Opening Prayer: Dear God, tonight we have come together with families in our parish to talk about the importance of each and every life you have created. Please help us to understand your Word, and to remember what you have taught us through your sacred Scriptures and also through your Son, Jesus. Place in each of our hearts the love You have for each and every person You have created. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
 

Song: Fingerprints of God — Discussion

 

We will be offering reflections and prayers focused on the value and
dignity of all life.  After each reflection we will pray the prayer our Lord gave us, The OUR FATHER, and also the HAIL MARY to continue to ask Mary, Jesus’ mother, to lead us to her Son.

 

The Our Father

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen. 

 

The Hail Mary
 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. 
 

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1. Dear God, please help us to remember babies. Help us to make sure that all the babies born have enough food to eat, and enough clothes to wear, a nice place to live, and someone to take care of them. Even if their moms and dads are poor, or young, or from a different country, or have different colored skin than we do. We know that babies cannot survive without a lot of assistance, so please help us to remember them in our prayers and also with the good works we do in Your name. Lord, help us to remember how important babies are to You, even when they are still in the womb. Our Father. Hail Mary.

2. Dear God, please help us to remember the elderly. Help us to make sure that all the older people around us have enough food to eat, and enough clothes to wear, a nice place to live and someone to take care of them. Sometimes older people need help with cooking, cleaning or yard work. Sometimes they need help with their medicines, or with a ride to the doctor's office or to the grocery store. Please help us to remember them in our prayers and also with the good works we do in Your name. Lord, help us to remember how important the elderly are to You. Our Father. Hail Mary.
 

 

3. Dear God, please help us to remember the people who have made mistakes and are in prison. Being in prison is very hard, and even if they made a mistake, there may be things we can do to help them. We can write to our legislators to make sure they are being treated fairly. We can donate household good so that they can make an easier
transition back into society. We can pray for them so they can get to know You and won't commit any more crimes. Please help us to
remember them when we pray, and also with the good works we do in Your name. Lord, help us to remember how important the people in jail are to you. Our Father. Hail Mary.
 

 

4. Dear God, please help us to remember the poor, the sick and the handicapped. Sometimes there are people born in this world who have enough, like me. And sometimes there are people born in places like Haiti, or even in the city of Rochester, who do not have enough... not enough food, not enough clothing and not enough safe housing Sometimes there are sick people who can't pay for doctors or
medicine or who have a hard time with disabilities. Help us to do what we can to assist them, and to remind our neighbors and our
government that You love these people just as much as you love us. Please help us to remember them when we pray, and also with the good works we do in Your name. Lord, help us to remember how
important the poor, the sick and the handicapped are to You. 
Our Father. Hail Mary.

 

5. Dear God, please help us to remember the people who are forced to leave their homes and countries. These people are called refugees and immigrants and you love them in a special way. Not long after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph had to leave their country and go to Egypt in order to keep Jesus safe. You and Your Son know what it is like to leave your home and travel to a strange land. Help us to understand what is causing this movement of people and what we can do to help them. Help us to keep their families together and safe, like Jesus was safe with Mary and Joseph. Please help us to remember the refugees and immigrants when we pray, and also with the good works we do in Your name. Lord, help us to remember how important immigrants and refugees are to You. Our Father. Hail Mary.
 

 

6. Dear God, please help us to remember the people of the world who have war in their countries and trouble in their homes. Please help us to bring peace to all families and to all countries in the world. Help us to all get along with each other and to know that we need to love ALL of our neighbors. Even the ones who are difficult, even the ones who don't like to share, and even the ones who are sometimes mean to us. Help us to remember that by bringing peace to everyone around me, even within my own family, that I am helping You to bring peace to the world. Please help us to remember the people dealing with war and fighting when we pray, and when we do good works in Your name. Lord, help us to remember how important all the people of the world are to You. Our Father. Hail Mary.

 

 

Dear God, we know that when two or more of us are gathered in Your name that You are right here with us. Please hear the prayers that we have brought before You today. Help us to keep Your love for all people in my mind and in my heart always. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

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Here is one last song to remind you that no matter how young or old you are, or how clean or dirty you are, or if you have made mistakes or not, or if you are from this country or another country, or if you live in peace or in war, that we are ALWAYS God's children. That each one of us is a child of God. Thank you for being with us tonight.

May God bless you all.