Convention Prayer English

Convention Prayer

Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Paul the Apostle are the patrons for the 2008 Worldwide Marriage Encounter International Convention. Our Lady of Guadalupe was chosen because she is the patroness of the Americas, of the Spanish-speaking Encounter, and of Section XI, which is hosting the Convention. St. Paul the Apostle was selected because his feast day (with St. Peter) falls on the closing Sunday of Convention, and he is the Apostle to the Gentiles. In our own way, we are apostles for the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders to the world. In addition, the Holy Father has recently announced that the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul next year will begin a special Pauline Year in honor of the 2,000th anniversary of St. Paul's birth.

Heavenly Father,

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Paul, our patrons, we ask you to bless the 40th Anniversary Worldwide Marriage Encounter Convention, all those priests and couples who are working on it, and all who will attend. May our Convention praise and glorify You as we model ourselves on Your Son and His love for His bride, the Church. Fill us with the fire of Your Holy Spirit so that we may passionately pursue our dream of renewing the Church and changing the world. May You draw thousands of couples, families, priests and religious from all over the world, so that we may truly be one world and one family, celebrating 40 years of Your amazing grace. We ask this through Your Son, Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.