Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC

Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019

Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com

FAREWELL PRAYER SERVICE For Std X Students

February 2010

(Dear teacher animator, for this prayer service, you will need to appoint a few graduating/out-going
students (at least 4) to share their testimonies of growth, learning, blessings, and pleasant memories, which
they experienced during their years of schooling in your esteemed school. Give them two minutes each. Pre-
plan this well and let it be a solemn moment. Please ensure that you preview their testimonies and get them
to practice it within the allotted time. Also ensure that you make a copy of the out-going students’ credo
supplied in this prayer, for each of them.)

1. INTRODUCTION
Prayer Leader: Good morning, and welcome to this prayer service during which we shall pray for the
outgoing students of our school as we mark the end of an important milestone in their lives. The end of
schooling will mean the beginning of something new for those who will leave this institution. Some
will be moving on to new places, others to new responsibilities. Moving ahead signals the end of one
season, and the emergence of something new. Let us take the next few minutes to reflect on the
blessings of these school years, to give thanks, and to invite our gracious God to continue with us as
we journey forth through the changes that life ahead will bring. Let us begin with a song that expresses
our faith in a God who has guided, protected and accompanied us through these years and will
continue doing so for the years to come.

2. OPENING SONG: Blest be the Lord

3. PRAYER

Prayer Leader: Lord God, as we ponder the blessings and challenges of these past years, grant us the serenity
of your Spirit and openness of heart to the wonders you have done in us and will continue do in faithfulness to
us, your children. We make this prayer in your most holy name. Amen.

4. SCRIPTURE READING

Prayer Leader: We pray that these moments of reflection and colloquy with God might strengthen our desire
to shine brightly in God’s name, and to use the gifts God has given us to serve others in love. Let us now listen
to God’s Word, as St. Paul tells us how to use the gifts God has given us.

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans. (Romans 12: 9-13).

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*

 Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC
Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019
Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com
Let love be without any pretence. Avoid what is evil; stick to what is good. In brotherly love let your feelings
of deep affection for one another come to expression and regard others as more important than yourself. In
the service of the Lord, work not halfheartedly but with conscientiousness and an eager spirit. Be joyful in
hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly, share with any of God’s holy people who are in need;
look for opportunities to be hospitable.

5. SHARING TESTIMONIES
Prayer Leader: Let us take a moment to reflect on anything that you are grateful for having received or
been part of in our school community. Let us pause for a minute. (Pause)
A few of our outgoing students will now share their testimonies of how they have been blessed and have
grown in these years of schooling in ___________ (name of your school)

(Allow at least 4 out-going students to share. Give them two minutes each. Pre-plan this by appointing
selected students and previewing their testimonies)

6. OUT-GOING STUDENTS’ CREDO

Prayer Leader: Our out-going students will now recite a credo as mark of their desire to live by convictions
that will make them purposeful in everything they will undertake in life.

OUT-GOING STUDENTS’ CREDO

We believe in the greatness of our vocation to be salt and light for God’s Kingdom.
We believe that God has called us into this world for a purpose, which we can discover only in prayer
and in loving service to others.

We believe in the gift of parents and in giving thanks for all they have done through happy and difficult times
to bring us to this day.  

We believe our teachers, principal and support staff have been given the wisdom, knowledge and patience to
guide us through our school years.  

We believe in the gift of joyful living through play, laughter and sharing in our school.  

We believe in practicing social justice as witnesses to God’s Kingdom, proclaimed in our scriptures.  

Finally, we believe that God loves us and will continue to bless us as we move on to the next stage of our
education.

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*

 Archdiocesan Value Education Centre - AVEC
Don Bosco Youth Services – Matunga, MUMBAI 400 019
Tel: 24154477 E-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com

7. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Prayer Leader: Let us bring to God our petitions, confident that He hears us and responds in the interest of our
well-being. Our response at the end of each petition will be: Lord hear our prayer

1. For young people throughout the world: That their search for knowledge and truth through study, prayer
and work will help bring about the truth and peace of God’s Kingdom. We pray to the Lord. R : Lord hear our
prayer

2. For young people who cannot go to school because of poverty or war: That there be greater opportunities
to learn in a safe and secure environment. We pray to the Lord. R: Lord hear our prayer

3. In thanksgiving for the gifts of friendship and community we have found here at __________________
School . We pray to the Lord. R: Lord hear our prayer

4. In thanksgiving for the acts of kindness shown to us during these past school years by our parents, our
principal, teachers and support staff, and all members of the school community. We pray to the Lord. R: Lord
hear our prayer

5. In thanksgiving for all we have learned in these years that has made us become better persons. We pray to
the Lord. R: Lord hear our prayer

6. For all students and staff who will be leaving us at the end of this school year: That God may continue to
bless them in the new directions they have chosen, and that they may continue to be the light of God for
others. We pray to the Lord. R: Lord hear our prayer

Prayer Leader: Let us gather our prayers – those spoken and those remaining in the quiet of our hearts, and
unite them with the prayer of Jesus, using the words he gave us: Our Father…

8. CLOSING PRAYER:

Prayer Leader: God our Father and Mother, we give you thanks for bringing our out-going schoolmates to this
special moment in their lives. We ask you to accompany them as they face new adventures and challenges.
May the paths they take always lead to you and to the eternal joy that is their inheritance. We make this
prayer in your most holy name. Amen.

9. FINAL SONG: Give me Oil in my Lamp

Fr. Isaac F. Arackaparambil, sdb

Adapted from: www.rccdsb.edu.on.ca/religious_ed/prayer_resources.htm
Organized by - Amrut Dhara: Don Bosco Animation Centre, Kapadvanj

*Building a New Humanity Through Universal Values*