The Prayers of the Faithful for Thanksgiving Mass turn our gratitude into prayer for others: the Church and the world, people who provide our daily bread, families, and neighbors facing hunger, illness or grief. Below are seven alternative sets, each with seven petitions. Choose one set and prepare it with your parish.
In the United States, Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, November 26. These intercessions can also be adapted for a harvest celebration or another Mass of thanksgiving. If you need a prayer before the family meal, use our Catholic Thanksgiving prayers.
Reader: Say each intention, including “let us pray to the Lord.” Everyone responds: “Lord, hear our prayer.” Replace [Name] where needed and remove unused placeholders before printing. The priest provides the opening invitation and concluding prayer.
Set 1: Gratitude for our daily bread
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For the holy Church, that she may effectively witness to God’s abundant mercy and saving grace, let us pray to the Lord.
- For our nation’s leaders, that they may govern with gratitude and wisdom, serving the common good, let us pray to the Lord.
- For farmers, agricultural workers, and all who help provide our daily bread, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who cannot afford a Thanksgiving meal, that they may be blessed through the generosity of others, let us pray to the Lord.
- That we may show our gratitude through generous sharing with those in need, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the sick and bereaved in our parish, and for the people whose needs we bring to this Mass, let us pray to the Lord.
- For our deceased loved ones, especially [Name], who taught us to be grateful, let us pray to the Lord.
Set 2: Families, food banks and parish outreach
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For the Church’s mission of thanksgiving and praise throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord.
- That civic leaders may work to ensure all have access to basic necessities, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who work in food banks and soup kitchens, let us pray to the Lord.
- For families divided by distance or discord, that they may find reconciliation, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those facing food insecurity in our nation, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the volunteers in our parish outreach programs, let us pray to the Lord.
- For all the faithful departed, especially [Name], let us pray to the Lord.
Set 3: Gratitude and the wider community
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For the Pope, our bishops, and all church leaders, that they may guide the faithful with wisdom and grace, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who protect and serve our communities, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who cannot be with their families this Thanksgiving, let us pray to the Lord.
- That we may grow in appreciation for God’s countless blessings, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the homeless and hungry in our midst, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the success of our parish Thanksgiving outreach, let us pray to the Lord.
- For our departed relatives and friends, especially [Name], let us pray to the Lord.
Set 4: Harvest, creation and people in need
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For the holy Catholic Church, that she may teach all people to give thanks to God, let us pray to the Lord.
- For peace and justice in our nation and world, let us pray to the Lord.
- For agricultural scientists working to end world hunger, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those suffering from poverty and want, let us pray to the Lord.
- That we may be mindful of environmental stewardship, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the sick and homebound in our parish, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who have died, especially [Name], let us pray to the Lord.
Set 5: Workers, refugees and neighbors facing hardship
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For the Church, that she may effectively proclaim the mystery of Christ to all nations, let us pray to the Lord.
- For wisdom for those who shape public policy, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who work on Thanksgiving Day serving others, let us pray to the Lord.
- For refugees and immigrants seeking a new home, let us pray to the Lord.
- That we may share our abundance with cheerful hearts, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those struggling with addiction in our community, let us pray to the Lord.
- For our faithful departed, especially [Name], let us pray to the Lord.
Set 6: Unity, work and daily needs
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For the Church, that she may boldly proclaim God’s saving grace to all people, let us pray to the Lord.
- That national leaders may work to eliminate hunger and poverty, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who harvest the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
- For unity among all people of good will, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those experiencing unemployment or financial hardship, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the sick and bereaved in our parish, and for the people whose needs we bring to this Mass, let us pray to the Lord.
- For all who have died, especially [Name], let us pray to the Lord.
Set 7: Vocations, caregivers and the bereaved
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that men and women may generously respond to God’s call, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who serve in the armed forces, away from home, let us pray to the Lord.
- For healthcare workers caring for the sick on this holiday, let us pray to the Lord.
- That we may be good stewards of the earth’s resources, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those suffering from natural disasters, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the sick and bereaved in our parish, and for the people whose needs we bring to this Mass, let us pray to the Lord.
- For our deceased loved ones, especially [Name], let us pray to the Lord.
Preparing the Thanksgiving intercessions
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 69–71, describes petitions for the needs of the Church, the world, people facing difficulties and the local community. The priest introduces and concludes this prayer; a deacon, reader or another member of the faithful may announce the intentions.
Use the sets as suggestions rather than a requirement to read every petition. Your parish may prefer a shorter selection. Keep the Church, the wider world, those in need and the parish community within the prayer’s horizon.
- Keep gratitude connected to charity. A thanksgiving celebration can remember food-bank volunteers while also asking that families have enough to eat.
- Name genuine local needs. One brief petition can remember someone who is sick, an outreach project or a recent bereavement. Ask the family before sharing personal details publicly.
- Adapt the place and occasion. Change “our nation” and holiday references where appropriate. For a Mass marking a particular anniversary or milestone, ask the priest how that occasion should be reflected.
- Prepare one clean reader’s copy. Read it aloud, check names and use one response throughout. Our guide to reading the Prayers of the Faithful explains pacing and pauses.
Questions about Thanksgiving Mass
How many Thanksgiving petitions should we use?
Each set offers seven options, but you do not need to use all seven. Choose a brief selection with the priest or liturgy coordinator, keeping room for the parish’s current needs.
What is the congregation’s response?
These sets use “Lord, hear our prayer.” If your parish uses another response, follow the reader’s prepared copy and the priest’s direction so the congregation can join confidently.
Are these the same as requesting a Mass in thanksgiving?
A request for a Mass in thanksgiving is an intention for which the priest offers Mass. The intercessions above are petitions announced during the liturgy. See Mass intention examples for wording when contacting the parish office, including thanksgiving for a blessing or recovery.
Which readings are used on Thanksgiving Day?
For November 26, 2026, the USCCB provides Thanksgiving Day reading options for the dioceses of the United States. Follow the readings and liturgical arrangements chosen by your parish. The link is provided for reference; the readings are not reproduced here.
Can I print or save the prayers as a PDF?
Use the page’s Print/PDF control, or copy your chosen set into a document. Check the names, response and page breaks before giving it to the reader.
Related prayers and sources
- Catholic Thanksgiving prayers for dinner and family prayer.
- Prayers of the Faithful for the family and friends.
- Prayers of the Faithful for this week.
- How to write Prayers of the Faithful.
- USCCB: Universal Prayer, GIRM 69–71.
- USCCB: Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026.
The petition sets are suggested wording for parish preparation. They are not presented as official texts from the Roman Missal.