Petitions From National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers (NACFLM)

Table of Contents

I.Life Cycle
II.Life and Justice Issues
III.Holy Days and Holidays

I. Petitions by Life Cycle

For pregnant women, that they may carry their babies with care, grace and courage...

For pregnant mothers, that they might have a safe delivery and that they will dedicate themselves to responding to the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of their child...

Jesus brought recovery of sight to the blind. May He open our eyes to see how we can better support mothers and fathers faced with an unplanned pregnancy and help with care for their child after birth...

For married couples struggling with infertility...

For special needs children seeking adoption that they may find a permanent home...

For birth mothers making adoption plans for their biological children that they may be generous and courageous...

For women and men involved in abortions that they may be led to the healing presence of the Church through Project Rachel or other post abortion healing processes...

For women who have had abortions that they may be led to the healing presence of the Church through Project Rachel...

For couples who are frustrated in their attempts to achieve pregnancy, that they might not lose hope and be drawn closer to each other…

For special needs children seeking adoption, that they may find a permanent home...

For new parents as they adjust to including the needs of a new person in their family life...

For parents of toddlers that they be able to see beyond the practical work of caring for their child to the lessons of wonder for God's creation that children teach us...

For parents of preschoolers that they may have energy and patience with their children...

For families with hyperactive or learning disabled children that they may have rest and patience...

Grade School

For brothers and sisters who fight with each other whether they be children or adults, that they may learn the skills of peacemaking...

For kids who tease or bully and those who suffer because of them…

For children involved in organized sports, that they may learn what it means to be a good sport and not focus only on winning...

That families be able to find a healthy balance between supporting children's involvement in sports and saving unstructured time for the family to be together...

For parents, that they might look beyond misbehaviors and affirm their children daily...

For good listening and communication skills as we seek to understand our growing children...

For teens seeking love that they may understand the wisdom and safety of saving sexual intimacy for marriage...

For teens confronted with decisions about sexual involvement...

For parents who anguish over the troubles and crises of their teenagers that they be given wisdom and peace...
 

For single adults, that they may be at peace with their state in life and generously offer their talents to those in need...

For single people, that they find the companionship and support that gives them life…

That our community may seek to understand and respect all those among us regardless of their sexual orientation…

For the young adults in our community who are searching for direction and purpose, give them the insight to accept Jesus…

Marriage
(Engaged, Newly Married, Married Couples, Troubled Marriages, Dual Career, Leaders/Volunteers, Empty Nest, Retired)

For engaged couples, that this time leading up to their wedding be an honest search for deeper knowledge of each other and not consumed with hectic wedding preparations…

For engaged couples that they may discover the Church’s understanding of marriage as Sacrament—a sign of God’s unconditional love for us…

That married couples will be blessed with the wisdom to see, affirm and appreciate the gifts they are to one another...

That married couples will have the courage to put their relationship first in a culture that promotes material success...

For married couples whose relationship has become stale or routine, that they may take advantage of times of renewal such as a Marriage Encounter Weekend...

That couples in the “empty-nest” phase might experience renewal in their relationship…

For married couples who have fallen out of love with each other, that they may take advantage of programs such as Retrouvaille (re-tro-vy) and begin to rebuild their marriage...

For those couples struggling with their marriage, that they might find the strength to recommit themselves to each other and to their relationship…

For the many volunteers who share the imperfect stories of their lives with others in marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, and family programs...

For families whose children are scattered and living in other cities that they be able to continue to support each other across the miles...

For parents whose children have left home, as they discover new ways to spend their time…

For birth parents, adoptive parents, and their children...

For foster or adoptive children yearning to know of their roots, and for the parents that care for them...

For families trying to take back control of their T.V., computers, and other media so as to live more responsibly...

That our families be strong enough to stand against the materialism and “me first” mentality of our culture, so as to witness to a God who promises a deeper satisfaction…

For all parents who are weary and exhausted, give them the wisdom, patience, and strength to be strong guides to their children…

That parents and children find the strength to stand against the temptations and risks of our society such as violence, promiscuity, and consumerism that thwart their growth…

For dual career parents that they may find ways to simplify their lives and be at peace...

For all parents, whether stay at home or working outside the home, that they keep their children as the number one priority in their lives...

For grandparents, especially those helping to raise their grandchildren…

For grandparents who bring treats and time to their grandchildren and often take up the slack when parents are working outside the home…

For sandwich generation parents who care for both aging parents while still caring for their own children at home, that they have endurance and respite…

For parents who feel disappointment with their children, give them the stamina to continue to be loving guides and examples to their children…

For families who have lost a child either before or after birth, that they may find healing…
That parents and adults will be courageous and responsible in passing their faith on to their children...

For widows and widowers as they deal with the loss of their spouse...

For men and women who are trying to put their lives back together after the pain of divorce...

For divorced parents who have custody of their children that they receive support from the parish community...

For step-parents as they try to provide a loving home for a child because of their love for their spouse...

For divorced parents who do not live with their children, that they be able to maintain an active and satisfying relationship with their children...

For non-custodial parents, that they continue to be a positive and nurturing influence in the lives of their children…

For single parents who struggle to raise their children alone, that they may discover the support and encouragement of this community…

For the elderly and infirm, that they may endure their ailments with fortitude and grace...

For all those families that grieve the loss of a loved one, that the promise of eternal life might lessen the burden of their sorrow…

For retired people that they may find creative and fulfilling ways to use their time...

For an appreciation of the wisdom of grandparents and other elder family members...

For those who care for a family member suffering with a terminal illness, that they might always be a sign of Christ’s caring and compassion….

For families who watch helplessly as a loved one fades slowly with a debilitating illness, that they might find the strength and support to carry this heavy burden…

II. Petitions for Life and Justice Issues

For those we have too often made the outcasts and marginalized of our society — people with AIDS, homeless people, homosexuals, people with disabilities — that we may welcome them as part of our family...

May we seek to change those conditions that disrespect the life of any person because of gender, age, religion, or race…

For convicted criminals and their families that they may find forgiveness and ways to contribute to the good of society...

That in seeking to be truly Pro-Life we refrain from violence and harsh judgment, and seek always to convert those with whom we disagree with truth and love…

That family members will strive to support one another and help each person to recognize their own unique gifts and abilities…

For families separated by the inability to forgive, that they might put aside their differences and discover the common bonds that unite them…

That sons or daughters estranged from their father or mother will seek a humble and heartfelt reconciliation with them…

For family members who feel estranged or hurt by another family member that they may have the courage to seek reconciliation…

For children and spouses who have been abused that they may find healing through the love of this community…

For all families who grieve, that the pain and sorrow they now feel might give way in time to wonderful memories of time spent together…

For families facing difficult decisions about employment, money, schools, health etc. that they may have the courage and bravery to trust in the Lord…

That families have the courage to stand up for their beliefs so that their Christian values might influence their community…

As Christ fed the five thousand may we be mindful of our obligation to share our bounty with people, families and nations that are less fortunate than we are…

January 22 – Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
For the unborn children who have lost their lives through the tragedy of abortion, and for their mothers, fathers, and other relatives who continue to grieve their loss...

For women and men who are facing a crisis pregnancy, that they may receive the emotional and financial support they need to bring their child to birth and to a healthy life thereafter...

February 14 (closest Sunday) – World Marriage Day
For married couples, on this World Marriage Day, that their commitment to each other may deepen as the romance of the honeymoon grows into the comfort of years of shared joys and struggles met together...

May (2nd Sunday) – Mother’s Day
May God Bless all mothers, grandmothers, and step-mothers that they continue to be generous in their love, strong in their guidance, and persevering in their forgiveness…

For all mothers – birth mothers, adoptive mothers, step-mothers, foster mothers, expectant mothers, and grandmothers – that they may care generously for the children in their charge and occasionally experience appreciation for their work…

For couples who are frustrated in their attempts to achieve pregnancy, that they might not lose hope and that they be drawn closer to each other…

May/June – Pentecost
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of all families that they may warm their homes with your love and be temples of hospitality and acceptance…

May/June – Graduation
For graduates at all levels as they move into the uncertainty of a new school or life situation…

For new graduates that they may never stop learning and that they use their education to make a meaningful contribution to our world…

June (3rd Sunday) – Father’s Day
May God bless and strengthen all fathers in their roles as providers, teachers, mentors, fixers of broken toys and broken hearts…

For all fathers – biological fathers, adoptive fathers, step-fathers, expectant fathers, and grandfathers – that they take time with their children and be a model of courage and fidelity for them…

For husbands and wives dealing with infertility, that they know our community is joined with them in prayer and that they find ways that their love may overflow to others even now…

July 4 – Independence Day
For countries struggling to become free of oppressive governments and for young people struggling to become free and responsible young adults...

July/August – Vacationing
For families who travel this summer that they might be refreshed in the company of family and friends and exercise good judgment in their recreation and travel plans…

That during these last weeks of summer families may find rest and renewal in their recreation and vacations…

For vacationing families, that their journeys be safe and healthy...

August (late) – Start of School
For all students and teachers as they start a new year of formal learning and teaching...

September (early) – Labor Day
For families facing unemployment or financial stress that they may receive the support they need…

For parents trying to balance work, family, and personal needs…

For a deeper understanding of our work as building God’s Kingdom of justice and care.

October – Respect Life Month
(See Birth, Elderly, and Life and Justice Issues petitions)

November (late) – Thanksgiving
That extended families may grow closer as they celebrate Thanksgiving, and for those members who are not able to be physically together on Thanksgiving day...

December – Advent
For calm in our homes as children and adults wait, sometimes impatiently, during these days before Christmas...

That family members adapt their lifestyle so as to be more hospitable to the God waiting to enter more deeply into their lives…

December 25 – Christmas
That the tender, unconditional love of God be born again today in our families…

December – Holy Family Sunday
(Sunday between Christmas & New Years)

On this Holy Family Sunday, may God bless each family of our parish as they struggle to love and forgive each other…

For all of us on this Holy Family Sunday, that we remember that we are called to find God and share God in the midst of the messy but holy interactions with family members each day…

On this Holy Family Sunday, that we thank God for the gift of family life and pray that whatever our family’s circumstances, God can work through them…

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