Catholic Extension Society supports hundreds of Catholic leaders who work in the poorest regions of our country. In their mission to serve the poor, they often witness heartbreaking and shocking realities faced by the most vulnerable people. They must overcome unexpected challenges and find creative solutions with few resources available to them. Since 1905, we have been honored to walk with these leaders and offer them our committed support.
Recently, we asked four hardworking, faith-driven individuals to share their favorite prayers with us. Each prayer reveals something about their hearts and the spirituality behind their work. Their prayer keeps them going, keeps them focused, and renews them. It grounds them in God’s will.
We hope you find inspiration in reflecting on the favorite prayers of these remarkable leaders.
1. Archbishop Robert González Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Archbishop Roberto González Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico, prefers the popular “Prayer for Serenity.”
His churches still have not been rebuilt, and the local economy remains devastated. Hence his need for a serenity that only God can provide. The words of this prayer, however, take on added meaning when you consider that he has had to contend with many challenges in his 25 years as archbishop, including Hurricane Maria in 2017, which was one of the costliest and deadliest disasters in U.S. history.
Prayer for Serenity
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time, accepting
hardship as a pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it;
Trusting that You will make all things
right
If I surrender to Your will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this
life
And supremely happy with You forever in
the next
2. Joanna Williams, executive director of the Kino Border Initiative
Joanna Williams relies on Ignatian Spirituality in her demanding role as the executive director of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), at the U.S.–Mexico border, which promotes programs and policies that affirm the dignity of migrants running from persecution and poverty. The Georgetown alumna started working at KBI after graduation and has remained there ever since. In spite of all that she has done (last year KBI served over 200,000 meals and offered first aid and social work to 3,000+ migrants), every day brings new challenges.
For someone in a potentially overwhelming job that deals with so much human suffering, St. Ignatius’ “Suscipe” is a prayer of surrender that is the perfect medicine for the soul for someone like Williams. It invites God to be the driving force of our efforts, and we are simply the vehicle. It makes good sense, then, that this is Williams’ prayer.
Suspice
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
My memory, my understanding, and my entire will.
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; dispose of it, wholly according to
your will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
That is enough for me.
—St. Ignatius Loyola
3. Jean Fedigan, founder of Sister José Women’s Center in Tucson, Arizona
Jean Fedigan (above center), is grounded by the “Litany of Nonviolence,” authored by the Sisters of Providence.
As the founder and executive director of Sister José Women’s Center in Tucson, Arizona, she sees the devastating effects of violence daily. Homeless women arrive at her doorstep each morning after surviving the terrors of the night on the streets.
They’ve been beaten, sexually assaulted, robbed and humiliated. They are looking for safety and to be delivered not only from the scourge of intense hunger and heat in the desert, but also from violence. Thus, Fedigan prays daily this litany in the name of the 20,000 women per year that she serves, and those she has yet to serve, asking God that she can become an instrument of peace.
Litany of Nonviolence
Provident God, aware of our own
brokenness,
We ask the gift of courage to identify
how and where we are in need of
conversion in order to live in solidarity
with earth and all creation.
Deliver us from the violence of
superiority and disdain. Grant us
the desire, and the humility, to listen
with special care to those whose
experiences and attitudes are different
from our own.
Deliver us from the violence of greed
and privilege. Grant us the desire,
and the will, to live simply so others
may have their just share of Earth’s
resources.
God of love, mercy and justice,
acknowledging our complicity in
those attitudes, actions and words
which perpetuate violence, we beg the
grace of a nonviolent heart.
—Sisters of Providence
4. Father Ron Foshage, pastor in Jasper, Texas
Father Ron Foshage, MS, of Jasper, Texas, has a favorite poem and prayer called “No Wind at the Window.” It is fitting for a man who has always said yes through some difficult times.
He helped rebuild a community torn apart by a horrible act of violence and racism when James Byrd Jr. was murdered in Jasper, Texas, in 1998. Father Foshage has traveled the country as a leading voice against racism and hate crimes.
Today Father Foshage is tackling the challenge of homeless veterans. This poem is his constant companion, reminding him that to whatever challenge God puts before him, he should just say yes, as Mary so boldly did.
No Wind at the Window
No wind at the window.
No knock on the door;
No light from the lampstand,
No foot on the floor;
No dream born of tiredness.
No ghost raised by fear:
Just an angel and a woman
And a voice in her ear.
O Mary, O Mary,
Don’t hide from my face.
Be glad that you’re favored
And filled with God’s grace.
The time for redeeming,
The world has begun:
And you are requested
To mother God’s Son.
This child must be born that
The kingdom might come:
Salvation for many,
Destruction for some.
Both end and beginning,
Both message and sign;
Both victor and victim,
Both yours and divine.
No payment was promised,
No promises made:
No wedding was dated,
No blueprint displayed.
Yet Mary consenting
To what none could guess,
Replied with conviction,
“Tell God I say YES.”
—Text by John L. Bell
Catholic Extension Society supports hundreds of devoted Catholic leaders like these. Our mission is the build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. Please support our work!
This story first appeared in the Summer 2024 edition of Extension magazine.
