These prayers are exactly what their name suggests – prayers of the gathered faithful. In praying this prayer, the faithful are carrying out their role of praying for the entire world as well as for the needs of the local community. No two congregations will have exactly the same prayers, since their perception of the world's needs and of the local community will vary. Therefore they are written anew for each Sunday and weekly celebrations.

Sunday May 25 Pope Leo takes possession of his Cathedral in Rome.

Sunday May 25 is also the 5th anniversary of Archbishop Patrick O'Regan being installed as Archbishop in Adelaide.

Monday May 26 is observed as Sorry Day - a Day of Healing - to commemorate and lament the Stolen Generations of Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families over many decades in the 20th century. 

Tuesday May 27 begins National Reconciliation Week in Australia.

With best wishes, Fr Maurice

This week we begin with the Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV to the Petrine Ministry. Prayers for Sunday focus on that event and for the Church.

Saturday is the Solemnity of Our Lady, Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia. There are two sets of prayers - within and beyond Australia.

It is also a day of prayer for the Church in China where one of the places of pilgrimage loved by the Chinese is dedicated to Mary, Help of Christians.

I am sorry that the prayers are late this week, but I arrived back this afternoon from a week's leave.

With best wishes, Fr Maurice

Unable to anticipate the dates of the Election and Installation of our new Pope, or his name, I have begun with a set of prayers suitable to use for the day of his ELECTION or day after it, as well as a set for the day of his INSTALLATION so that all possibilities are covered. Pope Francis was elected on the 5th ballot, and Pope Benedict on the 4th ballot and Pope John Paul II on the 8th ballot and John Paul I on the 4th ballot. Given that this is the Conclave with the largest number of Electors and most widely spread Candidates across the globe, anything could happen, knowing that the Holy Spirit blows wherever He wills.

The Universal Prayer for the 5th Week of Easter will not be sent out until the Wednesday evening of the 14th May. Sorry for that delay.

Mothers' Day is celebrated in Australia on the second Sunday of May.

Pray for and enjoy the Conclave.

With continued blessing for the weeks of the Resurrection.

Maurice Shinnick 

We enter into this coming week in the uncertainty and excitement of a Papal Conclave, starting on Wednesday 7th May.

The first page is a set of prayers which can be used in the first Masses following the election of our new Pope.

The Sunday prayers include the Jubilee of People of the Business World and praying for those who died in the Vietnam War, concluded 50 years ago and World War II which concluded in Europe 80 years ago.

The last two Conclaves elected a Pope on the 2nd day, but before that the average time was 3 days.

So there are alternate prayers to accommodate the reality which reflects our lack of knowledge. We just do not know what day we will see a new Pope and unfortunately, I have no direct line to the Vatican!

Maurice Shinnick