Opening prayer for school

Here is a collection of opening and closing prayers that can be used
for meetings, sunday school classes, and prayer groups.

Also, we invite you to add your own opening or closing prayers using the form at the bottom of this page.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another ” and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Opening Prayers

Prayer to Open a Meeting

Lord, as we gather today at this meeting we ask that
You will be in our midst. Help us to make decisions that will be
pleasing to You. Help us to be able to discuss the matters at
hand in a reasonable way, and to be willing to give up having our own way.

God let this meeting be productive and, as should be the case
in all areas of our lives, help us to keep You at the forefront of our minds

as we do the work set before us.

Amen

Prayer Before Sunday School

Jesus as we gather together to learn about You,
may You meet us here. Help all of the teachers to be able
to answer the questions posed, and help all of the children
listen and retain what they hear.

Help the students to be attentive, and the teachers
to be patient. May the lessons that are taught help to
instill righteousness in these children, and may the seeds
planted here continue to guide them throughout their lives.

Amen

Teachers Prayer Before Class

You, O God, are my strength, my patience, my light and my counsel.
It is you who make responsive to me the students confided to my care.
Abandon me not to myself for one moment.

For my own conduct and for that of my students, grant me the spirit
of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of knowledge and piety,
the spirit of holy fear of you, and an ardent zeal to procure your glory.

I unite my efforts to those of Jesus Christ, the master teacher,
and I beg all saints in Heaven to assist me in the exercise of my teaching ministry.

Amen

Prepare Our Minds

O God of truth, prepare our minds
To hear and heed your holy word;
Fill every heart that longs for you
With your mysterious presence, Lord.
Almighty Father, with your Son
And blessed Spirit, hear our prayer:
Teach us to love eternal truth
And seek its freedom everywhere.

Amen

Check out our prayer meeting ideas.

Closing Prayers

Prayer to Close a Meeting

As we close this meeting, Lord, we want to give honor to You.
Thank You, God, for the time we had today to discuss issues and make decisions.

May You bless each person who took the time to gather here today and let
Your hand of protection be on them throughout the rest of the week.

Let the work done here tonight come to fruition, and let it all be
for Your glory. Help us each to do our parts to bring the plans discussed to life.

Amen

End of Service Prayer

God we thank You for meeting us here tonight, and for delivering
Your Word through the speaker. May each soul in this place have been
touched through the songs and the preaching, and may each take to heart
the Word that came forth.

We pray that those seeking an answer received it, and that those
who needed a special touch were granted that touch. Bless each of us
and keep us safe until we are able to gather together again.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen

Go Forth

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road.
Go forth without fear, for God who created You has made you holy,
has always protected you, and loves you as a mother.

Amen

The Dismissal

Now go into the world with confidence, trusting that Christ is walking with you.

Amen

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

Read bible verses about Teachers or Missions.

www.praywithme.com

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18 NLT

Instead of back-building worry and anxiety as we attempt to forecast an unknown future, Paul begs us to “Pray about everything in every way you know how!” (Ephesians 6:18 VOICE). Stop to consider what the situations of our daily lives might look like if we paused to pray into them and about them more feverishly. Whether you are starting a business meeting, church service, or family event you can use these prayers to join together to ask God for guidance and blessing.

Prayer can change our situation. It can move the heart of God. And I believe sometimes prayer allows us to understand our situations, rather than affect the outcome. Our hearts change as we seek God’s wisdom and Truth.

King David, living in OT times, did not experience prayer the way we do today. Yet, even He knew that true peace came only from God. In Psalm 3, as he faces yet another terrifying and humiliating season of his life, he chooses to focus on God’s character and faithfulness. “O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.” Psalm 3:1-3 NIV

Here are five powerful opening prayers to help focus our efforts on striving for the peace that transcends all understanding. Use them to begin asking God to bless and guide your time together! 

1. An Opening Prayer for a Meeting

Father,
Thank You for every seat that has been filled here, today. For each mind and heart that fills the presence of this room, we thank You. Only You truly know what we are setting out to accomplish today. We have an idea, a vision, hints, and daily instructions. We have talents, abilities, and time to work. However, only You can see in perfect detail the end of every beginning. Every project, every season, every life. Nothing is ever in vain, for even mistakes and missteps are used for good.

Your righteousness transcends all our efforts and understanding. Forgive us for our pride. The pride that puffs us up and the pride that threatens to unqualify us. Strengthen our confidence in who You have made us to be. Set us free from comparison in order to work together efficiently.

Bless this meeting today, all those present, as well as the lives of those we will encounter afterward. Ready us to make every moment count.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

2. A Prayer to Open an Event

Father,
Praise You for this event, and Your purpose for it. We know that when we gather together, You always have a divine agenda. We love You for that, Father. That even when we have done what You have asked, the results are so much greater than we ever could have imagined. Even in failed attempts, You blow us away with Your faithfulness to provide what we need.

Our prayer today is that Your will be done through this event. Take what we have prepared and multiply our efforts as only You can. Steer our intentions to align with Your righteous will. Remind us of Your faithful provision when our efforts fail us or fall short. May all glory go up to You when we reach the finish line and climb over benchmarks. Blanket us with Your peace today, Father. Keep us physically safe and guard our hearts and minds from pride and selfishness. Keep love at the forefront of our minds today, and the guiding light for all we set out to accomplish and celebrate.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

3. An Opening Prayer for Group Humility and Peace

Father,
As we gather together, we praise You for this day and Your purpose for it. Reset our agendas, as we sit in Your presence. For You assure us that where two or more gather in Your name You are here. Recalibrate our intentions and refocus our hearts. Your will for our lives does not always reflect our plans. Change them to reflect Your will. Help us to understand that we don’t need full clarity to walk into the unique purpose You’ve inlaid in our lives.

Lift our eyes to seek You first today, and always, surrendering our need to achieve, understand, and be known. Shift our perspective to seek Your peace above all else. In every situation we ponder in our daily lives, let the Holy Spirit translate Your commands. Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. Forgive us for striving beyond our means, worrying, and forcing results.

Only You know what lies ahead. You are our good Father, just and righteous. Though our circumstances will be unfair from time to time in this life, You are always our unwavering protector and shield (Psalm 3:3). Keep the words of King David fresh in our minds, and renew our hearts to the tune of Your truth.“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Psalm 3:5 NIV Let Your peace rain down on us today, as we seek You more than anything else.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

4. A Prayer for Group Peace and Understanding

Father,
As the events of the day continue to unfold, we seek Your clarity and Your peace. We know You are with us and for us as we gather together to seek Your counsel. Scripture reminds us the more we seek You the more we will find You. Lead our surrendered hearts to the path of Your peace today.

Come fully into our situation, both as a group and individually. And sort out the muddled feelings and distorted thoughts that plague us. Cover us with a blanket of honesty and patience that is not of this world.

Holy Spirit, translate our desires and pleadings, and may we understand the faithful response of our great Father. Jesus walked the earth to explain so much to us, and to save us from eternal suffering. Yet, on this earth He promised us that we would encounter much pain.

Struggling for solutions amidst differing personalities can seem impossible. Thankfully, we are not expected to be perfect. Thankfully, we’re told in the Bible that we will all fall short. So, as we sit here today, let us release the bind of blame in exchange for accord. Help us to endure disagreement and strife with godly courage and love. Grant us peace in knowing we are pursuing Your purpose for our lives.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

5. A Prayer to Glorify God after Group Success

Father,
We are here today to celebrate great success! In a world full of chaos and calamity, we are embracing a moment of triumph in Your name and for Your glory. Once again, we have experienced the miracle of Your sustenance, as King David so appropriately penned in Psalm 4:7: “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.”

Father, our hearts, the very center of our humanity and our souls, are filled by You. In extreme emotion, this indescribable feeling is even more pronounced. We are aware that we could not see this great success come to fruition without the individual purpose You have put in each person here today. Thank You for bringing us together to accomplish this great feat for Your glory, though the odds were stacked against us as they often are.   

Guard our hearts from pride and selfish gain as we celebrate today. Let it fuel our faith in You as our provider and our sustainer. Filler of our hearts. May all glory for our achievements go up to You today and always.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ on her blog, She is a stay-at-home mom, freelance writer, blogger, and preparing to release her first book, “Friends with Everyone.” She resides in Northern Ohio with her husband of eleven years, two daughters, and their Golden-doodle.

This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.

Prayer for Employment

Prayer for HealingPrayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night Prayers

Now available is our new Daily Prayer devotional! An easy way to start your day with prayer; read today’s prayer and sign up to receive it by email.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Samuel Martins

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The prayers below are freely available for non-profit evangelization purposes.
Please use and adapt them as you see fit.

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Categories (in alphabetical order)
Adult Faith
Blessings and Special Prayers
Bereavement Prayers
Bullying & Safe Schools
Children’s Prayers
Dignity
French Language Prayers
New:  Graduation
New:  Grace Before Meals
New:  Indigenous Peoples
Justice
Leadership
Life (Prayers for)
Mary
Mercy
Natural Disasters
New Evangelization
Peace
New:  Priests
Professional Activity
Retirement
Retreats
New:  Sacraments
School Council Activity
School Improvement & Safe Schools
Special Education & Special Needs
Stewardship
Strategic Planning
Teacher Inservice/Orientation
New:  Traditional Catholic Prayers
Unity
Virtues
Vocation
Wellness

NEW:  What Makes an Effective Prayer Service?
(One page overview of how to put together an effective prayer service for use in our Catholic schools. Explains individual parts with helpful diagram to illustrate how they fit together.)
NEW:   School Mass Planning Template
(Recommended for staff members planning school Masses, adapted from template in EOCCC’s Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools)

Adult Faith – Prayers, Reflection Exercises and Links

The Door of Faith

(Prayer for Catholic educators/leadership at the start of the Year of Faith)Faith, Professionalism and Wellness(5 minute prayer service to open a PA session or day) Our Journey in Faith(Prayer to open board wide school council gathering)Educating in the Light of Faith(Suitable for Inservice/New Teacher Induction)The Gift of Faith(Prayer service to celebrate the virtue of Faith)Disciples and Citizens(Opening Prayer, TPA Inservice, Curriculum Inservice, Staff or Leadership Meeting)RCCDSB Adult Faith Resource PageRCCDSB Year of Faith Resource Page

Blessings and Special Prayers

New:  Blessing for a New Day Care
New:  Blessing for Crucifixes

(Suitable where crucifixes are being blessed for new school or given out for special purpose. Adapted from various blessings for religious articles)Commissioning Prayer for School Council Chairs(Suitable for use during Mass or as part of a prayer service)Ground-breaking for a New School Prayer ServiceBlessing of Land for a New School(Included in Ground-breaking prayer above, can be used alone)Morning Offering(Composed by Mr. Tony Contant’s class at St. James Catholic School, Eganville)Blessing of Rosaries and Commissioning Prayer for New StaffPrayers for a Priest Who Has DiedPrayer to Bless a New Play StructureChildren’s Prayer Links(Loyola Press website)

Bereavement Prayers

Prayers for a Priest Who Has Died
New:  Prayer for Member of School Community Who Has Died
(Suitable for staff or whole school use; you may wish to include parish priest, if available)

Prayer Service for a Colleague Who has Died
(Earlier version of above prayer. Suitable for staff use)Prayer for a Friend/Colleague Who has Died
(Closing prayer from above prayer service)Catholic Funerals and Eulogies, the Pall and the Flag
(CCCB, 2006.  Explains why Funeral Mass is not proper place for eulogy, and how deceased person may be appropriately remembered during the Mass and homily. Also explains the significance of the pall – reminder of Baptism, new life in resurrected Christ – and flag )Suggested Readings for a Catholic Funeral(From St. John the Baptist Catholic parish, Brighton, MN.  Links to readings are from American NAB translation.  A funeral service in Canada should use the NRSV translation in the Canadian lectionary. Nevertheless, still a good reference list – both for funerals and school memorial services/prayer services)

Bullying and Safe Schools

RCCDSB Resource Package, Reverencing the Dignity of All

(Bullying Awareness Week  AM announcements and prayers, classroom exercises)Scripture Reflections Around Bullying Issues(Anti-bullying prayer service can be built around these reflections.)

Children’s Prayers

Children’s Prayer Links
(Loyola Press website)

Dignity

NEW:  RCCDSB 2018-19 Board Theme Prayer, Reverencing the Dignity of the Whole Person
NEW:Leading With Reverence for the Gift of One Another
(Leadership meeting prayer service based on RCCDSB 2018-19 Board Theme, Reverence the Dignity of the Whole Person)
NEW: Holy Respect for the Children of God
(Leadership meeting prayer service based on RCCDSB 2018-19 Board Theme, Reverence the Dignity of the Whole Person)

French Language Prayers

Various French Language Prayers
(From website of Office Provincial de l’Éducation de la foi Catholique de l’Ontario )

Viens Allons Prier! Quand la prière résonne dans les murs de la famille…et de la vie… (Organisme catholique pour la vie et famille, 2001.  Good collection of basic French language prayers see page 5 and page 6)

New:  Grace Before Meals

NEW:  Grace Before Meals
(Suitable for gatherings of Catholic educators, persons in pastoral ministry)

New:  Graduation

End of School Year Prayer of the Faithful
(Suitable for end of year school Mass or prayer service)

Graduation Prayer ServiceSome Graduation Thoughts (Ideas that might help preparing address to graduating students)

Looking Back and Looking Ahead: The Value of Friendship (End-of-year student reflection sheet and prayer exercise on the subject of friendship)

Indigenous Peoples

New:  Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle

(From OLGC website: Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous people, bishops, lay movements, clergy, and institutes of consecrated life, engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Site also has various prayers in Indigenous languages, Indigenous prayers in English)
New:  Orange Shirt Week School Morning Announcements & Prayers:  Sept 25-29, 2017
(A week of announcements, prayers, reflections and links to prepare for Orange Shirt Day as follow-up to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission).New:  Prayer for Truth and Reconciliation(Prayer of repentance and solidarity with Indigenous Peoples following Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission)RCCDSB Kateri Tekakwitha Page
RCCDSB World Religions Page – Scroll down to “Indigenous Spirituality” section.

Justice

Litany of Witnesses to God’s Justice

Leadership Prayers

NEW: Praying the Legacy of St. Patrick, Missionary for Christ
(Short prayer service reflecting on how leaders in Catholic education are called to follow St. Patrick’s example of evangelization today. Easily adapted for staff use.)
NEW:  Holy Respect for the Children of God
(Leadership meeting prayer service based on RCCDSB 2018-19 Board Theme, Reverence the Dignity of the Whole Person)
NEW: Leading With Reverence for the Gift of One Another
(Suitable for opening PA Day, PLC, Retreat)
New:  Maintaining Relevance Today, Tomorrow and Into the Future
(Prayer for Catholic Educational staff and leaders on the ongoing relevance of Catholic education for today’s world)

New:  Walking Forward Together. Prayer for Leaders in our Catholic Educational Community (Liturgy of the word to open a daytime meeting of leaders in local Catholic educational community, including clergy or parent councils, administrators, senior admin etc., with focus on dialogue, honouring one another’s gifts, and walking forward together)

Ste. Marguerite: Model for Leaders in Catholic Education (Prayer service begins with brief life of Ste Marguerite d’Youville, followed by Gospel, reflection, prayer of faithful, closing prayer. Suitable for board leadership team or directors council meeting. Prayer composed for Memorial of Ste. Marguerite, Oct 16, but easily adapted for use at other times)

Integrating the Catholic Faith Through Critical Analysis of the Arts, Media and Technology (Prayer for Catholic Educators to begin school year, focusing on integrating Catholic faith through a critical analysis of the arts, media & technology)

Leadership in Demanding Times (Prayer service with brief adult faith reflection on leadership. Suitable to open leadership meeting)

April prayer in preparation for Catholic Education Week: “Leading in the Light of Christ” (Adapted from OCSTA CEW 2012 Advance Kit)

A New Year of Leading and Serving (Prayer service for leaders in Catholic schools at the beginning of a new calendar year)

Prayer for Leaders in Catholic EducationWaiting in the Upper Room Staff Prayer ServiceServant Leadership Prayer ServiceLiving and Working as Church

Life (Prayers to Support Life)

New: Thank You for the Gift of Me
(Suitable for the end of Theme Three unit in the Fully Alive Program)

Prayer for Life (Prayer service to be used before Relay for Life or other activities in support of life)

Prayer for Life by Pope John Paul II

Mary

New:  Fatima 100 Year Anniversary Morning Prayers: Wed Oct 11, Thurs Oct 12, Fri Oct 13, 2017
(Each day briefly recounts events leading up to and including Fatima apparitions, their messages, Miracle of the Sun, and finishes with a prayer.)

New:  Following Jesus With Mary (Prayer service to open a PA Day, PLC or staff meeting. Reflects on the role of Mary in early Church and in our lives.)

Prayer to Our Lady Before a Staff Meeting
Prayer to Mary, Mother of Hope (Adapted from longer prayer in Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation on Jesus Christ Alive in His Church, the Source of Hope for Europe , 2003)

Teaching the Rosary to High School Students (From Engagingfaith.blogspot.com Practical advice for teaching the Rosary, with helpful links resources related to Mary)

Marian Prayers
(Good online collection of classical, papal, litany, novena and other Marian prayers from the University of Dayton’s Mary Prayer Page)
Rosary and Living Rosary Outlines
(See October and May sections of Monthly/Seasonal Prayer Page)

Adult Faith Presentations on Mary (See Adult Faith Page, under “Mary”)

Mercy

NEW:  Living God’s Mercy
(Prayer highlighting our call to be the merciful hands and feet of Jesus. Suitable for elementary and secondary use.)

Natural Disasters

Renfrew County CDSB Resources

Day of Hope Prayer ServiceCatechism Selections for Addressing Questions Arising From DisastersAlgonquin & Lakeshore CDSB ResourcesALCDSB Resources (Fifteen pages of helpful prayer resources and readings in response to disasters)

Prayer Service of Solidarity (In Light of  Tsunami Disaster)
Sudbury CDSB Prayers
Prayers for Victims of Hurricane Katrina (adaptable to other circumstances)

CARFLEO
CARFLEO Tsunami (2005) ResourcesFrom U.S. Bishops’ ConferencePrayer to Blessed Virgin Mary,Prayer for Intercession of the Saints,Prayer to Blessed TrinityRoman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, IllinoisHurricane Katrina Prayer SuggestionsSolidarity/Relief Effort Pages and Links
Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
Caritas Intarnational

New Evangelization

New:  Putting out into the Deep. A Prayer for Catholic Educators in the New Evangelization
(Suitable for opening a staff meeting, PA day or conference)

Peace

Prayer Service for Peace
(Can be used as commemoration of September 11th or Remembrance Day)

Reflection on Peace

Priests

New:  Prayer Service for a Pastor’s Anniversary of Ordination
(Suitable for elementary, secondary use)
Prayers for a Priest Who Has Died

Professional Activity Prayer Services

New:  Following Jesus With Mary
(Prayer service to open a PA Day, PLC or staff meeting. Reflects on the role of Mary in early Church and in our lives.)

New:  You Are the Light of the World
(Short prayer service to open PA day, staff, leadership or school council meeting)
New:  Claiming our Role as Global Stewards: Closing the Gaps (Short prayer service to begin Oct 11, 2013 PA Day, suitable for PLC/Staff Meeting)

 Planting in Hope, Nurturing in Love
(Short prayer service to begin a PA day, PLC or Staff Meeting)
 Faith, Professionalism and Wellness
(5 minute prayer service to open a PA session or day)
Wellness Caring for God’s Temple
(Suitable for opening a PA day or staff inservice)
Making a Difference in our Catholic Schools
(20-30 minute prayer service to open a PA day – can involve 20 or more participants)

The Gift of Catholic Curriculum (One page prayer service suitable for opening a curriculum inservice meeting)

Educating in Christian Hope (1 page opening prayer for Curriculum inservice or PA Day)

Learning Together in Wonder and Awe (Prayer Service to open Professional Activity Day, PLC, Staff Meeting)

Servant Leadership Prayer Service (Prayer service for leaders in Catholic school systems)

Tending the Fertile Ground of the Heart (Opening Prayer Staff Meeting, PLC, PA Day)

Teaching and Learning in the Spirit (Opening Prayer suitable for PA day or inservice)

Retirement

Prayer for Retiring Cleaning Staff Member

Retreat Prayers and Outlines

Nurturing the Seeds of the Kingdom
(Prayer to Invoke Holy Spirit at start of a staff retreat)

Staff Twilight Retreat Outline (From EOCCC’s Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools)

Confirmation
Confirmation Retreat Opening Prayer

Confirmation Retreat Closing Prayer (Can be shortened/simplified to suit needs)

Daily Prayer to the Holy Spirit
(For student use in preparation for receiving Sacrament of Confirmation)

Sacraments

Confirmation
New:  Confirmation Mass Prayer of the Faithful Intentions

Confirmation Retreat Opening PrayerConfirmation Retreat Closing Prayer (Can be shortened/simplified to suit needs)

Daily Prayer to the Holy Spirit
(For student use in preparation for receiving Sacrament of Confirmation)

School Council Prayers

New:  You Are the Light of the World
(Short prayer service to open PA day, staff, leadership or school council meeting)

New:  Commissioning Prayer for School Council Chairs
(Suitable for use during Mass or as part of a prayer service)
New:  Planning the Road Ahead in our Catholic Schools
(Prayer service regional school council gathering, suitable for strategic planning)
Stewards of God’s Gifts
(Prayer service to open board wide school council gathering)
 Our Journey in Faith (Prayer to open board wide school council gathering)

Charting the Future in Challenging Times
(From School Council Professional Development Evening)

Building a Culture of Wisdom and Peace (Opening Prayer for School Council Gathering)

Catholic Schools:  Educating the Soul (Opening Prayer for School Council Gathering)

Catholic Schools:  Educating the Soul in a Tecnhological Age (Opening Prayer for School Council Gathering)

School Improvement and Safe Schools Prayers

School Improvement and Safe Schools Planning Prayer
(Safe Schools PA day opening prayer)

Catholic Schools:  Safe Places to Grow (Prayer service for school improvement planning, safe schools and student achievement PA days)

Special Education & Special Needs

New:  Special Olympics Opening Prayer

Embracing the Road to Independence (Prayer service to open PA day for EAs and ECEs working with special needs students)

Helpers on the Road to Independence (Prayer service to open PA day for EAs and ECEs working with special needs students)

Prayer for Assistive Technology Teachers
(Prayer before working with students using AT)
Ephthata – Be Opened (Prayer service for special needs educators inservice)

Every Educator a Special Educator (Prayer to begin Special Education inservice or PA Day)

See Also Jan Bentham’s Prayers:
A Prayer for Our Special Children (Prayer asking God’s blessings on our Special Needs Students and those who care for them)

A Tale of a Good Samaritan Teacher (A Parable for Teachers based on Luke 10)

Stewardship Prayers

Stewardship Prayer

Stewardship of God’s Gifts (One page prayer service to begin a PA day)

Stewards of God’s Gifts (Prayer service to open board wide school council gathering)

Strategic Planning

Planning the Road Ahead.  A Prayer for Strategic Planning in our Catholic School Board
(Prayer service to open a strategic planning session for Board Parent Involvement Council)

Planning the Road Ahead in our Catholic Schools (Prayer service regional school council gathering, suitable for strategic planning – slightly adapted from prayer above)

Teacher Inservice/Orientation Prayers

New:  Following Jesus With Mary
(Prayer service to open a PA Day, PLC or staff meeting. Reflects on the role of Mary in early Church and in our lives.)
New:  You Are the Light of the World
(Short prayer service to open PA day, staff, leadership or school council meeting)

Bringing the Light of Christ’s Gospel to the World (New Employee Orientation session opening prayer – easily adaptable to other staff gatherings)

Servants of the Good News (Opening Prayer for Staff PA Day/NTIP/Leadership)

Fostering a Eucharistic Life (Opening Prayer for Inservice/Staff or Leadership Meeting)

Disciples and Citizens (Opening Prayer, TPA Inservice, Curriculum Inservice, Staff or Leadership Meeting)

Reaching out Through our Distinctive and Inclusive Story (Easily adapted as staff prayer for a variety of occasions)

Labourers in a Wondrous Harvest (Suitable for opening a teacher inservice or professional activity for teachers/administrators)

A Year of Growth and Blessings (Prayer for end-of-year new teacher inservice)

Educating in the Light of Faith (Suitable for Inservice/New Teacher Induction)

New:  Traditional Catholic Prayers

Unity

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Announcements, 2014
(Morning announcements adapted from resources posted on Vatican’s website)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Announcements 2011
(From Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 2011.  These daily prayer services can also be used individually as prayers for unity among Christians on other occasions)

Virtues

Faith
New:  Daily Morning Announcements for Monthly Virtues
New:  Theological Virtue of Faith Morning Announcements
(Short daily reflections on some aspect of virtue with practical application to school life, ending with prayer. Targeted for elementary, easily adapted for secondary use.)
The Gift of Faith

(Prayer service to celebrate the theological virtue of Faith)Hope

Educating in Christian Hope

(1 page opening prayer for Curriculum inservice or PA Day)Planting in Hope, Nurturing in Love(Short prayer service to begin a PA day, PLC or Staff Meeting)Day of Hope Prayer Service
(Prayer service for natural disasters)

Rejoicing in Hope
(Prayer to celebrate gifts of Joy and Hope in Catholic Schools)
Love 
NEW: Prayer to Celebrate Love and Family

(Prayer service for Catholic schools)

The Virtue of Love
(2 page school prayer service on the virtue of love)
More virtues-related resources on Virtues, Equity & Inclusivity Page

Vocation

NEW:  Prayer for My Vocation
(Suitable for use with career day/retreat)

Wellness

Prayers/Prayer Services
NEW:  Morning Wellness Prayer

NEW:  Prayer Before a Wellness Activity (Quick prayer to begin wellness workshop/activity.  Suitable for elementary, secondary and adult use)

NEW:  Joy and the Wellness of God’s Peace
(Suitable for all levels. Originally composed as part of RCCDSB Wellness Week package. This version is updated with minor changes)

Wellness Caring for God’s Temple

(Suitable for opening a PA day or staff inservice)
Caring for the Temple
(A practical reflection on what it means to care for the temple of ourselves)
Faith, Professionalism and Wellness
(5 minute prayer service to open a PA session or day)

Additional Wellness Resources (from Adult Faith Page)
Adult Faith Reflection
Bringing our Lives to the Altar

(Printable reflection sheet invites users to review where God has been seeking them out during the week, and to unite their lives with the gifts of bread and wine brought to the altar at the Offertory of the Mass. Recommended for use with Simplified Overview of the Mass.)

Prayer:  An Active Encounter With God (One page graphic illustration of how prayer arises from the encounter between the Blessed Trinity’s overflowing communion of love and the ordinary events of our lives. God reaches out and we respond).

The Healing Power of Jesus in My Life (Invites us to look at how Jesus heals and empowers us to be agents of His healing for one another, using the story of Jesus’ healing of the paralytic person in Lk 5, 17-25)

Reflecting on our Adult Faith. Ten Modules for Individual or Group Reflection (Suitable as part of school staff meeting or part of twilight retreat)

Hope and Joy
Biblical Quotes About Hope and Joy (Six pages of quotes from the Bible that speak about hope and joy – good for individual reflection/meditation)

Image of GodCleansing the Lens:  Letting Scripture Speak to our Image of God (Provides some key terms to helping understand what the Bible says about God, with scriptural quotes for meditation and reflection)

Images of a Healing God in Scripture – Letting Scripture Heal our Image of God
(Outline for 1-2 hour workshop outline on healing our image of God based on concepts outlined in Cleansing the Lens resource above)

Indigenous SpiritualityKateri Television (Twelve videos produced by Villagers Media for Canadian Catholic Aboriginal communities.

Topics covered: How we teach, commuity healing, reconciliation, healing of addictions, a gift to the Church, social justice.)

Program One. Medicine Wheel Healing: How it StartsProgram Two. Medicine Wheel and Christian FaithProgram Three. Medicine Wheel Spirituality: A Gift to the ChurchProgram Four. Medicine Wheel:  A Way of LifeProgram Five.  Medicine Wheel: How We TeachProgram Six. Medicine Wheel: Healing & Reconciliation & Social JusticeProgram Seven.  Medicine Wheel as Pastoral MinistryProgram Eight  Medicine Wheel:  ReconciliationProgram Nine.  Medicine Wheel: Community HealingProgram Ten. Medicine Wheel: Healing of AddictionsProgram Eleven.  Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of HopeProgram Twelve.  St. Kateri Takakwitha: A Healer’s SaintThe Legacy of Kateri Tekakwitha (YouTube video about St. Kateri and other North American saints and holy people)

Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina Simplified Overview & Opening PrayerPrayer Before Lectio Divina (Short prayer to pray before Lectio Divina exercise)

Lectio Divina – Template  (An outline for the ancient exercise of praying God’s word)

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religiouseducation.rccdsb.edu.on.ca

Lord Jesus, we ask for Your help as we begin this new school year. Allow us to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before us. Open our eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school year brings. Open our heart and mind to new friends and new teachers. Give us a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with our studies and courage to accept new opportunities. Help us to be attentive to one another and let us experience Your presence in our new friends. Jesus, inspire us to do our best this year! Amen

Lord, Give us insight to see realistically “what is”; but make us dreamers and give us vision of all the possibilities for “what can be.” Use us as your instruments to form, inform, reform, and transform those who come to us. We ask this in your name, Jesus Christ. Amen

Loving Creator, Map your goals for us in our hearts. Make our classrooms oases in the busy world. Make them places of warmth and trust. May our affirmation of our students enable them to know that their opinion counts. Free them to stretch themselves as they seek holistic growth in a safe, nurturing, Christian environment. Amen

Dearest Father in Heaven, Bless us all and bless this day of new beginnings. Smile upon this staff and student body, And surround us, Lord, with the soft mantle of your love. Teach this community to follow in your footsteps, And to live life in the ways of Love, faith, hope and charity. We ask this through your name, Jesus Christ… Amen

God, I am not sure if you really exist. Accept me with all my doubts and fears and show yourself to me in such a way that I can somehow move forward. Show yourself to me as love, Show yourself to me as forgiveness Show yourself to me as new life, as the promise of a new beginning. Amen

Lord God, You are a global God. Grace us and grace our students with global vision in our mission to spread your love. May we be trailblazers as we bring that “touch of magic,” that touch of your love, to those we meet each day. We make this prayer in your name, Jesus Christ. Amen

Loving Father: Make us feeling people, who empathize with the many emotions which pervade our buildings each day. May we harness the energy of those feelings and use it in building a learning community of students, faculty, administrators, staff, and parents within the nurturing environment of our schools and homes. Amen

May the blessing of the Holy Trinity go with us today. May God’s strength keep us secure. May Christ our true Wisdom guide our learning. May the Holy Spirit make us glad and good. May the enfolding of the Trinity hold us and bring us, at day’s end, safely home.  Amen.

Lord, keep us strong so that we can carry out your works: feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, clothing the naked and being a voice for those who suffer persecution. Bless us this year, so that we may all experience rich friendships, authentic success, and purpose in all we do. Amen

Lord God, In our work as Catholic students and teachers, let us reach out to all, remembering that anonymity is not acceptable for anyone in our communities. May we live our lives so that people recognize you in us…so that wearing the cross would not be incongruous to those who know us. May those in our schools be “pearls” to us, valued for the unique beauty they bring to our communities. Amen

Creator God, May our lives be quilted together in love made visible, as we laugh, love, labour, and learn together. Enliven our spirits that our inner beings may give form and strength to all we do. Finally, grant that we who serve in Catholic schools may love you much, may love one another, and may never forget why we came! Amen.

Loving God, Look upon these students. Let them enjoy their learning and take delight in new discoveries. Help them to persevere in their studies and give them the desire to learn all things well.  Look upon these teachers. Let them strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience and endeavour always to bring the truth to eager minds. Grant that students and teachers alike may follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, forever and ever. Amen

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