Vintage postcard from Knock.

Depiction of the Apparition at Knock on an old holy card.

Our Heavenly Father,

At the beginning of the New Year, we humbly ask You to bless the Order of the Alexian Brothers. For eight centuries they have served those in need, spreading love and hope throughout the world. Please grant them the strength and wisdom to continue to carry out their mission faithfully and effectively. Bless the Brothers with health and spiritual strength to serve tirelessly the elderly, the sick, the poor and all those in need. Give them perseverance in the face of adversity and guide them on the right path. Help the Order to grow and develop, so that the message of love and healing may reach more people. Give them new vocations and strengthen existing communities. We ask that you bless their ministry and guide them in your light, so that they may continue to carry on the legacy of St. Alexius in a worthy way.

Amen.

Lord, as this year draws to a close, we turn to you with hearts full of gratitude and reflection. We thank you for the blessings we have received, for the moments of joy, for the lessons learned, and for the strength that carried us through the challenges. We acknowledge our shortcomings, our failures, and the times we have fallen short of your grace. We ask for your forgiveness and guidance as we strive to be better in the coming year. We give thanks for the people who have enriched our lives, for the love that has sustained us, and for the hope that has never faded. As we bid farewell to the old year, we release its burdens and anxieties, and we embrace the promise of a new beginning. Grant us the courage to face the future with faith, hope, and love. May your presence be with us in the year ahead, guiding our steps and filling our hearts with peace. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.

The beautiful chapell of the Irish Alexian Brothers monastery in Knock during Christmastide.