World Youth Sunday (acrobat pdf file...114kb)

Diocese of Rochester

Recommended Blessings and Prayers

to Celebrate World Youth Sunday

(30th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Some material excerpted from the Youth Ministry Resource Manual developed by

The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry:

Washington DC.: 202-636-3825.

Please consider using some of the following prayers and blessings to

help your parish celebrate World Youth Sunday or on a Sunday more

appropriate to your parish schedule.

For additional assistance, please contact Sue Versluys,

Coordinator of Youth Ministry 328-3210 x279/800-388-7177 x1279

Blessing of Youth

God of youth,

We ask your blessing upon our young people this day.

You have gifted each one of them in a special way,

May they come to know their giftedness

As they discover your living and active presence in their lives.

Be with them as they grow in their faith

and discern your call in their lives.

Bless their openness and enthusiasm

and allow their questions to both enliven and challenge us

as a community of believers gathered to do your will.

Strengthen and support the good works that they do

Guide and sustain them along the exciting journey

that awaits each one of them

As we join with them in praising you

As the source of our Jubilee.

We ask this blessing through Jesus Christ,

Our risen Lord and Savior

AMEN

Blessing of the Parents of Teens

Creator God,

You know what it is like to be both Mother and Father to us all.

We ask You, the source and sustainer of all life,

to bless these parents in the role you have set before them.

Gift them with the wisdom to speak the truth so it can be heard.

Gift them with the sensitivity to listen to the spoken

as well as unspoken needs of their children.

Gift them with a steadfast faith that shows your intimate presence in their life.

Gift them with patience and understanding to handle the changing needs and demands

that are placed before them each day.

And gift them with the eagerness to seek out, to reconcile and to console

during times of conflict and pain.

Be with them each day as they continue to witness

your steadfast love and compassion to their children.

We ask this blessing upon each of them,

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

AMEN!

Three-Fold Blessing of Hands of Christ Recipients:

Read by Presider after distribution of plaques.

God of Life, we ask your blessing upon the Hands of Christ recipients,

May they continue to serve you in word and deed and may each know of

your constant presence with them every day of their lives. AMEN

We ask your blessing upon the families of the seniors, who have planted and

watered in their children the seeds of faith and service. May they enjoy the

fruits of this rich and bountiful harvest in the years to come. AMEN

We ask your blessing upon our faith community represented, that we

continue to support the young people in the development of their faith so that

Christ's presence is realized within each of them. AMEN.

And may God bless each one of us

in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN

Blessing of Youth Leaders and Ministers:

To be used with youth involved in leadership and ministry positions

in the church/school.

The Presider invites all young people involved in ministry and service within the

community forward as the following blessing of their senses is prayed. If the group is

small, the Presider may wish to actually make the sign of the cross over the senses of

each person or use a general motion of the sign of the cross if the group is large.

• May the Lord bless your Eyes so that you see the goodness and uniqueness of God in every person you meet.
  
• May the Lord bless your Ears so that you may listen and remain open to the diversity of needs that exist within this community.
  
• May the Lord bless your Lips so that you may speak the truth honestly, openly and powerfully in all you do.
  
• And may the Lord bless your Hands that they may serve as an extension of Christ’s as you reach out in compassionate service for the good of the Kingdom.

Conclude the blessing of leadership with the following blessing prayer. Invite the

community to extend their hands in solidarity as the blessing is said by the Presider:

God of all life,

we ask you to bless these young people

whom you have called forth to serve.

Guide and sustain them so that their ministry will bring forth

all of the richness and diversity that you have bestowed upon this community.

Empower them to be prophetic voices of today

as they prepare to lead us into the possibilities of tomorrow.

Inspire all they do so that it reflects your purpose and divine will.

We ask this blessing upon each of them

through Christ, Our Risen Lord

AMEN!