Prayer Services and Retreats
It is our hope that the prayers and rituals on this website will be of practical use for those working with young people. Feel free to use them for individual prayer as well as when gathering as a community. We encourage you to creatively adapt these prayers to meet the specific needs, diverse backgrounds and time constraints of those who gather to pray. Additional prayers and links will be added on a regular basis. You can also share with others the prayer services and retreat models developed by you and the young people with whom you work. Visit the page, “Send Us Your Ideas,” and follow the instructions for submitting ideas.
Migration in the Light of Prayer
Migration in the Light of Prayer
Perhaps one of the most obvious and powerful ways we can live in solidarity with the migrant, immigrant, refugee and others impacted by migration is through prayer and sacrament. Prayer and sacrament change the heart and help us to express our inherent connection as one human family, each made in God's image and likeness. Use the links and resources below to provide opportunities for prayer and liturgy in your school or parish community. Please visit the USCCB Migration & Refugee Services for recommendations on cultural sensitivity in your liturgical setting.
- Prayer Service for Immigrants from Latin America
- Prayerfully connect with those impacted by migration in Latin America.
- Justice for Immigrants Campaign Prayer Resources
- A variety of resources for liturgy, parish gatherings and individual prayer are available for use.
- Justice for the Newcomer (Catholic Charities USA)
- Review the sampling of prayer and liturgy resources.
- National Migration Week (USCCB)
- Current and archived prayer resources suitable for the observance of National Migration Week and throughout the year are available.
- Sisters of Mercy Prayer Service
- A prayer service about immigration is one of many developed by the Sisters of Mercy.
Africa
Prayer Service for Darfur, Sudan
This is a brief prayer service that can either be held as an independent ritual, or as the opening prayer for a larger gathering or assembly. Feel free to adapt this to meet the needs of your school.
Solidarity with Africa
These resources are meant to accompany and supplement the “Solidarity with Africa” educational resources. The resources below include prayer services, a PowerPoint slide meditation, and a retreat experience that can be adapted for up to 100 people.
Holy Land
This simple prayer service for peace in the Holy Land is easily adaptable for classroom or assembly use.
Natural Disasters
CRS created a prayer service that commemorated the many natural disasters of 2005. You might consider using this around the anniversary of the Tsunami or adapt it as appropriate to fit the needs of your community.
HIV/AIDS
Responding to the Global HIV/AIDS Crisis
Weaves themes of Catholic Social teaching into a prayerful call for just and compassionate responses to the global AIDS pandemic.
Praying Without Borders
A mini-retreat plan providing guidelines, activities and handouts for a 3-hour retreat using prayers and stories. The format is ideal for groups of 16 to 30. Includes communal prayer, visual arts, storytelling and drama, personal reflection and commissioning.