From April 30 to May 5, we invite the Ottawa Catholic School Board family to celebrate Catholic Education Week virtually. This year’s theme is “We are Many, We are One.” Check out the daily #CathEdWeek challenges and prayers below as we celebrate the many gifts God has given our faith-filled community.
Monday, May 1 | When we see / En voyant
Monday’s Challenge is to capture a video or photo of something that embraces the wonder of the face of Christ when we see it. It can be a scene of nature, the wonder of a child, or the joys of charity and service. Be sure to share it using the hashtags #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.
Prayer
Gracious God,
We are grateful to gather, learn and build community daily. During Catholic Education Week, we are affirmed that though we are many, we are one in your Catholic family. In the spirit of Ubuntu, we embrace this teaching and value the well-being of each other, always seeking ways to support and uplift one another every day.
Grant us the ability to see You in all that we do today. May we know Your goodness in all the people we meet and speak with today. When we see You, we grow deeper in our faith.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 2 | When we listen / En écoutant
Tuesday’s Challenge is to practice your listening skills as you play, collaborate, and interact with others. Capture a video or photo of you listening to others. Be sure to share it using the hashtags #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.
Prayer
Almighty God,
You call us to be in a relationship with you and with others. Through the gift of listening, we develop understanding, empathy and compassion for all people. Teach us to be great neighbours and friends, even when we do not always get along.
Remind us to respect one another and build your Kingdom around us. We listen for ways to hear you every day. Please share your messages of love, kindness and acceptance. We accept your invitation to welcome all people into your family as we are many; we are one.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord.
Amen.
Special Event
Catholic Education Week Mass & Director of Education Commendation Awards at 7:30 pm. Presided by Archbishop Marcel Damphousse.
Wednesday, May 3 | When we reflect / En réfléchissant
Wednesday’s Challenge is to practice active, meditative, restorative and reflective prayer. Capture a video or photo of your Reflective practice. Be sure to share it using the hashtags #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, our Master Teacher,
Please provide the wisdom for us to learn how to reflect. Bless us with the opportunity to learn from our experiences. We are grateful to reflect on each moment, whether it is a challenging moment or a successful one. Allow us to see your face and accept the invitation to see our reflection in you. This brings us closer to you and helps us to grow in faith.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord.
Amen.
Thursday, May 4 | When we learn / En apprenant
Thursday’s Challenge is to capture what you are practising or learning about the Saints by video or photo. Be sure to share your message using the hashtags #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.
Prayer
Loving God,
Inspire me to learn to be more like you, following in your footsteps as the Saints did. Guide me today and every day to choose to do good and to be a message of your love. Give me the wisdom to seek out opportunities to learn and the patience with myself and others whenever we encounter difficulties or make mistakes. Allow me to view these moments as a chance to learn and grow. With each lesson, may I become more like You.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord.
Amen.
Friday, May 5 | When we act / En agissant
Friday’s Challenge is to capture how your community is coming together to help improve the lives of those less fortunate. These include volunteering, collecting specific items for those in need, Parish and community action or simple neighbourly acts and clean-up projects. You can capture the neighbourhood joy through videos or photos. Share your message using the hashtags #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.
Prayer
Loving God,
As we come to the end of Catholic Education Week, we reflect on all the ways that we have celebrated the gift of Catholic Education as a community. When we see, listen, reflect, learn and act, we are able to build a deeper relationship in faith with you. We are called to join together with our Catholic family as one body. Though our Church is made up of many, we are one in You.
Guide us today to act with gratitude, joy and hope as you have called us to do. May we seek ways to bring others closer to you by sharing your care for all people through our actions.
Praise to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.
