ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Welcome and Opening prayer

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. It is a pleasure for me to welcome everyone this morning for this Interfaith Inaugural Service. On behalf of the other members of the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia, and in particular with my fellow co-conveners, Rabbi David Straus and Imam Anwar Muhaimin, we very cordially welcome Mayor–Elect Michael Nutter as we come together this morning to pray.

It is entirely appropriate that we gather here this morning in this house of God to pray for a new city administration. What better way is there to begin new endeavors than asking for God’s assistance, guidance and support? Many would look at the gathering here today and see the distinctions between our religious beliefs and practices. While we have important distinctions that separate us, we have much in common. We come together as people of faith to pray for our new mayor, our city and region. We gather together respectful of what divides us, and celebrating what unites us in our love of God and neighbor.

A great woman of our times, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979. During her acceptance speech in Oslo she remarked to her listeners: "I want you to find the poor here, right in your own home first. And begin love there. Be that good news to your own people. And find out about your next-door-neighbor--do you know who they are?" I refer to this quote from a person universally acknowledged as a woman of prayer and sanctity because her insights are as real for us today here in Philadelphia as they were in Oslo. In our city of neighborhoods we do not always know our neighbors. Love begins at home and can only happen with God. God, who is Love, is the source of peace. Only when we call out to God, only when we come together in love, can we achieve true peace. In this time and in this place, we call upon God to lead us in the ways of love and peace.

At another occasion Mother Teresa said: "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." In this spirit we begin this morning to pray for our new mayor, our city and region, and all those who are in need this day. The opening prayer I will now offer is adapted from the prayer that the first American Catholic Bishop – Archbishop John Carroll - composed for the inauguration of George Washington in 1789 as our nation’s first president:

Let us Pray:

Almighty and eternal God,
You have revealed your glory to all nations.
God of power and might, wisdom and justice,
through you authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed.

We pray for Michael Nutter, the new mayor of this city,
for the members of city council,
for judges, elected civic officials and all others
who are entrusted to guard our political welfare.
may they be enabled by your powerful protection
to discharge their duties with honesty and ability.

We likewise commend to your unbounded mercy
all citizens of this city,
that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified
in the observance of your holy law.
May we be preserved in union and that peace which the world cannot give;
and, after enjoying the blessings of this life,
be admitted to those which are eternal.

We pray to you, who are Lord and God,
for ever and ever.

Amen (Book of Blessings, p. 831).