29 October 2023 - prayers of the faithful - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Central Mississippi Correctional Facility

Introduction: Our Gospel today reminds of the the greatest commandment Jesus calls us to follow, to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Let us renew our commitment to these commandments, resolving to follow them each day. Let us lift up our voices in praise of God, whose greatest commandment is simply to love.

Lord Jesus - you deliver us from the power of evil. 

Christ Jesus - you give us the great commandment of love. 

Lord Jesus - you are the enteral sign of your Father’s love and compassion. 

Priest: God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Let us cry out to God today on our own behalf and behalf of our brothers and sisters: 

1. That the Church may be a model for the world in the way that we care for those in need, feed the hungry, house the homeless, help the unemployed find work, and assist those living in poverty, we pray to the Lord. 

2. For our elected officials, that they may pursue legislation and policies that reduce hunger, homelessness, unemployment, and poverty, we pray to the Lord. 

3. For those who have lost loved ones, for the widows and the orphans, that they may find the love and care that they need, we pray to the Lord. 

4. For those who work tirelessly for those in need, for those who give their time, energy, and spirit to volunteer in the soup kitchen, the shelters, and the prisons.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. For our deceased family members and loved ones, for their entry into eternal life, we pray to the Lord. 

6. For healing of our illnesses and brokenness in body, mind, and spirit. We pray for those who are struggling with addictions, depression, and mental illness, we pray to the Lord.

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

Priest: God of compassion, you hear the cry of the widow, the orphan, and the impoverished.  Grant that we may hear their cries as well and share your compassion with them. Hear our prayers that we make through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.