3-13-25
Loving Father,
Placing ourselves in your presence,
we ask you to be with us as we meet today.
Help us to be open to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Remind us of the importance of our work for your Church!
Please give each of us what we need in order to help fulfill the mission
that you have given to Duluth Benedictine Ministries.
We thank you in advance for your guidance and love.
We ask this, in the name of Christ, your Son. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

5-8-25
EASTER / RESURRECTION
Loving and compassionate God,
It is said that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.
Your Son laid down his life for us. May we never forget the magnitude of his sacrifice.
Today, we resurrect our commitment to you.
Today, we resurrect our commitment to Duluth Benedictine Ministries,
the mission you have entrusted to us.
May we be so humble as to walk in the footsteps of those who have come before us.
For this we pray in your most holy name. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

7-17-25
Good and gracious God,
We ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit as we begin our meeting today.
Grant us wisdom to discern your will, humility to listen with open hearts,
and courage to act with justice and compassion.
Inspired by the Rule of St. Benedict, may we seek peace, practice hospitality, and honor the dignity of every person we serve.
Help us to be faithful stewards of the trust placed in us,
and to work together in unity and love.
May our decisions reflect your mercy, our actions bear witness to your truth,
and our hearts remain rooted in prayer and service.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

9-11-25
PREP FOR FEAST OF HOLY NAME OF MARY
Heavenly Father,
As we gather in service to our DBM mission, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose holy name we honor tomorrow, may we be inspired by her humility, courage, and unwavering faith.
Help us to lead with compassion, discern with clarity, and act with integrity.
May our decisions reflect Your will and bring forth peace, justice, and unity.
Bless our work today and all those we serve.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

OR

9/11 ORIENTED
Heavenly Father,
As we gather in service to our DBM mission, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom.
On this day of remembrance,
we honor the lives lost and the courage shown on September 11.
May their memory inspire us to lead with compassion, discern with clarity, and act with integrity.
In the face of sorrow and division, help us to be bearers of peace, justice, and unity.
May our decisions reflect Your will and bring healing to a world in need.
Bless our work today and all those we serve.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

11-13-25
FEAST OF ST. FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI & WORLD KINDNESS DAY
Loving God,
As we honor St. Frances Xavier Cabrini on her feast day today,
whose life was a testament to courageous love for the vulnerable,
may we be inspired to welcome the stranger, uplift the weary, and lead with hearts open to Your grace.
On this World Kindness Day, we pause to remember that every act of compassion reflects Your divine love.
In a world longing for mercy and understanding, help us to be bearers of kindness — in our words, our decisions, and our service.
Bless this Governing Body of Duluth Benedictine Ministries.
May our work today be rooted in kindness, guided by Benedictine wisdom, and faithful to the mission You have entrusted to us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

1-8-26
Good and Gracious God,
You are the author and giver of all good things. Bless the works of Duluth Benedictine Ministries as we strive to faithfully follow and enhance the foundational mission and values of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery.
May Duluth Benedictine Ministries advance the loving works of Jesus through our sponsored ministries in Catholic education and healthcare. Be present in the organization’s efforts as we respond to the needs of the Church and the people we are called to serve. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

3-12-26
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Gracious and loving God,
We thank You for the blessings of this day.
In this Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, proclaimed by Pope Leo,
we are especially grateful for St. Francis Regional Medical Center,
a ministry rooted in the spirit of Your humble and faith-filled servant.
We ask You to bless and guide all who serve at St. Francis: strengthen them in their work, deepen their compassion, and sustain their mission of healing and hope.
As we begin our meeting, fill us with wisdom, unity, and peace, that all we do may reflect Your love and strengthen the mission entrusted to our care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

4-9-25
Heavenly Father,
We are about to begin our Finance Meeting
and ask that you help guide our decision making.
Make us good stewards of the resources that have been entrusted to us.
Keep us focused on your Divine Will for our ministries.
May we always trust your purpose and feel your presence.
Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

8-13-25
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
Gracious and Provident God,
We gather today as stewards of the resources you have entrusted to us.
As we approach the Feast of the Assumption, we are reminded of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s faithful “yes” and her glorious entry into heaven.
May her example inspire us to serve with humility, wisdom, and trust in your divine plan.
Bless our work today. Grant us clarity of mind, integrity of heart, and unity of purpose. May every decision we make reflect our commitment to the mission of your Church and the well-being of those we serve.
Help us to be faithful stewards – generous, prudent, and always mindful that all we have is a gift from you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

10-8-25
FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY
Gracious God,
We come before You with grateful hearts, mindful of the care and Wisdom shown by Mary, whose life we honored in yesterday’s Feast of the Holy Rosary.
As we begin this meeting, help us to reflect her spirit of humility and trust. Guide our minds and hearts as we consider the financial matters before us.
Come, Holy Spirit, direct our decisions as we deeply desire to serve God’s people faithfully. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

12-10-25
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LORETO
Loving and gracious God,
On this Feast of Our Lady of Loreto,
we remember the holy home where Mary welcomed Your Word.
May our hearts, like hers, be places of hospitality, faithfulness, and quiet strength.
Bless our meeting today. Guide our hearts and minds as we seek to Serve with wisdom, compassion, And Benedictine spirit.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

2-11-26
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES & WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK
Compassionate and healing God,
We gather in your presence on this World Day of the Sick and on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Be with us as we begin our work together.
Through Mary’s loving intercession,
we hold before you all who are ill, frail, or suffering—in body, mind, or spirit.
Grant us wisdom, compassion, and faithfulness as stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

4-8-26
EASTER
Risen Christ,
We give thanks for the joy of Easter and for your living presence among us.
As we gather to tend the resources entrusted to our care, grant us wisdom, humility, and clarity of heart.
May our deliberations reflect hope, integrity, and faithful stewardship,
and may all we decide serve your mission and the common good.
We ask this in the light of the Resurrection, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

5-8-25
EASTER / RESURRECTION
Loving Father,
As we gather here today, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude and joy, celebrating the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
We thank you for the gift of Easter, a time of renewal, hope and new beginnings.
Holy Spirit, we ask for your guidance and wisdom as we meet today.
Please inspire our thoughts, words, and actions, so that we may work together in unity. Let our efforts reflect your love and grace, bringing light and hope to those we serve.
We ask this in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

9-11-25
PREP FOR FEAST OF HOLY NAME OF MARY
Loving and Gracious God,
As we gather in the spirit of community and service,
we pause to listen with the ear of our hearts.
As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary tomorrow, we ask her to walk with us – gentle, faithful, and ever open to Your will.
May her example of humility and courage inspire us to seek you in all things, to welcome one another with hospitality, and to serve with stability and love.
Guide our conversation today, that it may be rooted in wisdom, shaped by peace, and directed toward the flourishing of the mission You’ve entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

OR

9/11 ORIENTED
Loving and Gracious God,
As we gather in the spirit of community and service, we pause to listen with the ear of our hearts.
On this solemn day of remembrance, we hold in prayer all those whose lives were forever changed by the events of September 11.
May we honor their memory with lives committed to peace, compassion, and justice. In the face of tragedy, You remain our refuge and strength.
Help us to be instruments of Your healing – to welcome one another with hospitality, to serve with stability and love, and to seek You in all things.
Guide our conversation today, that it may be rooted in wisdom, shaped by peace, and directed toward the flourishing of the mission You’ve entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

11-6-25
Gracious and loving God,
You call us to seek You in all things — in silence, in service, and in community.
As we gather in this formation committee, may we be attentive to Your voice speaking through each person and each moment.
Grant us the humility of Saint Benedict, the wisdom to discern Your will, and the courage to form others in the way of peace, prayer, and hospitality.
May our work nurture hearts that are open to transformation, minds that seek understanding, and lives that reflect Your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

1-8-26
IN LIGHT OF THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
Gracious God,
As the Magi sought Your light, teach us to seek You with hearts open to wonder and wisdom.
In the spirit of Saint Benedict, help us to listen with the ear of our heart, to welcome Christ in one another, and to serve with humility and peace.
Bless this committee’s work, that it may form others in the way of stewardship and love.
Guide us always toward Your light, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

2-12-25
Lord God, as we gather for this meeting,
we call upon you to be with us.
God of Love, give us unity of heart and mind
to consider the challenges that are laid before us.
Help us to create an atmosphere of loving kindness.
Be with us both now and forever.
Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

4-9-25
Lord, Eternal God,
We are about to begin our meeting, and we do so with the awareness that
without your Divine Presence here at the center of our meeting,
and also within ourselves, our work will be empty.
Grace us with your wisdom and vision, so that not only this meeting, but all our lives,
may be a meeting place for your Kingdom.
Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

6-11-25
MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART
Dear Jesus,
We ask you to be present with us in a special way during our meeting this morning.
You know the vastness of the mission which you have given to Duluth Benedictine Ministries, and the tasks that you have placed upon us as the Nominating Committee. We know that we cannot fulfill our duties on our own, we need you, we need your help.
Remind us, especially during this month when we honor your Sacred Heart, that you are truly present within our own hearts, Jesus. You are constantly working within us and through us; we thank you!
We ask for your guidance in our meeting. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

8-13-25
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
Loving and Eternal God,
We come before you with grateful hearts, seeking your wisdom and grace as we begin this meeting.
As we approach the Feast of the Assumption, our hearts turn to heaven and the glory you bestowed upon the Blessed Virgin Mary. In raising her body and soul into eternal light, you reveal the promise of hope and renewal for all who follow you. May we, too, be lifted in spirit – renewed in our commitment to serve you and your people with humility, courage, and joy.
Bless our conversations today. Grant us clarity in our discussions, unity in our decisions, and peace in our hearts. May our work bear fruit and be pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

10-8-25
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary,
you who pondered the mysteries of Christ with a heart full of faith,
intercede for us as we gather in service to Duluth Benedictine Ministries.
Lord Jesus,
send your Spirit to guide our discernment, that we may recognize and call forth those whom You have chosen to lead with wisdom, humility, and love.
May our decisions reflect the values of Benedictine life—hospitality, stewardship, justice, and respect for all.
Grant us peace in our deliberations, clarity in our choices, and unity in our mission.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

12-11-25
Loving God,
As we gather as a nominating committee, may our work be guided by love, faith, and holy purpose.
Help us to discern with wisdom and grace, to recognize the gifts You have placed in others, and to lift up leaders who will serve with humility, courage, and Benedictine heart.
Through the intercession of Our Lady, may our choices strengthen the mission and build a community where Christ dwells among us.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

2-11-25
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES & WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK
Holy God,
On this feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of Prayer for the Sick, we ask Mary’s intercession for all who need healing and hope.
Guide our Nominating Committee with your wisdom, that we may recognize the gifts of those called to serve.
Bless our work and make it fruitful for your mission.
We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer

4-8-26
EASTER
Living God,
In this joyful season of Easter, we rejoice in the light of the Risen Christ, who brings new life, hope, and promise to all things.
As we gather, root us in the Benedictine way of listening with the ear of the heart.
Grant us wisdom, humility, and attentiveness to your Spirit moving among us.
May our discernment be shaped by prayer, mutual respect, and a deep love for the mission entrusted to our care.
Bless our work today, that all we do may give glory to you and serve the common good.
We ask this through Christ our risen Lord. Amen.

Written by Bridgette Scharmer