Agnieszka Baran, Director of the Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education (JECSE), shares a Prayer Resource for Boards of Management/Governors, which was created by the Catholic Schools Partnership, and published by Veritas Publications in 2020.

For this Lent, we would like to highlight that this booklet also offers prayers for the Lenten season. You can find these in the section of prayers for the month of March. These prayers start by offering a welcome message to all board members, then continue with an opening prayer, a reading, a reflection, and finish with a closing prayer.

Here is a sample of one of the three available Lenten prayers. To see and download the complete prayer program for Lent, please follow this link Prayer Resource for Boards of Management/Governors

Opening Prayer
Lord, as we journey through Lent, grant us the
grace to accept things as they are, however
imperfect that may be, and for the ability to see the
wonder in the ordinary world. We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
Amen

Reading
John 9:1–7
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’
Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him … As long as I am in the
world, I am the light of the world.’ When he said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,
saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.’ Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
The Word of the Lord.

Reflection
In today’s world there is a great tendency to be judgmental, whether online or in comments that we make about other people, to write them off,
so to speak. Is this true about something we have said, done or thought today? In this passage, Jesus urges his disciples not to jump to conclusions but,
instead, to be open to different ways of looking at things.

The man here is physically blind, but we can all be blind in other ways – where is the blind spot in my line of vision? Am I intolerant? Who do I blame
for things that don’t work out? During this board meeting may we see with new eyes so that we are open to all possibilities.

Closing Prayer 
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
World without end.
Amen.

“The compilation of this resource, an initiative of the Catholic Schools Partnership, funded by the Catholic Education Service, is the product of a collaborative engagement with Ann O’Donoghue IBVM (Association of Patrons and Trustees of Catholic Schools), Justin Harkin and Jonathan Tiernan, members of CSP. All members of the team worked relentlessly in the interests of producing this collection of prayers.

“These short pieces of scripture and prayer represent an invitation to board members to take time out from wherever they have come from in the intricacy of their own lives, so that the Gospel values of the Word can become fresh and refreshing again as they start to consider their order of business. We have provided a choice of three prayers for each month, from August to June, with a selection of additional prayers for circumstances that might arise in the course of the life of a board. As every school has its own particular context, these resources are designed to be adapted and used flexibly, in whole or in part, as required. They can be led by the chairperson, the principal, or shared among other board members – whatever suits those present. They can also be adapted for use at regional educational meetings.” Patricia Bourden, Acting CEO, Catholic Schools Partnership

To view and download the complete booklet please follow this link Prayer Resource for Boards of Management/Governors