Family reunions are not complete without prayers because Filipinos are prayer-oriented people. Below is a Tagalog opening prayer that you could use for family reunions.
Mahal naming Panginoon,
(Our Dear God,)
Salamat sa pagkakataong ibinigay mo para magsama-sama kaming magkakapamilya.
(Thank you for giving us this chance to be together as a family.)
Alam naming na itong magandang pangyayari ay dahil sa biyaya at pagmamahal mo sa amin.
(We are aware that this good event is because of your blessing and love for us.)
Nawa’y patuloy mo kaming gabayan upang maging inspirasyon kami sa lahat ng mga kamag-anak at kaibigan na naririto sa family reunion na ito.
(We pray that you continue to guide us, so that we can become an inspiration for all our relatives and friends who are with us now in this family reunion.)
Sana lahat kami ay magkaisa sa matinong paggawa ng aming mga obligasyon para malaman ng lahat na Ikaw ay isang mapagmahal at mapang-unawang Diyos.
(We hope that all of us will do our own responsibilities well, so that all people will know that You are a loving and understanding God.)
Patnubayan mo ang bawat isa sa amin para maging aktibo at makilahok ng buong puso sa mga aktibidad ng programang ito.
(Guide each one of us to participate actively and join wholeheartedly in the activities of this program.)
Sana lahat ng hangarin namin para sa family reunion na ito ay makamit.
(We hope that all our goals for this family reunion will be fulfilled.)
Ipinagdarasal din naming ang mga kamaganak at kaibigan naming na wala ngayon dito sa pagtitipon, na sana’y matiwasay at masaya sila saan man sila naroroon.
(We also pray for our family and friends who are not with us in this event; that they are peaceful and happy wherever they are.)
Ipinagdarasal din naming ang lahat ng tao sa mundo, iyong mga maysakit, may mga problema, at iyong mga naghihirap. Sana bigyan mo po sila ng pagmamahal at kapayapaan.
(Likewise, we pray for all people of the world; those who are sick, who have problems, and those who are having a hard time. May you give them love and peace.)
Sa ngalan ng Ama, at ng Anak, at ng Espiritu Santo,
(In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.)
Amen.
(Amen.)
You may want to use this Closing Prayer for Meeting Tagalog
If you have a teenage boy family member, you may also want to read this: How to Teach Your Teenage Boys to be Sensitive
