WUCWO DAY OF PRAYER

ASIA PACIFIC REGION

13th May 2012

THEME: “GO NOW YOU ARE SENT FORTH”

OPENING HYMN: HOLY SPIRIT COME

Holy Spirit come, make my ears to hear,

Make my eyes to see, make my mouth to speak,

Make my heart to seek and my hands to each out

and touch the world with your love.

READING: Matthew 13: Verses 16 – 21

But blessed are your eyes for they can see and your ears because they hear. Amen, I say to you many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Hear then the parable of the sower. The seeds sown on the path are the ones who hear the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy but he has no root and only lasts for a time.

PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND COMMITMENT OF WUCWO MEMBERS

Leader: Lord, You call and commission us “To go out and live what we proclaim.”

All: Yes Lord, we come to do your will in our home, parish, country and the world as Catholic Women as we live out our Faith and LOVE in action.

PRAYERS of Intercession: To be read by a participant

RESPONSE: LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

Prayer: Lord, send your Holy Spirit upon us so that we may be open and courageous to do your will.

Response: Lord hear our prayer

Prayer: We pray for our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, our bishops, priests, deacons and all baptized people that they be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to be faithful to their call.

Response: Lord hear our prayer

Prayer: We pray for our world, country, village and organisation leaders that through the power of the Holy Spirit they will be strengthened and given the courage to serve all people.

Response: Lord hear our prayer

Prayer: We pray for all Catholic Women to be ambassadors of their faith in our troubled society and world.

Response: Lord hear our prayer

Hymn: Hymn to the Holy Spirit to be chosen by group

READING OF THE WORD: LUKE 5: Verses 2-5

The call of Simon, the Fisherman

He saw two boats alongside the lake, the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking he said to Simon.”Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”

WE ARE TAUGHT BY HIS WORD

Short Reflection:

“Put out into the deep water and lower nets for a catch.” Jesus spoke these words to Simon.

Through the Gospel Jesus continues to call and invite us to follow him.

This is commissioning to service and sacrifice done when we put Jesus as the Centre of our Lives.

What is MY response?

During baptism the priest who baptised me anointed me with chrism and said “I claim you for Christ.”

At my confirmation the bishop said “I seal you with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, you are now Christ’s witness to the world.”

Am I really like Mother Mary to say “YES” and trust that God will help and provide me in what I do so as to live out the testimony of ‘LOVE IN ACTION?’

COMMUNITY PRAYER: ISAIAH 61: Verses 1 – 3

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken-hearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.

To announce a year of a favour from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God to comfort all who mourn.

To place all those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes.

To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning a glorious mantle instead of listless spirit.

They will be called oaks of justice, planted by the Lord to show his glory.

PRAYER TO MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE, PATRONESS OF WUCWO.

O Loving God, your Son, Jesus, came into this world to do your will and leave us His peace.

Through the intercession and example of our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, grant us the wisdom and humility to reflect that peace to the world.

Inspire our thoughts, words and deeds to bear witness to your presence in our hearts.

May your Holy Spirit fill us with every grace and blessing

so that we may pursue what leads to peace for all humanity.

Amen.

FINAL HYMN

(Suggestion: “Prayer of Saint Francis” or Hymn to Mary, Queen of Peace.)

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

Hymn to Mary, Queen of Peace

Patroness of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO)

Common Meter 86 86

may be sung to the tune used for Amazing Grace

Most gracious Mary, Queen of Peace,

embrace us with your love.

May our desire sincerely be

to praise our God above.

Implore for us the Spirit’s gifts

to follow in your way.

Let wisdom and humility

guide all we do and say.

In confidence we witness Christ,

whose truth has set us free.

May we pursue what leads to peace

for all humanity.

Prepared by Catholic Women’s League, Fiji