Sunday
17 JUNE
11th sunday in
​ordinary time
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 4:26-34    
A day of parables
Teacher Background
​​PrayerLet us pray. 
Loving God, You give strength to those who hope in you and without you we can do nothing. Hear our prayers and help us to do your will.  
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen. 

Monday
18 JUNE
Praying with the Gospel
  • In the gospel reading Jesus says “I am the living bread.” This part of the gospel follows on from the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fish. He is now explaining to the people that if they eat this living bread that is him, they will live forever. At the celebration of Mass, Catholics receive the bread that will feed them so that they can go and feed others. Reflect on the meaning of this word ‘feed’?
  • Pray the Our Father and say the words ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ slowly and mindfully. ​

Tuesday
19 JUNE
Praying with Music 
​Pray with the calming music and images on the video Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt , an Estonian composer of classical and religious music.

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Wednesday
20 JUNE
​World Refugee Day
Follow the link for resources and activities for National Refugee Week
#WithRefugees is the theme for Refugee Week 2018 in Australia.
Today, more than ever, we need a global movement to demand the safety and rights of refugees are protected. In Australia, it is the responsibility of our Government, and each one of us to ensure people forced to flee from their homes can live with dignity and with hope.
World Refugee Day Prayer
For refugees who are separated from their families, keep them safe and guide them towards eventual reunification with their loved ones. Lord hear us.  
All: Lord hear our prayer. 
For children and young people who are forced to leave their homes, provide caring adults around them and unite the international community to work for the care and protection of these young ones. Lord hear us.  
All: Lord hear our prayer. 
For the Church, give us strength and courage to continue to offer a dignified welcome to those new to our country and to recognise your face in those we welcome. Lord hear u., 
All:  Lord hear our prayer. 

Thursday
21 JUNE
Praying with Prayer Beads
  • People have prayed with beads for hundreds and hundreds of years. Since the earliest of times, people have used pebbles or a string of knots or beads on a cord to keep track of prayers offered to God. Muslims use a set of 99 beads with each bead representing a name for God in the Islamic faith tradition. Other examples are the Hindu “Mala beads’” and the Buddhist prayer beads. Catholics pray with Rosary beads.
  • Beads can also be used for Meditation as they can help people to focus and calm their minds and bodies. The beads can be moved in rhythm with the breath and a mantra or prayer can be prayed as each bead is touched e.g. prayers of intercession or prayers of thanksgiving. 
Prayers of Thanksgiving
  • Bead 1: Give thanks for a family member
    Bead 2: Give thanks for a friend
    Bead 3: Remember and give thanks for someone who has died
    Bead 4: Give thanks for creation e.g. the rain, trees 
    Bead 5: Give thanks for yourself and your gifts.
    In between each bead and each prayer, pause to say ‘Thank you God!’  

Friday
22JUNE
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More 
Today the Catholic Church celebrates two great English saints and who died because they spoke out with courage. Both John Fisher and Thomas More were men of exemplary life, one a bishop, one a lawyer and family man. And it was because they lived such upright lives that they were content to die for their faith.  
Prayer 
Loving God,  
May the prayers of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More give us courage to live with faith hope and love. 
We make our prayer through  Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen. 
 
From <https://prayers4reparation.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/prayer-to-st-john-fisher-and-st-thomas-more/>