A prayer for the Synod on Synodality from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Posted on October 3, 2023, by Loretto Community
The Synod on Synodality assembly is set for Oct. 4-29. The gathering brings together clergy, religious, laywomen and laymen. Participants in the synod will reflect on the characteristics they believe are essential for building a “synodal church.” They will start from what they heard from people who participated in the past two years in local, diocesan, national and continental listening sessions. Topics of focus include how to increase a sense of unity in the Church, how to go forth in communion with one another, and how to promote participation and strengthen the Church’s missionary outreach.
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious, of which the Loretto Community is a member, shared the message and prayer below. We share it now with all of you and invite you to join with the Loretto Community in prayer.
A Message from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Dear all,
As you are aware the 2023 Synod on Synodality assembly at the Vatican will be opening on October 4. As the universal church awaits this event with much anticipation, we would like to suggest that US women religious join together in prayer, asking that the Spirit guide all those participating and their conversations and deliberations.
Many of you may already be using the “Prayer for the Synod,” but perhaps we could make an intentional effort to commit to praying this daily throughout October. We encourage you to ask your sisters, associates, coworkers, and others to pray this during these next weeks as well, with the belief that our unity in prayer can make a difference. The prayer can be found below.
Prayer for the Synod
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
Do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever.
Amen.
May all who participate in the synod and all who are praying with them be blessed with a spirit of hope.
National Office, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
