A Novena of Prayer

before the Ordination of the Bishop of Ferns

 

5th September 2021

 

“With one mind they devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1:14)

 

The occasion of the appointment and ordination of Fr. Ger Nash as the next bishop of Ferns give us an opportunity as a diocesan family to pray for our diocese. 

Each of the nine days will focus on and pray for a particular group in our diocese.  We will also remember and pray for our bishop elect and unite with him in prayer as he prepares in these final days for his ordination.

Above is new bishop’s emblem and motto, which translates, “In the Peace and Companionship of Jesus”.  In these days of prayer, we ask God to grant that our new bishop will, with all the diocesan family, live in the peace and companionship of Jesus.

Please feel free to use this resource.  You may enhance it with other prayers/a decade of the rosary each day, or by remembering any other intentions or prayers you wish to include, in particular those of your parish or community.

 

 

A Prayer for Our Bishop-Elect

God, eternal shepherd,

you tend your Church in many ways and rule us with love.

You have chosen your servant,

Ger to be shepherd of your flock in the Diocese of Ferns.

Give him a spirit of courage and right judgment,

a spirit of knowledge and love.

By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care,

may he build your Church

as a sign of salvation for the world.

We ask this prayer, through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

 

 

Day 1 – For the Diocese of Ferns  (Friday 27th August 2021)

We begin our novena by praying for our diocese and for all the people and communities which make up our diocesan family.

Scripture Reading (Colossians 3:12-13)

You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.

Prayer

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide, bless our diocese of Ferns.  Keep us mindful of your command to love one another.  May we live as a community of faith and bear witness to your love and grace in this world.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

Day 2 – Lay Ministers in the Diocese (Saturday 28th August 2021)

We pray for lay members of our diocesan family who minister in the diocese as Ministers of the Word, of the Eucharist and of Music and for members of Pastoral Councils and all Parish Groups.

Scripture Reading (Ephesians 4:1-3) 

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation.  Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.  Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together.

Prayer

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide, bless all who minister in the parishes, towns and villages in the diocese.  Strengthen their Christian vocation, which is the universal call to holiness, and inspire their endeavours to build up the kingdom of God.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

Day 3 – Priests of the Diocese (Sunday 29th August 2021)

We pray for the priests of the diocese of Ferns.

Scripture Reading (Matthew 5: 13-16)

You are like a light for the whole world.  A city build on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead, he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house.  In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Prayer

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide, bless the priests who minister in our diocese.  Keep them faithful to their priestly vocation and resolute in the ministry to which you have called them.  When they are discouraged, give them hope and pour out your Spirit upon their efforts to build up the Kingdom of God in every place where they minister.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

Day 4 – Religious of the Diocese (Monday 30th August 2021)

We pray for men and women religious who minister in the diocese.

Scripture Reading (Romans 12: 9-13)

Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit.  If you have hope, this will make you cheerful.  Do not give up if trials come and keep on praying.  If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.

Prayer

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide, bless the religious men and women of the diocese.  May they always reveal the love of Christ to those they encounter and continue to enrich our diocese by their dedicated lives of prayer.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

 

Day 5 – For Families in the Diocese (Tuesday 31st August 2021)

We pray for families in our diocese

Scripture Reading (John 19:25-27)

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Prayer

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide, bless the families in our diocese.  Help them in their efforts to be a support to one another, patient and kind, gentle and generous.  Keep them safe in your love and always grateful for the gift of life that they share.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

Day 6 – Young People in the Diocese (Wednesday 1st September 2021)

We pray for young people in our diocese and those who minister to them in schools and youth groups.

Scripture Reading (Ephesians 3: 16-19)

In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God’s holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God. Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

Prayer

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide, bless the young people of our diocese.  May they come to realise that they are the future of our diocese.  Surround them with those who will guide them in life and help them to discern their future.  May they be helped to fulfil the promises made for them at baptism.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

Day 7 – Vocations (Thursday 2nd September 2021)

We pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.

Scripture Reading (Matthew 4: 18–22)

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

Prayer (Diocesan Prayer for Vocations)

God our Father, we trust in your loving kindness.  Bless our Diocese of Ferns with many priestly and religious vocations.  Give the men and women you call the light to understand your gift and the love to follow always in the footsteps of your Son.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

Day 8 – For all in our diocese who are Sick or in Need (Friday 3rd September 2021)

We pray for all who are sick or in any need this day.  We remember all who have suffered in these last years because of the Coronavirus.  For all in our diocese who are pushed to the margins; for all who are wounded and who struggle; and for all who have been hurt by the Church. 

Scripture Reading (Philippians 4:6)

There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. 

Prayer

Eternal God, Shepherd and Guide, we pray for any who are in need at this time and ask that you bring healing to all are still suffering this global pandemic.  Through the command to love our neighbour as ourselves, may we minister to all who suffer and are burdened down by life.  May we search for them and find them, show them compassion, and come to love them.  We ask this prayer through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us 

 

Day 9 – For our Bishop- Elect, Ger (Saturday 4th September 2021)

We pray for Bishop Nash as he takes on the ministry of leadership in our diocese: bless him with the gifts of discernment and understanding.  Enable him to be an encouraging and nurturing presence among us.

Scripture Reading (Isaiah 61: 1-3)

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison; to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord, a day of vengeance for our God; to comfort all those who mourn to give them a garland instead ashes to give them the oil of gladness instead of mourning and to give them joy and happiness instead of hopelessness and misery.

Prayer for our Bishop-Elect

God, eternal shepherd, you tend your Church in many ways and rule us with love. You have chosen your servant, Ger to be shepherd of your flock in the Diocese of Ferns. Give him a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he build your Church as a sign of salvation for the world.  We ask this prayer, through Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us

St. Aidan, pray for us