Branching Out: The Official Blog by Renew International

Prayer: For Others on the Journey

Heavenly Father, I thank you
for the words, example, and actions
of your Son, Jesus,
which give us the path to follow.
I am grateful for the Spirit
who comes to be with us on our journey,
on the path of unity, forgiveness, care,
and love for one another.
Graced with the Resurrection of Jesus

and the Presence of the Spirit
help me to witness to others as a member
of a community of baptized believers.
Amen.

Adapted from The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.

Tags: baptized believers, catholic RENEW program, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, prayer, presence of the Spirit, renew catholic program, RENEW International, resurrection of Jesus, spiritual journey, witness to others

Prayer: Remembering the Hungry

Thank you, God, for your faithful servants
who give a helping hand to the hungry.
Bless them and those whose pain and hardship
make their work so essential.
Show us how we can stand with them.
Give bread to the hungry
and give hunger for you
to those who have bread.
We pray in the name of Jesus

our Savior and brother who feeds us
with the bread of life
and who lives in loving community
with you and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Adapted from The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.

Tags: blessing, bread of life, Catholic, catholic RENEW program, huger, prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International, social justice, social work, the hungry, the poor

Prayer: Called to Your Table

Jesus, we call you the Bread of Life.
We are reminded of your sacrifice for us
each time we receive the Eucharist.
Call us to your table
as we bring with us
all of our triumphs and joys,
hurts and disappointments,
all of our tears and pain
as well as our laughter.

We give everything to you,
our sacrifice mingled with yours.
For this is true communion;
this is how we come together,
the beginning of our knowing you.
Help us to be an example to children.
Open us up to their simple faith.
Give us wisdom, joy and peace
as we try to grow ever closer to you.
We ask this in your name.
Amen.

Adapted from The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.
Original oil painting, “The Lord’s Supper,” by Brendan Clary.

Tags: bread of life, called to the tqble, catholic RENEW program, communion table, Eucharist, Jesus Christ, Lord's supper, prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International

Prayer: Food for Life

Lord, in John’s Gospel
we hear you say,
“Do not work for food that perishes.”
Lord, we know the food we need for life.
We do not fully understand
the mystery of your becoming present to us
in the Eucharist,
but we struggle to believe.

Your words help us to see
where we need to put our energies:
toward knowing you
and living as you would have us live.
We need help to avoid working
for those things that cannot last.
We need help to remember
what is really important in life.
Help us to be faithful to the Eucharist,
so that we may come to be more
in communion with one another and you.
Amen.

Adapted from The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.

Tags: Catholic, catholic RENEW program, Eucharist, faith, food for life, mystery of the Eucharist, prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International

Prayer: To Become Bread for the World

Heavenly Father,
thank you for giving us yourself in Jesus,
through the Eucharist.
As we are fed by you,
open our eyes to see the hungry, the lonely,
and those in need of your presence.
By the grace of your Spirit,
may we live as the Body of Christ.
With grateful hearts, we offer the gifts we have

so that we may become bread
for the life of the world.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

Adapted from The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.

Tags: Body of Christ, bread for the world, bread of life, catholic RENEW program, Eucharist, Jesus Christ, prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International

Prayer: The Love of a Shepherd

Lord Jesus, help me to follow you faithfully
and offer assistance to our brothers and sisters
who may wander.
Teach me to know the ways I can begin
to live and share eternal life
while in this world.
Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit
to bring me into the intimacy of your relationship
with the Father.

Enlarge my heart
to embrace those who have wandered from you
and help me to love and protect them
with the heart of a shepherd.
Amen.

Adapted from The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.

Tags: catholic RENEW program, faith, heart of a shepherd, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, lost sheep, prayer, Psalm 23, RENEW International

Prayer: Responding to God’s Call

Gracious God, in Jesus words
we are invited to be partners in his work
of witnessing to your kingdom on earth.
In his words,
we are reminded of the mission and responsibility
that we received in our baptism.
Keep our hearts, eyes, and ears open,
so that daily we will respond to your call.
With courage and humility,

relying on your grace,
may we be agents of healing,
bearers of truth,
and messengers of hope.
We offer this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

From The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.

Tags: baptism, Catholic, catholic RENEW program, faith, God's grace, Jesus Christ, mission, renew catholic program, RENEW International, witnesses to God's kingdom

Prayer: For Enduring Faith

Lord, as Catholics we are called to believe—
in the Trinity,
in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus,
in the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic” church.
We are called to believe that we are forgiven
and that we will rise again with you.
Lord, I sometimes struggle with these beliefs.
It is hard for me to keep things simple.
Life in this time and place is complex

and its pressures intrude relentlessly.
Help me to listen for your voice,
to find you in others,
and to respond when you call me by name.
Help me on my journey
to grow ever closer to you.
Amen.

From The People’s Prayer Book, © RENEW International.

Tags: Catholic Faith, catholic RENEW program, God's voice, holy catholic and apostolic Church, prayer, renew catholic program, resurrection of Jesus, Trinity

Prayer: For Tender Hearts

God, ever near to us,
your tenderness toward us is so clear
when we hear Jesus assure Jairus,
and address the nameless woman as “daughter.”
May they inspire us to approach you
with such bold humility and faith.
Enlarge our hearts that in our ministry
we would imitate Jesus in his compassion
for people in all stations of society.

Break down the barriers of fear
that keep us from serving those
who are considered “unclean.”
And keep us focused on the work you set before us,
that by our touch, your touch will be felt.
In Jesus’ name we offer you our hands and hearts.
Amen.

From The People’s Prayerbook, © RENEW International.

Tags: catholic RENEW program, compassion, Jairus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, renew catholic program, RENEW International, tenderness

A Summer Prayer

Gracious God,
you provide for us always.
These early summer days explode
with the glory of greening and growing;
small seeds putting forth shoots,
and trees expanding their reach
as their canopies flourish and fill.
May they always be for
physical reminders of the presence

of your kingdom.
May my hope be as constant
as the leaves that grow back year after year.
And may that hope be a haven for those who need rest.
With praise for the glory of these days
I offer my prayer in Jesus’name.
Amen.

Tags: catholic RENEW program, God's creation, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International, summer

A Prayer for the Easter Table

Share this table prayer with those you will eat with on Easter Sunday.
Pray together:

Christ has risen! Alleluia!
Loving God, you who create all things
and generously give us all we need,
we praise you and thank you for being present with us now
as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, your Son.
Thank you for accompanying us on our Lenten journey;

please be with us during this Easter season, and always,
as we strive to live as disciples of your Son.
May the breaking of bread, today and every day,
remind us of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ,
who died to atone for our sins
and rose again so that we, too, may rise
and live in your presence forever.
O God, bless this food and we who share it,
and be with those who cannot share it with us.
We ask this in the name of the same Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ has risen!
Amen.

Adapted from RENEW International’s LIVE LENT! Year B, available in our online bookstore.

Tags: Alleluia, Christ is risen!, Easter, Easter blessing, Easter Prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International, resurrection, Sr. Theresa Rickard, table prayer

A Prayer for Easter Sunday

Share this table prayer with those you will eat with on Easter Sunday.

Pray together:

Christ has risen! Alleluia!
Loving God, you who create all things
and generously give us all we need,
we praise you and thank you for being present with us now
as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, your Son.

Thank you for accompanying us on our Lenten journey;
please be us during this Easter season, and always,
as we strive to live as disciples of your Son.

May the breaking of bread, today and every day,
remind us of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ,
who died to atone for our sins
and rose again so that we, too, may rise
and live in your presence forever.

O God, bless this food and we who share it,
and be with those who cannot share it with us.

We ask this in the name of the same Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ has risen!

Excerpted from Live Lent! Year A by Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP, available from RENEW International.

Tags: Alleluia, breaking of the bread, catholic RENEW program, Christ has risen, disciples, Easter, Easter dinner, Jesus Christ, Lent, Lenten journey, prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International, resurrection of Jesus Christ, Sister Terry Rickard, Sr. Terry, Sr. Terry Rickard, Sr. Theresa Rickard, Sr. Theresa Rickard OP

Lenten Prayer – From the Last Supper to the Crucifixion

We are given the Eucharist, and we must journey with Jesus to the cross.

Lord Jesus,
You loved us so deeply that you were
willing to love us unto death, death on a cross.
When we see brothers and sisters
who are suffering and afflicted,
let us see you, and let us respond
with a love “surpassing all understanding”—
your love. Amen.

Excerpted from Live Lent! Year A by Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP, available from RENEW International.

Tags: Barabbas, catholic RENEW program, crucifixion, Crucify him, death on the cross, Eucharist, Holy Week, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Last Supper, Lent, Palm Sunday, prayer, renew catholic program, RENEW International, resurrection, Sister Terry Rickard, Sr. Terry, Sr. Terry Rickard, Sr. Theresa Rickard, Sr. Theresa Rickard OP, The Passion of the Lord, Word of God

Lenten Prayer – The Raising of Lazarus

As for his beloved friend, Lazarus, Jesus is our resurrection and life.

God of freedom, you loose all bonds
that hold us in darkness and sin.
Heal the places where our wounds and pride
have kept us distant from you
and one another.
Free us from our tombs, O Christ. Amen.

Excerpted from Live Lent! Year A by Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP, available from RENEW International.

Tags: Burial cloths, catholic RENEW program, Gospel according to John, Jesus Christ, Martha and Mary, raised from the dead, raising of Lazarus, renew catholic program, RENEW International, resurrection, Sister Terry Rickard, Sr. Terry, Sr. Terry Rickard, Sr. Theresa Rickard, Sr. Theresa Rickard OP, Sunday Gospel, tomb, Word of God

Lenten Prayer – Jesus heals those who are blind

If we are receptive, Christ will heal our blindness.

Jesus, Son of Man,
your light shines into human life
and illuminates the places where we are blind and resistant.
Bathe us in the glow of your healing love
and free us from the darkness
that impedes us from seeing and following you. Amen.

Excerpted from Live Lent! Year A by Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP, available from RENEW International.