Celebrating Volunteers
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will. Amen.
The Prayer of St Ignatius of Loyola
We celebrate wholeheartedly our volunteer fire fighters this year.
They epitomise the noble quality of free will giving.
It is a felt pride Australians have in the volunteer op shop worker,
school canteen staff and sausage sizzle band.
It was an identifiable trait even in 1891:
“The voluntary system … is almost universal in Australia”.
St Ignatius’ prayer is one expression of Jesus’ call to discipleship,
‘Take up your cross and follow me’. It’s your choice, it’s voluntary,
it’s born of love of God and love of others.
A generous person will be enriched,
and one who gives water will get water.
Proverbs 11:25
In Iraq, where there are no official care or support systems,
Mothers’ Union members choose of their own free will and with Christian love,
to volunteer their practical outreach work. In Jesus’ name, we thank them.