The Diocese of Derry & Raphoe has published a new, free prayer resource, ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’, to help people pray for our Church and the community.
The pocket-sized booklet reflects the issues and realities that many of God’s people are grappling with currently, such as the cost-of-living crisis, ill health, loneliness and anxiety. There are prayers, too, for political leaders, for the renewal of the Church, for the building up of faith, for clergy, for vocations, for the missionary Church and – locally – for “vision and purpose” as the ongoing diocesan review continues.
Commending the booklet to parishioners, Bishop Andrew said he hoped they would find its readings and prayers helpful. “Being able to pray is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. Let’s use that gift as we seek to build hope and chart the future of our parishes and diocese.”
The new resource includes ‘Prayers for Your Parish’, ‘Prayers for the Diocese’, ‘Prayers for Your Wider Church’, ‘Prayers for those Struggling with Life’, ‘Prayers to Build Up Faith’, ‘Prayers to Build Vision and Hope’ and ‘Prayers for Mission & Pioneering’.
‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ is similar to a previous prayer resource, ‘Hope in the Pandemic’, which was produced four years ago to encourage parishioners during the Covid–19 crisis; it proved extremely popular throughout the diocese and far beyond. Bishop Andrew hopes ‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ will prove equally reassuring and just as popular.
“In almost 50 parish groups in over 110 churches, our diocese has faithfully served God through challenges in the past,” Bishop Andrew said, “and we look to God with confidence into the future, knowing that He is always faithful and His love is the same, ‘yesterday, today and forever.’”
‘Building Hope, Charting the Future’ is available free. Anyone looking for a copy should contact their rector, in the first instance, or they can get in touch with the Diocesan Office: 24 London St, Londonderry BT48 6RQ.
