PRAYER SERVICE FOR FATHERS AND GRANDFATHERS
Hymn: Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest….
Leader: Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created
All: And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
Introduction:
On 26th July we will be celebrating Parent’s Day. On this day we will ask the Lord for special blessings on our parents. In preparation for this festal celebration, we pray today for all the fathers and grandfathers. Fatherhood is a special gift that comes from God. A father is generally considered a strong person in the house and in many households as the head of the family. A father is assumed to be the bread-winner in the family, to provide for its members and to protect the family. Holy Father Pope Francis says, “A father, for his part, helps the child to perceive the limits of life, to be open to the challenges of the wider world, and to see the need for hard work and strenuous effort. A father possessed of a clear and serene masculine identity who demonstrates affection and concern for his wife is just as necessary as a caring mother.” (AL 175) We pray that every man who has been given this privilege of becoming a father may be blessed by God and along with us may he thank God for the gift of fatherhood or grandfatherhood.
Opening Prayer
Leader: Heavenly Father, you brought gladness and light to the world through the birth of your Son. Throughout His life on Earth you showed him your fatherly care. In a special way you chose St. Joseph to play a special role in your Son’s life as his adopted father. Today as we pray for our daddy/papa/father/ grandpa we give thanks to you for him/ them. Please fill him/them with holy joy and keep them safe from harm. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gospel Mathew 1:18-25 (Use the Bible for reading: Any language)
Leader: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mathew.
The word of the Lord
Reflection: Joseph was chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus and he accepted the role without hesitation. Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation ‘Love in the family’ mentions: “God sets the father in the family so that by the gifts of his masculinity he can be “close to his wife and share everything, joy and sorrow, hope and hardship. And to be close to his children as they grow – when they play and when they work, when they are carefree and when they are distressed, when they are talkative and when they are silent, when they are daring and when they are afraid, when they stray and when they get back on the right path. ….. Fathers who are too controlling overshadow their children, they don’t let them develop”. Some fathers feel they are useless or unnecessary, but the fact is that “children need to find a father waiting for them when they return home with their problems. They may try hard not to admit it, not to show it, but they need it” May the Holy Spirit continue to teach and instruct all fathers to live a life of care and protection and as a stronghold of the household.
Moment of Sharing: The father or grandfather may share some feelings/ incidents on the joys of fatherhood. (after this follow a brief period of silence)
Hymn: God is so good (3), he’s so good to me. God cares for me (3), he’s so good to me.
I love Him so, (3), he’s so good to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBMi42a_kpc or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq6I0ceM92A
Prayers of The Faithful
Leader: Trusting in our Heavenly Father’s love for us, we now offer God our prayers and petitions.
Our Response: Lord hear our prayer.
Reader: For our Holy Father Pope Francis, Bishops, priests, deacons that they may provide fatherly care and protection to their flock. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: That the world leaders may put aside all selfish ambition and truly work for world peace. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: Lord, protect all fathers. Grant them good health and true wisdom. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: For all fathers who are unemployed, grant them a job. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: Lord, be especially present to fathers in the world who are sick, suffering, or afraid. Please send your Holy Spirit to comfort them. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: Lord, reward all fathers who have died. Welcome them into your heavenly kingdom We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Our Father
Closing Prayer: O Heavenly Father, we ask you to shower you abundant blessings on all men who are fathers, grandfathers and especially my daddy (N) grandfather (N), father-in-law (N). Lord make them wiser in the midst of problems, strong and brave in the face of dangers and kind and generous in the needs of others. Keep them safe from all harm to body and soul. We pray that they may enjoy good health, peace, happiness and long life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Final gesture: The fathers will now bless their child/ren.
Dismissal: May the Lord bless us and keep us in His loving care and protection. Amen
Final Hymn: Thank you, Thank you Jesus.
108 – If we accept that God’s love is unconditional, that the Father’s love cannot be bought or sold, then we will become capable of showing boundless love and forgiving others even if they have wronged us
175 – A father, for his part, helps the child to perceive the limits of life, to be open to the challenges of the wider world, and to see the need for hard work and strenuous effort. A father possessed of a clear and serene masculine identity who demonstrates affection and concern for his wife is just as necessary as a caring mother.
177 – God sets the father in the family so that by the gifts of his masculinity he can be “close to his wife and share everything, joy and sorrow, hope and hardship. And to be close to his children as they grow – when they play and when they work, when they are carefree and when they are distressed, when they are talkative and when they are silent, when they are daring and when they are afraid, when they stray and when they get back on the right path. To be a father who is always present. When I say ‘present’, I do not mean ‘controlling’. Fathers who are too controlling overshadow their children, they don’t let them develop”.197 Some fathers feel they are useless or unnecessary, but the fact is that “children need to find a father waiting for them when they return home with their problems. They may try hard not to admit it, not to show it, but they need it”.198 It is not good for children to lack a father and to grow up before they are ready.