For a Meeting or Retreat (Days 1-3)

Day 1

Opening Prayer

Leader
Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever.

All
Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever.

Reader
A reading from the book of Jeremiah. . .

I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD. Plans for your welfare, not for woe; plans to give you a future, full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray for me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all of your heart, you will find me with you, says the LORD. (pause)

Leader
As we open our meeting today, let us remember that we are in the presence of God - a God who is not distant and unconnected, but intimately involved. This is a God who has plans for us and for our being together, and promises that if we call upon God's name, we will be heard. God will draw near. God will be found. (Pause)

God of wonderful plans, we call upon your name as we begin our meeting. Be faithful to your promise to listen to those who beckon you. And, as we set about making plans for our Catholic health care systems,. . .

All
Show us a future full of hope.

Leader
As we confront difficult decisions that will affect many peoples lives. . .

All
Show us a future full of hope.

Leader
As we test new paths that have not yet been paved. . .

All
Show us a future full of hope.

Leader
We seek you, O Lord, with all of our hearts. Turn your ear to hear our prayer.

All
Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever.

Day 2

Opening Prayer

Leader
In the early morning, O God, we remember your steadfast love.

All
In the early morning, O God, we remember your steadfast love.

Reader
A reading from the book of Ezekiel...
I passed by you and saw that you were now old enough for love.
So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover you. . .
I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you;
you became mine, says the Lord GOD.
Then I bathed you with water. . . and anointed you with oil.
I clothed you with an embroidered gown,
put sandals of fine leather on your feet;
I gave you a fine linen sash and silk robes to wear. . .
You were exceedingly beautiful, with the dignity of a queen.
You were renowned among the nations for your beauty, perfect as it was,
because of my splendor which I had bestowed on you,
says the Lord GOD. (pause)

Leader
As we open our time together today, let us pause to let these words of the prophet move from our ears to our hearts. (Pause) Let us pause again to enjoy our own "chosen-ness" - our "beloved-ness" in the sight of God. (Pause) And, let us call to mind the covenant that God has made with us - a vow to always love us; a vow to always be with us and never abandon us. A covenant made with us and with the generations that shall follow us. (Pause)

Ever-present God, we gather today to ponder the next steps that we will take in collaborating with others in our institutions and ministries. As we embark on the learning and conversation that this day will bring, ground us in the knowledge of your love and fidelity to us. And, when faced with challenge to trust your hand. . .

All
Remind us of the covenant.

Leader
When meeting the joys and difficulties of collaboration. . .

All
Remind us of the covenant.

Leader
When anxious about the complexities of this new time in our history. . .

All
Remind us of the covenant.

Leader
Spread the corner of your cloak, O God, to wrap this gathering in your care this day.

All
In the early morning, O God, we remember your steadfast love.

Day 3

Opening Prayer

Reader 1
I passed by you and saw that you were now old enough for love.

Reader 2
So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover you. . .

Reader 1
I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you;

Reader 2
You became mine, says the Lord GOD.

Reader 1
Then I bathed you with water. . . and anointed you with oil.

Reader 2
I clothed you with an embroidered gown.

(Pause)

Leader
On the day of our baptism, we were bathed in water. We were wrapped in a garment of light, and we were anointed with oil - anointed ministers of God's Word and collaborators in God's plan of healing and reconciliation. The immensity of the mission for which we have been anointed might overwhelm us were it not for the promise that God would be with us always; loving us until the end of time.

With gratitude, let us turn again to God this day - thankful for the mission entrusted to us, thankful for the partners we have in our work, thankful for the fidelity of our God.

(Pause)

All
Loving God, in our conversations with one another, may we come to a richer understanding of the common good of all creation, and especially the common good of the institution which you have asked us to steward. Guide the decisions and strategic planning that we are about to undertake, keeping before us always the implications of our ideas for the real, living persons that our institution is comprised of and the real, living persons that our institution serves.

We invite you into this gathering and ask that everything we do here be for the glory of your name. Amen.

A blessing before our meal. . .

Blessed are you, God of all creation, whose very life permeates our world, and whose goodness fills our hearts with joy.

Blessed are you, who have brought us together as friends and colleagues.

Be present to us; continue to work in us the wonder of your grace, forming us as your people committed to justice and mercy, healing and compassion, in a world burdened by violence, injustice, and indifference.

Pour forth your blessing on us, renew and refresh us for our mission, making us effective leaders and wise stewards of your bountiful gifts.

Bless this food we are about to share, a sign of your goodness to us, bless those who prepared it, and who serve it, and keep us ever mindful of those who go hungry this night.

May our meal and our celebration nourish our bodies and strengthen the bonds that unite us in love and faithful service.

We ask this through Christ Jesus, Amen.

A blessing before our meal. . .

Lord, as we gather here before this table, we pause to give thanks for the bounty of the earth from which this meal came forth. Create in us a new spirit, that we may bear fruit for others and so share our life with the world. By that same power create human society anew, with justice as its measurement and compassion for a cornerstone, through Christ our Lord. Amen.