These prayers have been taken from a number of different sources. We hope you find them useful. Please feel free to submit your own prayers for us to post here so that others may use them. Below the prayers are some relevant passages from the scripture that may also be of use.
I pray for a world of peace where everyone can live integratively and proudly in his/her land of birth.
I pray for a world where integrity and dignity of person reflects individuals reality and that is respected, supported, nurtured and celebrated.
I pray for a world of adventure for the young and old when journey abroad is not in chain of compulsion, regret or desperation.
I pray for a world where anyone can found a home wherever she/he chooses to live and thrive even if it is outside his/her homeland.
I pray for a world of open door, where visitors are not hounded by settlers like the angels in Sodom and Gomorrah
I pray for a world that will recognize that “we are the world” the people to make a heaven happen here in hope of heaven yet to come.
Utopia Prayer - John Adewoye (co-founder of CICLiving and CLASP)
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Almighty and merciful God,
whose Son became a refugee
and had no place to call his own;
look with mercy on those who today
are fleeing from danger,
homeless and hungry.
Bless those who work to bring them relief;
inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts;
and guide the nations of the world towards that day
when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
- From An Invitation to Prayer
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Lord,
No one is a stranger to you
and no one is ever far from your loving care.
In your kindness watch over refugees and asylum seekers,
those separated from their loved ones,
those who are lost,
and those who have been exiled from their homes.
Bring them safely to the place where they long to be,
and help us always to show your kindness to strangers and those in need.
- Adapted by the Australian Social Justice Council from the Opening Prayer of the Mass for Refugees and Exiles, taken from Education for Justice
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God of hospitality and refuge,
come to us here in this place of security and safety.
Remind us that you are the God Almighty;
large enough for all people,
all nations, all tongues.
Help us, with the presence of your Holy Spirit,
to be able to create space
for those who seek asylum and refuge.
In the name of Jesus, your Son.
Amen.
- From Uniting Justice Australia
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Wise and compassionate God, help us to bear the burdens refugees
and asylum-seekers carry and not simply seek to shift the burden onto others.
Call our leaders to justice, generosity and compassion. Help them create and
implement strategies that are fair and just and treat refugees and asylum-seekers with dignity and care.
O God, our comforter, we ask you to comfort the broken-hearted and protect the
vulnerable. We pray for those who live in fear of detention and removal, for those who are in detention at this time and for those who face removal to an uncertain future. We ask you to assure them of your great love, surround them with your presence and fill them with your peace.
God bless our eyes so that we will recognise injustices.
God bless our ears so that we will hear the cry of the stranger.
God bless our mouths so that we will speak words of welcome to newcomers.
God bless our shoulders so we will be able to bear the weight of struggling for justice.
God bless our hands so that we can work together with all people to establish peace.
- Taken from: Nelu’s Blog
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From the Scriptures
For the Lord your God is God of gods
and Lord of lords,
the great God, mighty and awesome,
who is not partial and takes no bribe,
who executes justice for the orphan and the widow,
and who loves strangers, providing them food and clothing.
- Deuteronomy 10:17-18
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Then the king will say to those at his right hand,
“Come, you that are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world;
for I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you gave me clothing,
I was sick and you took care of me,
I was in prison and you visited me.”
And the king will answer them,
“Truly I tell you,
just as you did it to one of the least of these
who are members of my family,
you did it to me.”
- Matthew 25: 34-36, 40
