Praying for the Philippines Presidential Election
April 13, 2022
The Australian chapter of ecumenical organisation Promotion of Church People's Response has launched a prayer appeal ahead of the Philippines Presidential Election which will take place on 9 May this year. A prayer for use in worship is below.
Chair of the Uniting Church Filipino National Conference Rev Berlin Guerrero commended the prayer to the Uniting Church.
"On behalf of the Filipino National Conference in the UCA, I would like to endorse to the Assembly this prayer on the upcoming Philippines Elections. It expresses the desire of many Filipinos including naturalised citizens, and those temporarily working and studying in Australia, that the Elections will be meaningful and credible through honest, clean, peaceful conduct of the voting process."
"It is our prayer that the electoral exercise will redound to the betterment of the Filipino people."
PRAYER FOR THE PHILIPPINES ELECTIONS
Adapted from a prayer released by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
Leader:
In the spirit of solidarity, we pray for the Filipino people as they face their forthcoming national and local elections on May 9; that it may be peaceful, honest, clean, and serve the common good.
All:
Heavenly Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, in unity with the Holy Spirit, we pray for the Filipino people as they go through their national and local elections. Save their electoral processes, from coercion, intimidation, violence and terrorism, dishonesty, lies and all distortion of truth, bribery, graft and all conspiracy for fraud, gullibility to the deceptive and blindness of perspective, threats, red-tagging and perverse language.
Enlighten them, that conscience may always be the ultimate norm, common good may always be the highest goal, human dignity may be respected all the time, the poor and the weak may always be the priority, care for creation may never be ignored, solidarity may guide the path of peace and development, and genuine fear of God and love of neighbour may guide those who seek public office.
Shepherd of souls and Saviour of the nations, politics is your gift, a call to serve others and grow in holiness. Guide Philippine politics. May political engagement for voters and candidates bring glory to your loving name and help your children grow in holiness, forever and ever. Amen.