Reader: Come, Holy Spirit, breath divine

All: Open us for your presence

Reader: Refresh and give life to what is exhausted and tired

All: Drive away fear out of our hearts

Reader: Come, Holy Spirit, wind divine

All: Wake up our longing, create a new beginning among us

Reader: God, our father and mother, creator of women in your own image, loving foundation and heart of all beings - we are gathered here before you. 

Let us pray for all women around the world so that they may be blessed with:

All:
The strength to persevere,

The courage to speak out,

The vision to seek a renewed ministry,

The faith to believe in you beyond all systems and institutions,
so that your face on earth may be seen in all its beauty.

We call on the holy and courageous women who went before us. We ask them to intercede for us so we might be given the grace and vision to follow in their footsteps, as we work together for the recognition and encouragement of women as witnesses to the joy of the gospel.

Reader: Saint Esther, who pleaded against power for the liberation of the people,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Deborah, lawwoman and judge, who led the people of God,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Mary Magdalene, minister of Jesus, apostle to the Apostles,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Clara of Assisi, who confronted the pope with the image of woman as equal,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Julian of Norwich, who proclaimed for all of us, the motherhood of God,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who felt God’s call to become priest, prophet, and king,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Catherine of Siena, to whom the pope listened,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Teresa of Avila, who brought women’s gifts to the reform of the church,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Edith Stein, who brought fearlessness to faith,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Blessed Dorothy Day, who led the church to a new sense of justice,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Mary MacKillop, whose courageous vision brought education and faith to the children of Australia and New Zealand,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Mum Shirl, whose commitment to Indigenous rights promoted inclusion and change in Australian society,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Dr Evelyn Billings, who faithfully promoted Catholic ethics and family planning,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Dame Enid Lyons, devoted mother of nine and long-serving politician,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Saint Hildegard of Bingen, who sought creativity to express her visions of women’s leadership in our Church,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Mary, mother of Jesus, who heard the call of God and answered; Mary, mother of Jesus, who drew strength from the woman Elizabeth; Mary, mother of Jesus, filled with God’s Spirit, treasuring the Good News from the Angel Gabriel, and pondering the future in her heart,

All: Pray for us.

Reader: Women throughout the ages have pondered the good news in their hearts. Through sacrifice and often, rejection, they have sought to build the foundation stones of your Kingdom here on earth.

Reader: And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by others, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.   (1 Peter 2:4-8)

Reader: We pray that we continue to build the foundations of your Kingdom on earth with love, justice, wisdom, humility and grace. We pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide us with love and courage to be witnesses to the Good News, using our individual gifts to work with others for your glory.

Amen.

Bless your companion: Remember that you are a living stone and a witness to the Joy of the Gospel.