18 June 2023 - 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time - prayers of the faithful

Introduction: We now return to Ordinary Time in our Sunday liturgies.  We will stay in Ordinary Time until we begin the holy season of Advent.  In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus tell his disciples: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.”  Let us prayerfully consider how Jesus is calling each one of us to be one of those laborers today. 

Lord Jesus - you are the source of holiness - Lord have mercy. 

Christ Jesus - you are the sign of everlasting peace - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - through your death and resurrection, you bring us healing and new life - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: Jesus’ heart is moved to pity when he sees the crowds.  May our hearts also be moved with compassion and empathy for our brothers and sisters in need as we present our prayers to God, the source of mercy and love: 

1. For the Church, that we may be laborers for the harvest, dedicated to the mission of proclaiming God’s kingdom and bringing God’s love to those in need, we pray to the Lord. 

2. That our governmental leaders may lead us in acts of justice and atonement.  May we work toward overcoming oppression, discrimination, and racism.  We pray to the Lord. 

3. For fathers, grandfathers, fathers-to-be, and all men who have fathered and nurtured children in their care, that they receive the blessings of God’s love from their families this weekend as we celebrate Father’s day, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For all who are troubled, lonely, or abandoned.  For all who feel like sheep without a shepherd.  May they know the love of Christ, the Good Shepherd.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. For those who are discerning the call to serve in lay or ordained ministry.  For our seminarians and deacon candidates.  We pray to the Lord. 

6. For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed.  For healing for the sick and the shut-in.  We pray to the Lord. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.  For our prayer intentions, spoken and unspoken.  We pray to the Lord.  

Priest: God of the eternal covenant, your draw us toward you.  Grant us the grace to serve those in need and to continue the ministry of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, for he is our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN.