Notre Dame Catholic College, Everton Valley (Liverpool, UK) Kevin McKeon ASSEMBLY IDEAS This assembly would follow a series of lessons on the theme of the Millennium Development Goals, specifically the goal to reduce child mortality.  It gives students the opportunity to share their research and their reflections on what they will have discovered. Any script offered is clearly only a suggestion.  Naturally it will be adapted to the circumstances of the school or college delivering the assembly. Leader: May the God of compassion open our hearts and minds to understand the lives of others. During this time together may we see through the eyes of Jesus the sufferings of the poorest of the poor and by the power of his spirit recognise our potential to change the world for the better. We make this prayer through our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen. Leader: In recent weeks students (here the leader will introduce the students who have been studying the issue of maternal mortality particularly in sub-Saharan Africa). The students would like to share with you their findings. The students will present posters, Powerpoints, role plays; whatever seems an appropriate medium to show their research; examples are found in the attached resources.  It will be good for students to express the feelings and reactions they have developed during their research. Leader: Let us now turn to the loving God who reveals himself as a parent.  We place before him all our needs. Reader: We pray for women whose lives are devastated by poverty and pray they will not be abandoned by those whose wealth and influence can help them. Lord in your mercy.  Hear our prayer. Reader: We pray for all mothers that they may delight in their children and see them grow in health to full maturity. Lord in your mercy.  Hear our prayer. Reader: We pray for those women for whom giving birth will lead to sickness or death.  We commend them to God’s care. Lord in your mercy.  Hear our prayer. Reader: We pray for political leaders whose responsibility it is to formulate the policies and create the institutions that can alleviate the sufferings of the poor.  May the Spirit guide them to make wide and just decisions. Lord in your mercy.  Hear our prayer. Reader: We pray finally for ourselves and ask that we act unselfishly in our dealings with others.  May we keep in our minds and hearts our brothers and sisters whose lives are blighted by poverty and injustice and may our practical actions be a sign of the sincerity of our words. Lord in your mercy.  Hear our prayer. Reader: Let us commend the mothers of the poor world to the care of the Mother of Jesus:  Hail Mary….. Leader:  (This is again a suggestion) As a final reflection on the unique gift of motherhood we will watch a short video.  As we watch we could reflect thankfully on the part our mothers play in our lives and be inspired to work tirelessly to ensure that women in the poor world are able to give birth healthily and see their children grow to maturity. The video can be found on YOU TUBE under, “Thank you Mom poem.”