Q: During weekday Masses, does the priest have the option of omitting the Prayer of the Faithful? That is happening in my parish and many of us really miss the daily petitions. It is the place where we are reminded that we are part of a world wide faith community, citizens of a community and nation, and that the corporal and spiritual works are mercy are everyone’s responsibility.
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A: No, the Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful) is not optional.
One of the practical challenges is composing them each day. Many parishes resort to a subscription series instead.
It would help if a skilled person from the parish offered to compose these. As a last resort, the parish may use the samples in Appendix V of the Roman Missal.