Praying for Bishop Philip
Our first prayer has been composed by Fr Mark Skelton, Clergy lead for Diocesan Safeguarding.
Lord of the vulnerable and wounded,
carer of the ones who are hurting,
shepherd of the lost and alone,
we bring Bishop Philip before you in prayer.
Fill him with your insight,
inspire him with your compassion
and strengthen him with Your grace
that he may be a shepherd to all who seek your face,
and with Your grace,
he will hear and understand the voices
of all who struggle within and outside the Church.
May he always be a minister of healing and welcome.
We make this prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.
Amen.
As we prepare to begin this wonderful new chapter with Bishop Philip as our Shepherd, it is a pleasure to present prayers written for him and our Diocese by school pupils from: Leweston School, Sherborne, Dorset; St Boniface Catholic College, Plymouth, Devon; St Edward’s Catholic and C of E School in Poole, Dorset; St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Falmouth, Cornwall; St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Poole, Dorset; and Our Lady and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Devon.
Dear Lord, we thank you for giving us Bishop Philip to lead our Diocese. Thank you for helping him to work hard. Help him to lead us all. Amen
Lilly, Year 7, Leweston School
Dear Lord, we are thankful for Bishop Philip. We pray that you help him in his work so that he can be a great Bishop for our Diocese. We pray that he is given all the support he needs. Amen.
Dexter, Year 7, Leweston School
Dear Lord, I hope you will lead Bishop Philip in his job and that he prays for and helps all of us. Amen.
Vova, Year 7, Leweston School
Dear Lord, thank you for providing our Diocese with a spiritual guide and leader. We thank you for giving Bishop Philip his gifts and his willingness to lead us. Help us to find God in our lives through Bishop Philip’s work in our Diocese. We pray for blessings upon Bishop Philip and his family who support him. Amen.
Bella, Year 7, Leweston School
Dear Lord, we thank you for Bishop Philip. Help him to lead our Diocese. We pray that he helps all of the people in our communities to live a happy and blessed life. Amen.
Freddy, Year 7, Leweston School
Dear Lord, we pray that Bishop Philip lives in a peaceful and loving home and that he is helped to live a good Christian life. Thank you, lord, for giving us the gift of life. Amen.
India, Year 7, Leweston School
Dear Lord, thank you for Bishop Philip and his future leadership of our Diocese. We pray that you continue to bless him with food and water and everything he needs. Amen.
Gabriel, Year 7, Leweston School
Dear Lord, we hope that Bishop Philip is able to continue his fabulous work and is able to be our Shepherd like you are. Guide us to do what is right and help us to not do the wrong thing. Amen.
Poppy, Year 7, Leweston School
The prayer below is by Matthew in Year 11 at St Boniface Catholic College.
Image courtesy of Fiona Hutchings, Chaplain at St Boniface Catholic College.
Dear Lord, please help Bishop Philip as he starts his new role and help him to succeed. Help him to open up with kind and joyful arms to his flock. Lord, guide him in his next chapter as our Bishop. You have blessed our Diocese. Help him to be brave and take on this role with pleasure, gratitude and with all the Gospel Values. Thank you for Bishop Philip, help us to pray for each other to open our hearts to receive the one you have chosen, Bishop Philip. Amen.
Isla, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Dear Loving God, please help the new Bishop, Bishop Philip to hear the cry of the poor and to guide him to be a shepherd to help his flock to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Help him to lead his Diocese to do their best and lead them to do what God has always wanted us to do. You have blessed us with our new Bishop and please let us show gratitude towards him. Amen.
Olive, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Dear Lord Jesus, please help Bishop Philip in his new job and help the Diocese to guide Bishop Philip to continue the work of Jesus in his new role. May he be blessed by the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
Ollie, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Heavenly Father, help Bishop Philip to be successful in his new role as Bishop. Help him take on this important role with love and peace. Look over him and give him courage when times are tough. Thank You for calling this wonderous man to be our Bishop. Amen.
Adora, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Heavenly Father, please help Bishop Philip to live in peace and help him to be humble to his people so that his people can live in peace. Open our hearts to receive the one you have chosen, Bishop Philip. Amen.
Chelsea, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Lord, thank you for blessing our Diocese with Bishop Philip. Lord, help him to be loving, caring and humble. Lord, help him to open his arms with love and joy. Lord, guide him to be the best person he can be.Lord Jesus, help him to be like you. Amen.
Esther, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Heavenly Father, please help Bishop Philip to be successful. With the power of the Holy Spirit help him to guide us and show courage for his Catholic community. I thank you and praise You for giving us your church and Bishop Phillip. I ask you today to pour your goodness upon the world and our Diocese. We pray for Bishop Philip; may he lead us and guide us in his new role. Amen.
Amelia, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Dear Lord Jesus, please guide Bishop Philip to succeed in his role as the Bishop of Plymouth. Help him to shepherd the Diocese, bringing people close to Jesus. We ask the Holy Spirit to give him courage and compassion to guide his flock. Amen.
Flynn, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
Lord Jesus, please guide our new Bishop, Bishop Philip. Make him succeed in all he does. You have blessed our diocese. So now please bless our bishop. Please help him to guide us and all our priests. Amen.
Antek, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Falmouth
A Prayer from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Poole
Mrs Clare Tickel, Headteacher
Dear Heavenly Father, bless our new Bishop, your servant Philip. May his hands show us how to serve and act with kindness. May his actions teach us humility and justice. May his words inspire us to love without prejudice. May his leadership encourage us to hope for a better future for our children. May his presence bind us together as one community in faith and love. Thank you for our new leader. Bless our new Bishop, your servant Philip. Amen.
Messages for Bishop Philip from school pupils
Dear Bishop Philip, we thank you for leading our Diocese with help from God’s teachings. We pray that you will help us to have hope in God, and that he will end war and bring peace. Shepherd us to a good and holy life, and help us to believe in God.
William, Year 7, Leweston School, Sherborne
Bishop Philip, we thank God for you. We appreciate you a lot. Your work is very inspiring and we hope God guides you to be happy!
Georgia, Year 7, Leweston School, Sherborne
To Bishop Philip, welcome and thank you for being Bishop!
Billie, Year 6, Our Lady and St Patricks School,Teignmouth
Dear Bishop Philip, welcome to Plymouth. We hope you have an amazing time as Bishop! We pray for you as our Bishop. Lord have mercy, Amen.
Year 6 Pupil, Our Lady & St Patrick’s School, Teignmouth
Dear Bishop Philip, welcome to our community. I hope you are happy, we are happy to have you!
Ada, Year 6, Our Lady and St Patricks School, Teignmouth
Dear Bishop Philip, I wanted to thank you for joining Plymouth. We can’t wait to see you.
Daniel, Year 6, Our Lady and St Patrick’s School, Teignmouth
With warmest thanks to all of the school pupils and to the following teachers, chaplains and priests for their brilliant and generous contributions to this special edition newsletter:
Mr Tim Moran, Headteacher St Mary’s Catholic Primary school Falmouth; Mrs Sarah Shailes, Teacher, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Falmouth; Mr Daniel Teague,Teacher, Leweston School, Sherborne; Miss Fiona Hutchings, Chaplain, St Boniface Catholic College, Plymouth; Mrs Clare Tickel, Headteacher, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Poole; Mrs Cathy Blatchford, Headteacher, Our Lady and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Teignmouth; Mr Chris Farrow, Assistant Headteacher St Edwards Catholic and C of E Secondary School, Poole.
Image below of welcome cards for our Bishop courtesy of Our Lady and St Patrick’s School, Teignmouth.
