May 13, 2015
Prepared by North America Region

FAITH is “NOW”! HOPE looks to the future! LOVE binds it all together! JOY AND PEACE to all!
FAITH is the confidence that what we hope for will happen. Pope Benedict XVI stated “faith is for the sake of hope”.
HOPE in a Christian sense is always hope for others as well. We can always continue to hope, despite all failures, held firm by the great power of love.
LOVE blesses the one who receives it and it blesses you, the giver. Love is the key that opens the gate to peace and joy.
PEACE ever new is a JOY which is shared! The Joy of the Gospel is our gift shared by Pope Francis!
Dear sisters, united in God’s great love for us all, we offer our prayers this WUCWO International Day. We come to You, Lord, as members of your great family, as a gathered community in our corner of your earth. In faith and with love, we bring you our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows. We take time to give thanks for the blessings we share, for loving friends and supportive family.
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). Recite the Apostles Creed.
“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” (Romans 13:13).
“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should also love one another. This is how you will know that you are my disciples, is how you have loved one another” (John 13:34-35).

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans15:13).
Women’s Creed Leader:
Women of Faith, what can we bring to the world?
All: We can bring the belief in the goodness and value of women; our strength; our capacity to support each other, instead of being rivals; our capacity to cope with the demands and the burdens of life; our spirituality and our earthiness, flowing with life, birth and death. We can bring a deep respect for our planet earth, because the earth is the source of our food, water, shelter, and clothing. Holy Spirit, guide us as we seek to nurture the earth and all its creatures, to live in the midst of creation, and to love one another as family. Amen
Leader: Women of Hope, what can we bring to the world?
All: We can bring a future of hope, working for the day when we and our sisters are free to use all our gifts and to share in all the benefits of human life and work. We can look forward to a day when all persons are free to accomplish the mission for which they were created. We can look forward to the age of peace, when violence is no more, where women and men are able to love and be loved, and the wealth of our world is justly shared. Jesus, from a young age, followed the will of His Father, preaching and leading people to Him. Our hope is that our youth and young adults have the knowledge, courage and willingness to be the disciples of today, to share God’s message, to know, to love and to serve with youthful zeal. Holy Spirit, bind us all as one, transcending class, color, culture, religion, race, age and gender.
Leader: Women of Love, what can we bring to the world?
All: We can bring love for all life. It is God who gives life, and respects and loves human life, especially the vulnerable, the old and those in the mother’s womb. “All life has inestimable value even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, and are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect”. (Pope Francis) Holy Spirit, lead us to love God’s people so all may live in dignity.
Leader: Women of Peace and Joy, what can we bring to the world?
All: We can bring others joy through the works of justice and mercy. At times this means working to change political systems and, at other times, doing small, good deeds that bring joy. Holy Spirit, symbol of peace and joy, give us the desire and courage to spread that peace and joy to all we meet.
Leader: Heavenly Father, teach us your ways of peace and love. Teach us tolerance, gratitude, forgiveness, and the power of justice. Holy Spirit of Love, we ask for peace in our hearts, our families, our communities, peace within our countries. Bring an end to violence, terrorism, racism, oppression and abuse. Melt our hearts and remove all resentment, greed, vindictiveness and bitterness. Spirit of God, teach us your ways of peace. (Sister Agnes Springer)
All: “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; where there is sadness, joy.”