Prayers for Meetings
Catholic School Parents WA are delighted to provide you with a selection of downloadable Prayers and Reflections for meetings. As parents who choose a Catholic education for their children, it is important now, more than ever, to deliberately place ourselves in God’s presence when meeting to talk about the ways we can best contribute to our Catholic school communities. We do this through prayer.
We have taken the liberty of including some of our favorite prayers and reflections, however, as always remain open to your input as we are keen to add to them over time. We sincerely hope that you find a prayer or reflection here which helps to encourage and enhance your relationship with Jesus Christ.
To download a copy of the Prayers below, please click on the individual documents:
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
Amen.
Prayer for Parents
Father, help me in my divine task of parenthood.
Help me to see my children's problems through their eyes.
Keep forever before me my own childhood so that I will not expect too much.
Give me the patience of the silent stars. Give me a sense of humor.
Father help me to win them through love instead of compelling them through fear.
Help me to teach them that every home is an altar and that every wish is a prayer.
Help me to live my own life above doubt and skepticism.
Help me radiate faith in the basic goodness in my own life.
Give me a strong hand for guidance when youth falters and would turn back.
Father help me to teach them to love bravely and to meet defeat courageously.
Help me to teach them that a mans real character is what he is, alone with himself in the dark.
Help me to teach them that the value of their lives will be measured by the service they give.
Help me to teach them that true happiness is found, not in things, but in the unfolding of their minds and their souls.
Help me to make my life go on in theirs, finer, nobler than I ever dared to be.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
I Saw Christ Today
I saw Christ today - He is a short fat fellow with a funny little cap pushed back to cover his bald spot. He laughs a lot and jiggles when he walks.
I saw Christ in the schoolyard racing and laughing with others; trembling at the shadow of the bully’s scowl and licking the sauce off the sausage roll. A turmoil of innocence, uncertainty, and the fear of failure.
I saw Christ yesterday too - handcuffed in a country torn apart by war. He was wincing in the shock of agony as the predator’s angry round crashed through the delicate convolutions of His brain.
I also saw Christ in Mass. She was wearily clasping the hand of Her struggling daughter as Her infant son dribbled down Her neck. Grinding Her nerves as She battled for peace.
I remember seeing Christ when He was ninety-three. He dozed peacefully in the sun all day and His trembling hand clattered His cup against His glasses when He drank.
And when I’d seen Christ in so many places, lovely faces, I drove home, parked the car, climbed the stairs and, as I passed the mirror in the hall, I glanced up in surprise….there He was again!
Prayer for Teachers
Almighty God, we come to you today and give thanks for all our Teachers.
Thank you for the way in which they give of themselves each day in the classroom, serving and instructing the next generation of this land.
We thank you for all of them.
Father, please fill their hearts with courage now by your mighty Spirit. Fill them with your strength, so they may rise to every challenge and not grow weary.
Fill them with your wisdom, so that they may be able to make good judgement when guiding and helping others.
Fill them with your peace, so that when stress and anxiety come it will not overwhelm them.
Fill them with your joy, so that the passion they have for their subject
may become an infectious passion that spreads.
We ask all this in the wonderful name of Jesus.
Amen.
Prayer for the Parent Group
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your presence in the life of this Parent Group and in our school. You have spoken to us through the events of the year.
In our shared plans and hopes and dreams, in the prayers and liturgies and celebration on social occasions, and often enough, in the words of our children.
Bless all of those who have been part of our community. Bless especially those parents and carers for their work through the year - may their future be lived in your teachings and example.
Bless this meeting of ours where we gather to bring our year's work to completion.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A Creed To Live By
Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special. Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.
Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love, the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly, and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you're going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Prayer for Meetings
Heavenly Father, as we begin this meeting today we bring your presence with us.
We speak your peace, your grace, your mercy and your perfect order.
We acknowledge your power over all that will be spoken, thought, decided and done within these walls.
Lord, we thank you for the gifts you have blessed us with.
We commit to using them responsibly in your honour.
Give us a fresh supply of strength to do our job.
Anoint our projects, ideas, and energy so that even our smallest accomplishments may bring glory to you.
Lord, guide us during our discussions. When we are burned out, infuse us with the light of the Holy Spirit.
Enlivened by the Spirit, may the work we do be responsive to the needs of all.
Lord, we give You the glory for what we accomplish in Jesus name,
Amen.
Special People
We thank you, O God, for those who are channels of your love in our lives; for those who gave us our birth, and in the weakness of our infancy, sheltered, nurtured and treasured us.
For those who taught us to walk, to talk and to explore tastes, smells, sounds, and to experience the warmth of belonging and embracing.
For those who overlooked our faults and affirmed our strengths, and the friends young and old, who share our tears and our laughter.
We thank you Lord, for the people of strong Faith, who enlarged our minds and enlarge our capacity to explore and understand your ways.
For those at every stage of our journey who teach us trust by trusting us, who enable us to love others through the experience of being loved.
We thank you for those very sincere people, who have demonstrated the joys and disciplines of the kingdom of God, and especially people who taught us to love you, rather than be afraid of you.
God of love, God of Jesus, for those healing experiences of growth and loving, and for the knowledge that the best is yet to come, we praise your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Lord is my Pacesetter
The Lord is my Pacesetter, I shall not rush. He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals.
He provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity. He leads me in ways of efficiency, through calmness of mind; and his guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day, I will not fret. For His presence is here. His timelessness, His all-importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity, by anointing my head with His oils of tranquility. My cup of joyous energy overflows.
Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruit of my hours, for I shall walk in the pace of my Lord, and dwell in his house for ever.
Amen.
Mary MacKillop Prayer
Ever generous God,
You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.
With confidence in your generous providence and joining with Saint Mary MacKillop, we ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, like Saint Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.
Ever generous God hear our prayer. We ask this through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
A Common Prayer
By Michael Leunig
Dear God,
We pray for another way of being; another way of knowing.
Across the difficult terrain of our existence we have attempted to build a highway and in so doing have lost our footpath.
God lead us to our footpath. Lead us there where in simplicity we may move at the speed of natural creatures and feel the earth's love beneath our feet.
Lead us there where step-by-step we may feel the movement of creation in our hearts. And lead us there where side-by-side we may feel the embrace of the common soul.
Nothing can be loved at speed.
God lead us to the slow path; to the joyous insights of the pilgrim; another way of knowing; another way of being.
Amen.
Prayer for Light and Grace
Look kindly Lord on this group that trusts in you.
During this gathering as we discuss and reflect on important issues, help us to hear the voice of your spirit and receive your word in faith.
Give us wisdom in discernment, prudence in judgement, firmness in decision and wisdom in planning.
May diversity of views come together in common goals. May we always act with true concern for both the present and the future, respecting our tradition but attentive to the signs of the time.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Art of Knowing By Momina Khan
Teacher of my child, we both need to know what we don't know.
You know the student you have in your class is my child, I know the child I share with you is your student.
I know you teach him how to speak English, you know I teach him how to speak his voice.
I know you teach him how we all are the same, you know I teach him how we all are different too.
I know you teach him how to share with others his culture, you know I teach him how to live between two cultures.
I know you are scared to talk to him about his faith, you know I am scared both for him and his faith.
I know you teach him how to find the right answers, you know I teach him ways to pose hard questions.
I know you teach him how to read and write a story, you know I teach him ways to tell and live his own story.
I know you have expert knowledge on how to teach your student, you know I have parent knowledge of how to nurture my child.
I know you are a teacher and teaching is your profession, you know I am a parent and protecting is my position.
Let's make a mutual pledge about our child and student. Let me help you in teaching and knowing your student.
I know no other way that you can come to know my child than through engaging with me.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
The Rosary
The Rosary is most effective when we meditate on the mysteries. Praying the Rosary is a way of honouring Mary the Mother of God.
The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events in the history of our salvation. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary and these are divided into:
The Joyful Mysteries on Monday and Saturday, Luminous Mysteries on Thursday.
Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday, Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday.
As an exception, the Joyful Mysteries may be said on Sundays during Advent and Christmas, while the Sorrowful Mysteries may be said on the Sundays of Lent.
The Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation
Mary learns that she has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.
2. The Visitation
Mary visits Elizabeth, who tells her that she will always be remembered.
3. The Nativity
Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.
4. The Presentation
Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the Temple to present him to God.
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Jesus is found in the Temple discussing his faith with the teachers.
The Mysteries of Light/ Luminous Mysteries
1. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
God proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son.
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
At Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first miracle.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Jesus calls all to conversion and service to the Kingdom.
4. The Transfiguration of Jesus
Jesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist
Jesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper.
The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he dies.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
Jesus is lashed with whips.
3. The Crowning With Thorns
Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns.
4. The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus carries the cross that will be used to crucify him.
5. The Crucifixion
Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies.
The Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection
God the Father raises Jesus from the dead.
2. The Ascension
Jesus returns to his Father in heaven.
3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples.
4. The Assumption of Mary at the end of her life on earth
The bodily taking up of Mary, into heaven at the end of her life.
5. The Coronation of Mary.
Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
