Fone a Friend
A Prayer Book by and for Young People
Description
ABOUT THE BOOK
Fone a Friend is a booklet of prayers written by secondary school students in the Archdiocese of Armagh.
The prayers are grouped together under various headings, for example: prayers for family, prayers in examination time, prayers about friendship and relationships, prayers dealing with the death of someone close and so on.
The prayers are illustrated by photographs taken by Father Declan O'Loughlin.They are linked to the text and act as a further visual prayer, helping to create a scared space.
Many young people are searching for a personal faith experience and are open to pray as a way to be in friendship with the living God. It is hoped that they will find these prayers an aid in speaking with the Lord and so become a source of rich blessing, peace and joy.
ABOUT THE EDITORS
Donna McKenna is a religious education teacher in St Ciaran's High School, Ballygawley, and a member of the Armagh Diocesan Prayer and Spirituality Group. Fr Declan works as the post-primary diocesan adviser for religious education and is secretary of the Prayer and Spirituality Group.
First Chapter
Introduction
Fone a Friend is a booklet of prayers written by secondary school students in the Archdiocese of Armagh. The young people were invited to compose prayers linked to key experiences in their lives with a view to sharing them with others as a help to prayer and spiritual development.
The project was seen as an opportunity for young people to minister to their peers through sharing their faith and personal insights into life’s special moments. The prayers are grouped under various headings, for example: prayers for family, prayers in examination time, prayers about friendship and relationships, prayers dealing with the death of someone close and so on.
The prayers were selected by Miss Donna McKenna and Fr Declan O’Loughlin. Editing was kept to a minimum to preserve the originality of the children’s prayers. Donna is a religious education teacher in St Ciaran’s High School, Ballygawley, and a member of the Armagh Diocesan Prayer and Spirituality Group. Fr Declan works as the post-primary Diocesan Adviser for religious education and is secretary to the Prayer and Spirituality Group.
The photographs were provided by Fr Declan. They are linked to the text and act as a further visual prayer, helping to create a sacred space.
We hope that young people, families, parishes and schools will use this collection as an aid to personal prayer and perhaps as a resource to have in school oratories and parish chapels. There has never been a better time to have such a resource available: so many young people are hungry and searching for a personal faith experience and are open to prayer as a way to be in friendship with the living God. We pray that they will find these prayers an aid in speaking with the Lord and so become a source of rich blessing, peace and joy.
Daily Thanksgiving
Each night before I lie down, I say to myself
I must thank God for another happy day.
I kneel beside my bed and join my hands;
I pray to God for all my special intentions.
I thank him for looking after my family and me and all my friends
and for keeping us safe.
When I wake up the next day I sometimes say
thank you God for making me this way.
Cara O’Connor
Dear God, I thank you for my day
I thank you for my health
I thank you for my family
I thank you for my friends
I thank you for my life
I am sorry for my sins
I am sorry for my foul words
Help me follow your ways.
Paul Gaughran
Lord, you gave me
strength when I needed it. You healed
me when I was sick. You gave me
food when I was hungry. You gave
me water when I was thirsty. But
most of all you gave me love when
I needed love.
Sean Shannon
Thank you God for the day I have had. For
blessing me with luck and love. You have
held my hand throughout the day, guiding
me and helping me through obstacles. I
may have fallen over a few times, but you
have been there to help me up. I thank you
Lord, for keeping me safe throughout this day.
Anon
Dear God, I would like to thank
you for my life and my family, and
all they do for me. I thank you for the
shelter and the food I receive; for my
education and the world that surrounds
me. I thank you for all the animals and
plants that live in our beautiful country.
Thank you for everything you have
given me.
Caroline Early
Heavenly Father, you have
helped me in my times of need,
shown me right from wrong, guided me in my life and given me
everything that I need. Thank you for all my friends, the people that watch out for me,
stick up for me and care for me. The people that I can confide in, have fun with and hang
around with. The people that cheer me up when I am down and stick by me no matter
what. Thank you for my family – the people that love and care for me, give me love and
affection, shelter and feed and clothe me. The people that would do anything for me. The
people that listen to me and help me when I am troubled. The people I can tell absolutely
anything to. The people I can trust with my life – the people that make my life complete.
Please God, help me always to have good family and friends; never to lose a close friend
or fall out with any members of my family for a long period of time. Please watch over
me, my family and my friends.
Niamh Kelly
O Heavenly Father, I would just like to thank you for my family;
those who love and care for me. Thanks for not letting me have a
single enemy. O Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you
do for me – helping me through times of sadness or sorrow.
O Heavenly Father, thank you for keeping me safe; making
me feel protected from dangers big and small. O Heavenly
Father, I just wanted to thank you for everything you have
done, are doing and will do for my family and me.
Hayley Donald
Dear Lord, thank you for each day, which gives me a
chance to grow more like you I will always pray. You have
shown me to be kind, to love others as I find. Thank you
for the food we eat; every day I acknowledge it as a treat.
Starving children everywhere – Lord, show them that
we really do care. Thank you for my family who have
shown me how to love you and to share and care.
Paula Mc Ivor
Dear God, when I am happy,
you will smile with me. When
I am upset, you will wipe
away my tears. Whenever
I am jealous, you will show
me how lucky I am. If I am
confused, you will make things
clear. When I am shocked, you
will reassure me it is for the
best. And when I am nervous,
you will hold my hand.
Without you looking after me, I
wouldn’t be what I am. So thank
you God for everything – you are
too good to me. I know I can lean on you,
whatever my problem may be.
Clare Mc Quaid
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