At St. Mary's School, we have a tradition of saying prayers every day along with the Pledge of Allegiance. In March of 2025, Bishop Vasquez was installed as the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, which means that the Diocese of Austin is "sede vacate," that is- the bishop's seat is empty. During this time, we pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as he makes this decision, as well as for our future bishop. PRAYER FOR A NEW BISHOPAlmighty and ever living God, grant our Holy Father, Pope Francis, wisdom in discernment as he chooses a new bishop for this local Church. By your divine providence, grant us a shepherd, after the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, whose benevolent care and kindly zeal will strengthen the people of God by the light of the Gospel and the power of the sacraments. Lord, as you now prepare to call our new bishop to the Diocese of Austin, give him courage and generosity to respond with a spirit of joyful hope. Invoking the intercession of our patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In addition to this prayer, the prayers below are examples of those that our students pray daily: |
Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. |
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. |
Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for Your great love - and I lift up this day for Your blessings! With Your help, I will live today as a responsible, generous and honest student. Like Jesus, I will try today to treat everyone I meet with dignity and respect. With Jesus' spirit alive in me, I will witness my love by thinking of others first and myself last. Help me today, Father, to put into action what I have said in words. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. |
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. |
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sins. Amen. |
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope, to you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears; turn, then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen. |