Heavenly Father,

With grateful hearts, we gather this morning to thank You for the many blessings You have bestowed upon all who support and participate in the mission of Catholic education.

Today will be a day of great joy as we prepare to welcome His Grace Archbishop Richard Smith for his first visit to this facility. We are honoured by his presence and grateful for his faithful service to Your Church. May this day be filled with Your grace and be a source of encouragement, inspiration, and blessing for all who will gather.

Lord, we thank You for the privilege that awaits us later today as we join together for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. May this sacred time of prayer and worship draw us closer to You, deepen our faith, and renew our commitment to living the Gospel in our daily lives. May all that takes place today bring glory to Your name and reflect the beauty, dignity, and joy of our Catholic faith.

We thank You for the gift of His Grace Archbishop Richard Smith and for his faithful shepherding of Your people. We are grateful for his wisdom, leadership, and steadfast dedication to the mission of the Church. Continue to bless him abundantly, sustain him through Your grace, and strengthen him in his ministry as he leads the faithful entrusted to his care.

We also lift up in gratitude Anne Boyle, Bernadette Yuson, Fern Cole, Italia Prieto, Holly King, and Ben Sears. We thank You for their generous hearts, their dedication, and the many hours they have devoted in preparation for today’s visit. Their tireless efforts, offered with love, devotion, and a spirit of service, have helped prepare a warm and welcoming place for His Grace. Through countless acts of generosity, attention to detail, and quiet sacrifice, they have sought to ensure that this day reflects the hospitality, faith, and love that are at the heart of Christian service. Bless each of them abundantly, Lord, and reward their generosity with Your grace, peace, and joy.

As we look forward to gathering following Mass for fellowship and lunch, we thank You for the special privilege of sharing time and a meal with His Grace Archbishop Richard Smith. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather together in fellowship, conversation, and friendship. Bless our time together, and may it strengthen the bonds that unite us as members of Your Church. May the relationships formed and renewed throughout the day bear witness to the joy of the Gospel and the beauty of Christian community.

Through the intercession of Saint John Paul II, may all who support and participate in this mission be guided by truth, inspired by faith, and strengthened in hope. May the visit of His Grace later today bear abundant fruit and encourage all who labour in the service of Catholic education and the building of Your Kingdom.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.