By Rev. Michael A. Zampelli, S.J., member of Marquette’s Board of Trustees
Let’s place ourselves in the presence of God — who created the heavens and the earth
…who raised Jesus from the dead,
…who binds us together in the Spirit across time and space.
Let’s hold in our hearts the students of Marquette University, the faculty, the staff, the administration, as we walk the road of this pilgrimage.
And let us pray…
May we who are inconvenienced
Always remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have few risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the possibility of working from home
Remember those who must choose
Between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have some flexibility to care for our children
When their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money
In the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our world and our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically
Wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be
The loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
*Adapted from “Prayer for a Pandemic” by Cameron Bellm.