Leader: For the spiritual and social justice direction of Vatican II, and the Church leadership that produced it...
All: We thank you, God.
Right: For the spiritual and social justice leadership of men and women, lay and ordained, in this community, in this country and throughout the world.. .we thank you, God.
Left: For the fidelity, foresight and energy of the Community of St. Malachi founders.., we thank you, God.
Right: For your call to stand as sisters and brothers of Christ, who chose to spend his time with the excluded of his time.. 'to work his miracles upon a woman who was bleeding, a friend who had died, a woman bent low, a man born blind, newlyweds short on wine, and people sharing their meager portions of bread and fish.. .we thank you, God.
Left: For the opportunities provided Community of St. Malachi members to serve those less fortunate.. .we thank you, God.
Right: For those who have continued and will continue in future to adhere to our CSM founders' mission and goals...
we thank you, God.
Left: For the spirit of love and caring Community of St. Malachi members share with one another in good times and in bad, in our successes and in our human failures, and for the spirit of joy and thanksgiving we share in our Liturgies.. .we thank you, God.
Right: For our continuing hope in the further development of respect
for one another among all your peoples; better understanding of our
differences in religion, race, gender and culture, and progress in ecumenical
bonding both among your Christian churches and among your Christian and
non-Christian worshippers.. .we thank you, God.
Left: For our presenters this evening, and for this opportunity to
learn more about how we can more effectively free from their bonds our
brothers and sisters who suffer because of unemployment, under-employment and
other forms of impoverishment.. .we thank you, God.
All: For the realization that as we stand here together this
evening, we are in communion with all women and men everywhere who love your
Church too much to leave it — and who struggle to make it better. So, let us
give you thanks, God. And, in the spirit of Vatican II, let' s get on with the
work!
