Universal Prayers for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Times, Year A
-
January 12, 2026
Sunday and Feast Day Universal Prayers
Suggestions for Leading Worship
Office of Worship
P.O. Box 2028
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2028
Phone: (225) 242-0120
E-Mail: [email protected]
SAMPLE UNIVERSAL PRAYERS
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
January 24 – 25, 2026
Priest: The Lord is our light and our salvation; with courage we come to him with our needs and those of our world:
Deacon (or other reader if there is no deacon):
- For the Church, that Christians everywhere may be united in the same mind and same purpose, living out our one common baptism in Christ, we pray to the Lord...
- For our world, that those driven to acts of violence may turn away from the darkness of evil and destruction, and turn toward God’s great light of peace, we pray to the Lord...
- For students and teachers in Catholic schools, that their studies may enlighten their understanding of our faith, and draw them ever closer to God, we pray to the Lord…
- For those seeking direction in their lives, that they may turn to the Word of God and find in Scripture a guide and lamp for their path, we pray to the Lord...
- For those burdened by illness or injury, that the Lord may lift the heavy yoke of their hardships and grant them healing, we pray to the Lord…
- For all who have died, especially [add deceased names or “parishioners of” (add your parish name)], and the intentions of this mass [add mass intentions], may they witness the Great Light, Jesus Christ, in his eternal glory, we pray to the Lord...
- In silence, we pray for own needs and the needs of others, confident in the promise of the kingdom… [pause; the presider alone concludes…]
Priest: God of light, your glory shines upon your people, and your Word is a lamp to our feet, guiding us in your ways of salvation. Call us out of our comfort and complacency and give us courage to live as your disciples. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
LITURGY NEWS AND NOTES:
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 24-25, 2026, Cycle A
- A sample Penitential Invocation could be:
Lord Jesus, you are the light who dispels all darkness; Lord, have mercy…
Christ Jesus, you are the Word made flesh who dwells among us; Christ have mercy…
Lord Jesus, you are the salvation of all the world; Lord have mercy…
- The prayers are those for the Third Sunday in OT.
- Use the same form of the PA throughout these winter Sundays in OT.
- Sing the Gloria. The creed is prayed.
- An OT collect may conclude the UP. You might even look at the collects in the MPVNO for possible concluding prayers.
- Any of the eight prefaces of the Sundays of OT may be used; consider SP-8.
- Consider using EPVN-I and SB-8.
- Taking place this week….
- World Leprosy Day (1/25)
- World Holocaust Victims Remembrance Day (1/27)