Prayer of the Faithful For 6th September 2026 Care for Creation Introduction Today we celebrate the Mass for the Care of Creation during the Season of Creation, observed from September 1 to October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation was established by Pope Francis in 2015 as a time to pray and reflect on our responsibility to care for God's creation. This year's theme, "Living Water," reminds us that water is a precious gift from God, essential for all life. It also reminds us of Jesus, who gives us the living water that nourishes our souls. As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us renew our commitment to protect creation and use water wisely. Penitential Rite Celebrant : As we begin this Eucharistic celebration, let us ask God's forgiveness for the times we have failed to care for His creation and have taken the gift of water for granted. (Pause) Celebrant : Lord our Creator, you have given us water as a precious gift. Forgive us for wasting it and failing to care for your creation. Lord, have mercy. People : Lord, have mercy. Celebrant : Jesus our Saviour, you offer us living water and call us to change our ways. Help us to care for one another and for our Mother Earth. Christ, have mercy. People : Christ, have mercy. Celebrant : Holy Spirit, giver of life, guide us to use water wisely and protect all that God has created. Lord, have mercy. People : Lord, have mercy. Celebrant : May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. People : Amen. Prayer of the faithful Celebrant : With gratitude for the gift of water and with faith in Christ, whom "even the winds and the sea obey", we place our petitions before the Lord. Response : Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For a parched, thirsty and polluted world: We pray for people who do not have enough clean water and for rivers, lakes and oceans that are polluted. May our Church continue to guide us in caring for and protecting our Mother Earth, we pray to the Lord .... Response For all eco-warriors who protect our water: We pray for all those who work to protect our oceans, rivers and wells. May the Lord bless their efforts and inspire many others to join them, we pray to the Lord .... Response For farmers, fisherfolk and those who depend on water: We remember farmers, fisherfolk and all those who depend on water for their livelihood. May they have enough water for their work and may our leaders ensure that they are treated fairly, we pray to the Lord .... Response For the Pope's Prayer Intention for September: In keeping with the Pope's prayer intention for September, we pray for the care of water. May water be protected, used wisely and shared fairly, so that everyone may have access to this precious gift, we pray to the Lord .... Response For our parish community: As a parish community, we ask for wisdom and courage to take practical steps to conserve water, avoid wasting it and use it wisely, we pray to the Lord .... Response For Community and Personal Needs: Let us pray in silence for our community and personal needs…(Pause), we pray to the Lord. (Let us now pray silently for our own personal intentions and for the needs of our community…… we pray to the Lord.) Celebrant : Loving Father, Creator of us all, when fear overtakes us, remind us of your Son's words, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Hear our prayers, calm the struggles of our world, and help us to care for your creation. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Thanksgiving Prayer Loving Father, Creator of us all, we thank you for nourishing us through this Eucharist and for the precious gifts of creation, especially water. Give us wisdom to use water wisely, courage to protect our environment, and generous hearts to care for those in need. May the Eucharist we have received strengthen us to be faithful stewards of your creation. Through Christ Our Lord.   Amen.