May 27 – Start of Catholic Education Week (adapt these daily prayers as needed):

ROOTED IN PRAYER

Elementary:

Call to Prayer:

Each year, Catholic schools in Saskatchewan participate in a week-long celebration to remember and share the gift of Catholic Education. This year, we have been called to embrace the theme, Living As Joyful Disciples. We begin our celebrations in our schools this week by focusing on what it means to be Rooted in Prayer.

Let us begin our prayer with the sign of our faith. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Prayer:

Loving God, Jesus our teacher, Spirit of wisdom, you call us to go out and to tell the whole world of your love. Help us to root ourselves in prayer so that we may always be close to you. Teach us to be joyful disciples, so that our lives may help others to know you, to love you, and to follow you. We ask this in your most holy name. Amen.

Scripture: The Commissioning of the Disciples (Matthew 28:16-20)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. They saw him and worshipped him, but some doubted. Jesus came to them and said: "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

Before Jesus returned to his heavenly Father, he gave his disciples a job to do. He told them to go out and teach the world about him, and to create more disciples! Jesus also told them that he would not leave them alone, saying, "I am with you always." We know that whenever we gather together in Jesus' name, he is always here with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit, listening to our prayers. Prayer unites us and brings us closer to God and to one another. Just as we get to know one another through everyday conversation and spending time together, so it is with God. And when we pray, we are not only encouraged to think about our own relationship with God, but about how we can help those around us to have a relationship with God, too! Our job today remains the same as the job entrusted to the disciples. We are called to go out and tell the world about Jesus. By staying connected to Jesus in prayer, the flame of faith within our hearts burns brightly, filling our lives and the lives of others with the light of Christ.

Prayers of the Faithful:

Response: Help us to be joyful disciples.

We pray for the Church and all people: that they might reveal God's love to the world by living the Gospel that Christ preached. We pray to the Lord...

We pray for each other: that the Holy Spirit will guide us all to become more like Christ. We pray to the Lord...

We pray for ourselves: that we may have the courage to proclaim what we believe to others. We pray to the Lord...

We pray for all staff and students in Catholic schools everywhere: that they continue bringing the Good News to the world by word and example. We pray to the Lord...

Recommended Action:

Take a few minutes to pray today. You can do it anytime and anywhere – on the playground, in the library, or even on the bus. And if you're not sure what to pray for, you can try this:

Thank God for his unending love. Ask Jesus how you can show his love to others. Ask the Holy Spirit for help and guidance. And then go out and be a joyful disciple!

Closing Prayer:

Loving Father, you sent Jesus, your Son, to be our Saviour. As we follow the way of Christ, keep us faithful to you and forever close to your love. Help us to be joyful disciples as we continue his mission and share the message of your love with the world. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ​

 High School:

 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

CALL TO PRAYER Good morning and welcome to the first day of Catholic Education Week. This year's theme, Living as Joyful Disciples, reminds us that we are called to be disciples and to live out our discipleship joyfully each day. But we know that the path of following Jesus can be challenging at times. The only way we can live out our faith joyfully is if we are rooted in a living, daily relationship with Jesus... if we make the time each day to pray to him, to listen to him, and to commit ourselves to living out that relationship. Prayer is the soil from which real discipleship grows and flourishes. As we begin this Catholic Education Week, we want to be a people who make the time each day to pray; simply, genuinely, and from our hearts. May our prayer open us to the needs of our world and help us to learn God's compassion.

Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. +

OPENING PRAYER God of compassion, you are always close to your people. You know and understand our needs and you lovingly hear our prayers. Help us to trust in your goodness and to come before you with honest and open hearts. Broaden our prayers to include all of our sisters and brothers, and may they contribute to the building up of your Kingdom, for we pray in the Holy name of Jesus our Lord. Amen. +

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:7-12 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to his disciples, "Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you, who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask him? In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets."

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers of the Faithful Reflecting the Needs of Your School

CLOSING PRAYER Lord, at every moment of the day and night, you listen to the prayers of your people. Help us to grow as prayerful people, to know what we ought to pray for, and to offer those prayers in confidence and faith, for you are a tender and loving God, who want your people to serve you with joy. We bring these prayers before you today in the name of Jesus your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.