As I wrote about last week, the universal Catholic Church has embarked on its "Year of Faith". Obviously, a large part of faith is prayer and I'm really looking forward to ramping up my prayer life over the next year (and beyond). After all, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!
Here are 3 of my favourite prayers:
1. The Guardian Angel Prayer.
It's one of the very first prayers that my lovely wife Gail taught me
before she was my wife (she's always been lovely). We pray it as a
family anytime we travel together in the van (such as on our recent road
trip to California) and I pray it every time I drive my car. I ask my
guardian angel to light, guard, rule, and guide me by keeping me alert
and helping me avoid freak accidents and freaky drivers. So it has
nothing to do with me being an Asian driver. Okay...maybe a little bit.
- Angel of God, my guardian dear
To whom God's love commits me here
Ever this day, be at my side
To light and guard, rule and guide
Amen
2. The Lord's Prayer.
It's the first prayer that Gail taught me back in high school as she
humbly (yet strategically and sneakily) introduced me to the Catholic
faith and Jesus Christ. One day, as I opened my agenda book to write
down my chemistry homework, I found this prayer written in bright red
ink. Reciting it is one of my favourite parts of Mass as we all join
hands united in our prayer. It's the inspiration for one of my
favourite worship songs ever: Matt Maher's "As It Is In Heaven." And
it's a safe go-to prayer when you're asked without warning to lead a
group in prayer...especially if you're not comfortable with spontaneous
prayer. This seems to happen a lot in youth ministry!
3. Jesus Loves Me.
Singing is praying twice, right? I have fond memories of singing this
song when our St. Paul's 6:30pm choir was just starting: Gary,
Christina, Bernie and I did a rendition based on a song called "We
Dedicate" by the 90s r&b group All-4-One. My kids have continued
the tradition, as both Jake and Kayla have YouTube videos of them singing the song. A simple song with a powerful and unfailing message: that Jesus loves me...and you. The Bible tells us so!
Clayton
Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah
and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie. He has
served as the Director of the Office of Youth and
Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
of Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes
develop their own youth and young adult ministries. When
not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his
family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime,
and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and
the Vancouver Canucks. Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo
On Thursday, October 11, Catholics throughout the world began to celebrate the "Year of Faith" - it's an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him.
The Year of Faith (that concludes on November 24, 2013) also calls Catholic to encounter Jesus in
the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and rediscover the Faith and
Church.
Many of you readers are aware that Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is literally, not symbolically, truly present in the Holy Eucharist – body,
blood, soul and divinity - and that we
are truly consuming Jesus’ body and blood at Mass.
So for this week I'd like to share with you a video that we did for my son Jacob's First Communion back in February 2011. Enjoy!
Clayton
Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah
and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie. He has served
as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult
Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of
Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes
develop their own youth and young adult ministries. When not
doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his
family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime,
and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and
the Vancouver Canucks. Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo
