2021 World Day of Peace Prayer Service, a Culture of Care as a Path to Peace December 31, 2020 at 11 am - Saint Mary Magdalene Parish

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2021 World Day of Peace Prayer Service, a Culture of Care as a Path to Peace
December 31, 2020 at 11 am

Opening Prayer: Pope Francis Prayer for Peace
Lord God of peace hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own
powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we
experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how
many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of
peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!";
"With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve
peace.
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to
live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to
see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of
our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our
trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for
dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words
"division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord,
defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the
word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that
of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen.

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Excerpts from Pope Francis Message for the 54th World Day of Peace, January 1, 2021

                              A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace

The year 2020 was marked by the massive Covid-19 health crisis, which became a global
phenomenon cutting across boundaries, aggravating deeply interrelated crises like those of the
climate, food, the economy and migration, and causing great suffering and hardship. I think
especially of all those who lost family members or loved ones, and all who lost their jobs. I
think too of physicians and nurses, pharmacists, researchers, volunteers, chaplains and the
personnel of hospitals and healthcare centres. They have made, and are continuing to make,
great sacrifices to be present to the sick, to alleviate their sufferings and to save their lives;
indeed, many of them have died in the process. In paying tribute to them, I renew my appeal to
political leaders and the private sector to spare no effort to ensure access to Covid-19
vaccines and to the essential technologies needed to care for the sick, the poor and those who
are most vulnerable.

Sad to say, alongside all these testimonies of love and solidarity, we have also seen a surge in
various forms of nationalism, racism and xenophobia, and wars and conflicts that bring only
death and destruction in their wake.

These and other events that marked humanity’s path this past year have taught us how
important it is to care for one another and for creation in our efforts to build a more fraternal
society. That is why I have chosen as the title of this year’s Message, A Culture of Care as a
Path to Peace. A culture of care as a way to combat the culture of indifference, waste and
confrontation so prevalent in our time.

Care in the ministry of Jesus

Jesus’ life and ministry represent the supreme revelation of the Father’s love for humanity (cf.
Jn 3:16). In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus showed himself to be the one consecrated by
the Lord and “sent to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Lk 4:18). In his
compassion, Christ drew near to the sick in body and spirit and brought them healing; he
pardoned sinners and gave them new life. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for his
sheep (cf. Jn 10:11-18; Ezek 34:1-31). He is the Good Samaritan who stoops to help the
injured man, binds his wounds and cares for him (cf. Lk 10:30-37).

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A culture of care in the life of Jesus’ followers

The spiritual and corporal works of mercy were at the heart of charity as practised by the early
Church. The first generation of Christians shared what they had, so that no one among them
would be in need (cf. Acts 4:34-35). They strove to make their community a welcoming home,
concerned for every human need and ready to care for those most in need. It became
customary to make voluntary offerings in order to feed the poor, bury the dead and care for
orphans, the elderly and victims of disasters like shipwrecks.

There can be no peace without a culture of care

The culture of care thus calls for a common, supportive and inclusive commitment to protecting
and promoting the dignity and good of all, a willingness to show care and compassion, to work
for reconciliation and healing, and to advance mutual respect and acceptance. As such, it
represents a privileged path to peace. “In many parts of the world, there is a need for paths of
peace to heal open wounds. There is also a need for peacemakers, men and women prepared
to work boldly and creatively to initiate processes of healing and renewed encounter”.
At a time like this, when the barque of humanity, tossed by the storm of the current crisis,
struggles to advance towards a calmer and more serene horizon, the “rudder” of human dignity
and the “compass” of fundamental social principles can enable us together to steer a sure
course. May we work together to advance towards a new horizon of love and peace, of
fraternity and solidarity, of mutual support and acceptance. May we never yield to the
temptation to disregard others, especially those in greatest need, and to look the other
way; instead, may we strive daily, in concrete and practical ways, “to form a community
composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another”.

Reflection & Faith Sharing

How can I be a bridge builder to peace in 2021?

How can our community be one that accepts and cares for one another?

How can our Church promote a culture of care?

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Prayers of the Faithful for the Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities

Gathered in joyful hope, we offer our prayers to God, who creates hearts to love.

Please respond: Lord bring your justice and peace.

For the grace to see every human being as a child of God, regardless of race, language or
culture. We pray...

For an end to the violence perpetrated by harsh words, deadly weapons, or cold indifference.
May our homes, our nation, and countries around the world become havens of peace. We
pray…

For our public officials, that they will strive to work for fair education, adequate housing, and
equal opportunities for employment for all. We pray...

For an end to the Covid virus and pandemic, that God will help the human family to develop
immunity, and guide all who are administering the vaccines. We pray…

For the wisdom to receive the stories and experiences of those different from ourselves and to
respond with respect. . We pray...

For the strength to teach our children how to resolve differences non-violently and respectfully,
and the courage to model it in our own behavior. . We pray...

That those who have been robbed of innocence and joy by the abuse of others, especially
those sexually abused by the clergy of our Diocese throughout the years, may find the love of
the Good Shepherd in all who care for them, we pray to the Lord.

For the courage to have difficult conversations about racism, sexism, the LGBTQ Community,
rape, physical and sexual abuse, politics, sex and sexuality, and for a better appreciation of
how our words and actions – or even our silence – can impact our communities. We pray…

For our parish, that we may cultivate welcome, extend hospitality, and encourage the
participation of people of all cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We pray…

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious
to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen

Lord’s Prayer

Sign of Peace

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Closing Prayer: An Ecumenical Christian Prayer

O God, Trinity of love,
from the profound communion of your divine life,
pour out upon us a torrent of fraternal love.
Grant us the love reflected in the actions of Jesus,
in his family of Nazareth,
and in the early Christian community.

Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel,
discovering Christ in each human being,
recognizing him crucified
in the sufferings of the abandoned
and forgotten of our world,
and risen in each brother or sister
who makes a new start.

Come, Holy Spirit, show us your beauty,
reflected in all the peoples of the earth,
so that we may discover anew
that all are important and all are necessary,
different faces of the one humanity
that God so loves. Amen.

Video of “Prayer of St. Francis Hymn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWi-Plu0WbA\