Staff Prayer Ritual in the Week of St Therese of …...You will need: a Leader of prayer; a Reader (who will read from the Bible); person(s) to light the candles at the appropriate

Staff Prayer Ritual for the Feast of St Thérèse of Lisieux: OUTLINE of Ritual We Gather: Welcome

Sign of the Cross Catching Fire Song with the Lighting of the 3 Candles Opening Prayer

We Listen: Scripture Reading Reflection

We Respond: Ritual Action

Our Father Closing Prayer

We Go Forth: Blessing Dismissal Sign of Peace

The Environment Ideally, set out chairs around a prayer focus – creating a space where people can be present to one another. Three candles are placed near the Bible which rests open at the Scripture Reading for today. You will need:

� a Leader of prayer; a Reader (who will read from the Bible); person(s) to light the candles at the appropriate times in the ritual

� 3 candles (head, heart and hands) + matches

� a Bible (open at the Reading) on a small table

� Handouts for each staff member

� Full text of the ritual for the Leader

� CD of song, player and a person to organise the music at the appropriate time

� A dish of fresh rose petals (or petals of various other flowers which are available)

Staff Prayer Ritual for the Feast of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: Detail

We Gather Welcome & Introduction Leader: This week, we celebrate the life of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

Often called Thérèse of the Child Jesus, she was named a Doctor of the Church for the wisdom of her ‘little way’ to God. Thérèse Martin was born at Alençon (France) in 1873. She died at the age of 24 from tuberculosis at Lisieux on 30 September 1897. Coming from a devout family, she entered a Carmelite monastery at fifteen, where she embraced the suffering of her ill-health with love and in service to the missionary spread of the gospel. She is known through her popular autobiography and loved for her unaffected simplicity. Her gift to us is her faithfulness to ordinary duties as the path to holiness.

Sign of the Cross Leader: We believe, with Thérèse, that the Cross brings us deeper into Life. All: In the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Song Leader: In the words of our song, let us ‘catch fire’ with the same enthusiasm for the gospel

that we see in the short life of Thérèse Martin.

Jesus, we embrace you and your vision. Teach us prayer, to see God’s presence here And to live out, a life of principle on our journey finding faith with you. With fire in our minds, with fire through our hands, Catching fire in our hearts, we turn to you.

A person lights the ‘head’ candle as the song continues ...

In communion, we build with God and others, an accepting place of welcome for all. We see, with eyes that know no other way the sacredness of every face & moment.

With fire in our minds, etc.

We’re people of purpose and commitment faithful to all those who’ve gone before We’re challenged to be witness in your mission, to transform a world that’s free for all.

With fire in our minds, etc. A person lights the ‘heart’ candle as the song continues ...

And we’re the ones, we are keepers of the flame. We are called to pass on this great story And your life we find deep in our hearts and souls. Oh how it changes everything for us.

With fire in our minds, etc.

Your spirit fire, draws us to your centre, it animates all that we say and do Together, we will journey with each other knowing we don’t walk the path alone

With fire in our minds, etc. A person lights the ‘hands’ candle as the song continues ...

Leading us, Your guiding light shines through the gift we have to recognize and grow And we celebrate all the richness found among us This power of our own transforming love

With fire in our minds, etc. (Warren Fields and Jill Gowdie 2007)

Opening Prayer Leader: Let us pray ... All: God our Father,

you have promised your kingdom to those who are willing to become like little children. Help us to follow the way of St Thérèse with confidence so that by her prayers we may come to know your eternal glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

We Listen Scripture Reading (Matt 18: 1-5)

Reader: A reading from the gospel of Matthew The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.’ SHORT PAUSE ...

Reflection Leader: During her short life, Saint Thérèse never lost the genuineness of a little child.

What she called her ‘little way’ was simply to trust in Jesus to make her holy by doing the small things well every day rather than by doing great deeds. After her death, thousands of Catholics found great comfort in this. They were people like us who are trying to find holiness in our ordinary lives. Thérèse promised to spread Love throughout the world after her death. Her image of scattering rose petals from heaven was symbolic of such a love. Her life reminds us that even when we feel we can do nothing very great, it’s really the small things that count. Small things make God’s garden grow!

We Respond Ritual Action Leader: Thérèse said she would find the shortest way to God!

That way is hidden in simplicity. As we each take a rose petal, (or flower petal), let us think of a very small thing we can do today to bring Love into our classrooms, our homes, our lives ...

For example: Today, I am going to stop and take a deep breath whenever I feel impatient! If you feel comfortable, you may share what you are going to do as you take the rose petal from the dish. Each person, in turn, takes a rose petal from the dish ... People may like to share their intended action. When all have taken their petal, the Leader continues:

Leader: Because God’s love has made us beloved children, in the words of Jesus, we dare to pray:

All: Our Father who art in heaven .... etc. ... ... for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.

Closing Prayer Leader: Let us pray ... All: Lord,

by the power of your love St Thérèse offered herself completely to you and prayed for the salvation of all humanity. May we be filled with the same love that inspired Thérèse a love that reaches out to all in your name. We ask this prayer through Jesus the Lord. Amen.

We Go Forth Blessing Leader: God is the glory and joy of Saint Thérèse.

May God’s richest blessings be scattered like rose petals on our path today. All: Amen.

Leader: With the loving support of Saint Thérèse, may we walk the ‘little way’ of Love. All: Amen.

Leader: Like Thérèse, we ask your special blessing on missionaries and all those who are in need of our prayers.

All: Amen.

Leader: May almighty God bless us, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. All: Amen.

Dismissal Leader: God has called us to share the Good News.

Go in peace to spread the Love of God today. All: Thanks be to God! Sign of Peace Leader: Let us encourage one another to do small things well by offering one another

a Sign of Peace.