Praying with Dreamers Prayer Service

Catholic Day of Action: Praying with Dreamers

February 27, 2018

Prayer Leaders: Welcome

We want to thank you for taking time from your very busy lives to join the Catholic Community for a day of prayer and action with Dreamers.

It’s time for Congress to do the right thing by Dreamers who are our neighbors, our students, our parishioners, and friends.  It’s time—it’s long past time—for Congress to protect our communities and pass a clean  Dream Act without  additions that harm our immigrant communities, without threats to family unity, and without further militarization of border communities. 

We recall how often Dreamers, and our immigrant communities, fail to find welcome, fail to find acceptance, and fail to find solidarity. And we ask forgiveness.

Sing: This is Holy Ground

Prayer Leader: Opening Prayer

Let us pray. Loving God, you have given us in your Word the stories of persons who were forced to leave their homelands—Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, Moses. You sent us your son Jesus whose life was filled with travel and flight from enemies. We ask you, our God, to open our minds and hearts to the invitation to model your perfect example of love and to share the journey with those who seek welcome. Amen.

Leader of the Rosary:  

We gather today to pray that ancient Catholic prayer, the rosary. We gather as a believing community here in the site of our elected leaders. We pray for them, knowing that God can open minds and transform hearts. And we commend Dreamers, and all our immigrant sisters and brothers, into the loving hands of our Blessed Mother, Mary.

And so we begin, as is our custom . . . 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Apostles Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father:

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary (3x):

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen.

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Today we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary remembering the passion of Jesus and sharing the suffering of Dreamers.

First Mystery Reader:

The first sorrowful mystery, the agony in the garden (Mark 14:34-42)

If a Non-Dreamer Leader: Part of Christ’s suffering was that he endured it alone. The Apostles slumbered while his persecutors approached. Are we asleep as well? Do we recognize the injustice of current immigration policy? Do we speak on behalf of Dreamers and their families?

If a Dreamer Leader: Part of Christ’s suffering was that he endured it alone. The Apostles slumbered while his persecutors approached. Are we asleep as well?  Like Jesus, I, too, have felt alone on this painful journey. Do you recognize the injustice of our immigration policy?  Will you stand on behalf of me and my fellow Dreamers?

We pray for the grace of solidarity with those who are denied welcome in our country.

Rosary Leader: Our Father; Hail Mary (10x); Glory Be

Second Mystery Reader:

The second sorrowful mystery, the scourging at the pillar (John 19:1)

Non-Dreamer Leader: Pilate used torture to try to force a confession from Jesus. Today, Dreamers who, with their parents, fled to the United States to escape violence and torture are often deported or imprisoned for failing to possess proper documents.

We pray for forgiveness for our silence and we beg for the courage to speak out for justice.

Rosary Leader: Our Father; Hail Mary (10x); Glory Be

Third Mystery Reader: 

The third sorrowful mystery, the crowning with thorns (Matthew 27:27-30)

If a Non-Dreamer Leader: Jesus’ captors were not content with torture; they humiliated him, crowned him with thorns, and mocked him. Racism, prejudice, cruel stereotypes, and verbal abuse are the thorns that pierce many new migrants as they seek work, housing, and education for their children.

If a Dreamer Leader:  Jesus’ captors were not content with torture; they humiliated him, crowned him with thorns, and mocked him. Racism, prejudice, cruel stereotypes, and verbal abuse are the thorns that pierce many Dreamers as we seek work, housing, and education for our children.

We pray for compassion and for the grace to heal the wounds that divide us.

Rosary Leader: Our Father; Hail Mary (10x); Glory Be

Fourth Mystery Reader:

The fourth sorrowful mystery the carrying of the cross (Luke 23:26)

Non-Dreamer Reader: The burden of the Cross was so great that without the help of Simon of Cyrene, Jesus would have been crushed by its weight. Often, Dreamers bear crushing guilt because they survived when their parents or relatives were deported or died horribly in our deserts or our jails. Who can endure this alone?

We pray for the grace to be present to their suffering and help them carry their burden.

Rosary Leader: Our Father; Hail Mary (10x); Glory Be

Fifth Mystery Reader

The fifth sorrowful mystery, the crucifixion (Mark 15:37)

If a Non-Dreamer Leader: And with a loud cry, he breathed his last and died. Do DACA recipients cry when their status expires and their dreams of education, safety and work die? Or when a legislator tells them that the only home they know, is not their home?  Or when their citizen children are told they don’t belong?   

If a Dreamer Leader:  And with a loud cry, he breathed his last and died. We, DACA recipients also cried when DACA, our ticket to safety, was ended. We cry when our dreams of education, housing and work die, or when our citizen children are told they don’t belong. 

We pray for the grace to understand that no human being is illegal, that every life is sacred, and that each person must be welcomed with reverence.

Rosary Leader: Our Father; Hail Mary (10x); Glory Be

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Closing Song:

·         Here I am Lord

·         The Servant Song

Many thanks to Mary Ellen Lacy, DC who developed the original prayer from which this adapted.