medical treatment who are forced to wait at this time.
God, please watch over their health and help them to stay positive and patient.
We pray that we overcome this global crisis and that after this pandemic, we build a more just and humane world. Amen. Prayer: Marlene Cruz who leads a community health team at the Guarjila Health Clinic in El Salvador
We stand together
We pray for all who are suffering and bereaved.
At this time of sorrow, incomprehension and tragedy, we stand together.
In this crisis, we pray for God’s mercy and healing for the sick
and for health and strength for all who care for them.
Amen.
Prayer: Adapted from a message from Sister Bridget Tighe of Caritas Jerusalem