Let us remember that we are in the presence of God.
In the name of the creator, the redeemer, and the sanctifier, we pray.

PRAYER
Thank you, Heart of All Goodness, for each of these holy, little ones who have been a part of my religious life over the years. Thank you for their innocence, their hopes for the future, and also, their reminder of all the children who suffer injustice each day. I renew my dedication to you and pray that their concerns will continue to grow within me as I seek to carry Blessed Edmund’s vision in our world today, of seeing Christ present and appealing in the marginalized young people of our day. May your love, O God, shine through me so that in seeing me, others may see You. This I ask in the name of Jesus, our brother and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

PENITENTIAL RITE L/ Grace and peace be with you from God the Father and from Jesus Christ who loved us. Brothers, God calls us to conversion; let us therefore ask our God for the grace of sincere repentance. (A period of silence follows with a ritual of reconciliation to follow. Take a few moments to reflect on the multitude of young people who have been a part of your life - think of one such youngster, especially one who brought home to young a sense of injustice and whom you may have failed as a brother, as a teacher, and that has affected and remained with you over the years. )

Loving God, at times I have recklessly thrown aside your love for me, and I have often wasted the wealth of talents which you gave me. I cry to you as the lost son to his generous father: "I have sinned against you. Receive me again into your house from which I have wandered." Amen!

Leader: Let us name what is evil in our world, and in the same of Jesus proclaim its defeat. In a world where the rich are protected from understanding the lives of the poor, let us believe in the words of Jesus:

All: I have come to bring the good news to the poor …

Leader: In a world where the demands of international debt are more important than the health of children, let us believe in the words of Jesus:

All: Suffer the little children to come to me …

Leader: In a world where unjust laws and practices privilege white people over others, let us believe the words of Jesus …

All: He/she who hears my word and keeps it is my brother, my sister …

Leader: In a world where women are silenced and exploited let us believe the words of Jesus …

All: Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest …

Leader: In a world where the lives of ordinary workers are violated by the military, let us believe the words of Jesus …

All: What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? …

Leader: In a world where the earth and its forests are plundered and destroyed let us believe the words of Jesus …

All: I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

Let us pray, God of vision, we long to see your face and are afraid to see it; we long to break the grip of suffering, and we cannot cast it out. Uncover our faces and expose us to your glory, that we may comprehend the poor in their suffering and insight, and the world may be transformed in you. Amen.

Adapted from Janet Morley, Bread of Tomorrow.

The children of our world are hungry, not just for bread,
but also for affection, esteem and love.

They sometimes die
because they do not have
a reason to live, they lack hope.

I would like, O Lord, to give strength back to wearied hands
and steadiness to knees that tremble in fear.

I would like to tell the broken hearted
to take courage and be brave.

I would like to do all this in your name, O Lord,
and to share with all the hope that is ours. Amen!

FIRST READING:

All children of the world have the right to affection, love and understanding.
to adequate nutrition and medical care.
to free education.
to full opportunity for play and recreation.
to a name and nationality.
to special care, if handicapped.
to be among the first to receive relief in times of disaster.
to learn to be a useful member of society and to develop individual abilities.
to be brought up in a spirit of peace and universal love.
to enjoy these rights, regardless of race, colour, sex, religion, national or social origin.

            THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, United Nations

ALL We Christian Brothers believe in God, who is love and who has given the earth to all children.

LEFT We Christian Brothers believe in Jesus Christ, who has come to heal us, and called the children to himself.

RIGHT We Christian Brothers believe in the Spirit of God, who works in and inspires all earth’s children.

LEFT We Christian Brothers believe in Blessed Edmund, who responded in his time to the poor boys of Waterford because he saw the face of Christ within them.

RIGHT We Christian Brothers believe in the communion of our Edmund Rice Network called to be at Youth’s service, especially the marginalized.

LEFT We Christian Brothers do not believe in the right of domination and power over innocent youth.

RIGHT We Christian Brothers believe in the Charter of Children’s Rights and being in solidarity with the children of the world.

ALL We Christian Brothers do not believe that suffering is in vain, that death is the end, that the chaos of war and exploitation of people is what God intends.

But Christian Brothers dare to believe, always and in spite of every thing, in God’s power to transform and transfigure, using our hands and our hearts to fulfil His promise of a new earth. Amen.