Sign of the Cross

Greeting

Praised be God the Father
for sending his Son to be a part of the family of humankind.

May the grace of God be with you and your family.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

God is Family.
God is Father, Son and Spirit.
By our Baptism we have become adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus;
we are members of his family - the Church.
Today we celebrate the memory of the Holy Family of Nazareth -
- Jesus, Mary and Joseph. [pause]

Lord Jesus,
when you became a member
of the human family you sanctified all families.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus,
you grew up in Nazareth and lived
as the son of the local carpenter.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you accepted to live under
the authority of Mary and Joseph.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A   ICEL - 1997
Loving God,
guardian of our homes,
when you entrusted your Son
to the care of Mary and Joseph,
you did not spare them the pains
that touch the life of every family.
Teach us to rely on your word,
that in our trials as in our joys
we may be clothed in gentleness and patience
and united in love.
Make us ever thankful
for the blessings you give us
through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
in the splendor of eternal light,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Option B
God ever near to us,
you numbered your Son,
together with Mary and Joseph,
among the homeless of the earth,
and among the countless refugees
who have fled into hiding
out of fear for their lives.
Shield our families from the dangers
to which this world exposes them.
Clothe us with compassion and kindness,
with gentleness, patience and mutual forgiveness,
so that we may have homes
where everyone is welcomed.
We ask this through Emmanuel - your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

 

Optional       TODAY  THE  ANGELS……..

 

               [This is designed to replace the GLORIA.

               Legend:  P – Presider;  Ay – Assembly]

 

P.      Today the angels sing in the heavens -  sing with them!

Ay        Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,                  Glory to God in the highest,

            papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!                        and peace to God’s people on earth.

 

P.      Today the shepherds come to Bethlehem -  come with them!

Ay        Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,                  Glory to God in the highest,

            papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!                        and peace to God’s people on earth.

 

P.      They find Joseph and Mary and the newborn child -  search with them!

Ay        Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,                  Glory to God in the highest,

            papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!                        and peace to God’s people on earth.

 

P.      They marvel and give glory to God for all that they have seen and heard -

          give glory to God!

Ay        Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,                  Glory to God in the highest,

            papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!                        and peace to God’s people on earth.

 

P.      The Virgin Mary treasures all these things in her heart -     pray with her!

Ay        Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,                  Glory to God in the highest,

            papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!                        and peace to God’s people on earth.

 

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Is 9:1-7

Responsorial Psalm:

'Let Heaven Rejoice' by Bob Dufford SJ

CM        Tonight we join the whole of creation as we sing:

Ref.        Let heaven rejoice and earth be glad;
               let all creation sing.
               Let children proclaim through every land:
               "Hosanna to our King."

           2. Rise in splendor; shake off your sleep;
               put on your robes of joy,
              And in the morning you shall
              see the glory of the Lord. Ref

          3. Nations tremble, wise men amazed,
              a child has been born this night.
              Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
              a Father, Prince of Peace. Ref

          4. Songs of angels, "Glory on high,
              and peace to all on earth.
              I bear glad tidings; born this day,
              your Savior and your God" Ref

The Second Reading may be omitted if there are time constraints.

CM       Please remain SEATED for the Alleluia and Gospel!

Celtic Alleluia! :

Alleluia!
"I bring you news of great joy,
joy for all the nations,
For today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord."
Alleluia!

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

P         As we celebrate the feast of the HOLY FAMILY,
            let us pray to God who is both Father and Mother of the whole human family.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     And let our response be: Bless your family, Lord. (Please repeat)

For the family of the Church: (pause)
that it may be a mother and a home for all people in need.
We pray:

For parents and grandparents: (pause)
that like Mary and Joseph they may be models of upright living.
We pray:

For families that are severely tried by poverty,
and by problems related to drugs and sexual abuse: (pause)
that society may support them in their efforts to live a more human life.
We pray:

That the United Nations and other international organizations may increase their efforts to help those who have been forced to flee their homes.
We pray:

For separated couples and their children: (pause)
that they may meet warmhearted people whose understanding love helps them to overcome the failure of their home life:
We pray:

For those who have died as a result of the recent floods; (pause)
for the families who have survived; (pause)
that they may be supported and comforted in their terrible loss:
We pray:

[The Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]

P Lord, grant that we may praise rather than criticize,
   sympathize rather than condemn,
   give rather than receive,
   so that our homes may become places where love and peace reign.
   We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord of all Creation,
we are mindful that these gifts of bread and wine
have already been blessed by sun, earth and rain.
And we are grateful for all the Blessings of Life
that you have given us.
We pray that in our families
we may be nurtured in forgiveness and understanding
and nourished by friendship and care.
All this we ask through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER #2

Introductory Dialogue

Today St. Paul reminds us that
"whatever we do, in word or in deed,
we do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him".
We will do this now in a special way as we pray this Eucharistic Prayer.
(pause)

Preface

Father, all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today you fill our hearts with joy
as we recognize in Christ the revelation of your love.
No eye can see his glory as our God,
yet now he is seen as one of us.

Christ is your Son before all ages,
yet now he is born in time,
He has come to lift up all things to himself,
to restore unity to creation,
and to lead humankind from exile
into your heavenly kingdom.

With all the angels who sang on that first Christmas night
we sing our joyful hymn of praise.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Lord you are holy indeed.
you are the fountain of all holiness.

[Christmas and its Octave:
We gather here together before you
in communion with the whole church,
and we celebrate the most holy (night) (day)
when Mary, in her glorious virginity,
gave birth to the Savior of the world.
Through him, our Redeemer and our Lord, we pray:]


Send down your Spirit upon these gifts
to make them holy
that they may become for us
the body + and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Before he was given up to death,
a death he freely accepted,
he took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT:
THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

When supper was ended, he took the cup;
again he gave you thanks,
gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT:
THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT.
IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL
SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

A.     Great is the mystery of faith.
        Christ has died,
        Christ is risen,
        Christ will come again.

B.     Praise to you, Lord Jesus.
        Dying you destroyed our death,
        rising you restored our life.
        Lord Jesus, come in glory.

C.    Christ is the bread of life.
        When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
        we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
        until you come in glory.

D.    Jesus Christ is Lord.
       Lord, by your cross and resurrection
       you have set us free.
       you are the Savior of the world.

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,
we offer you, Lord God,
this life-giving bread, this saving cup.
We thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
We pray that all of us
who share in the body and blood of Christ
may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Lord, remember your Church throughout the world:
perfect us in love
together with N. our Pope,
and N. our Bishop,
with all bishops, priests, and deacons
and all who minister to your people.

Remember our brothers and sisters
who have gone to their rest
in the sure hope of rising again:
bring them and all who have died in your mercy
into the light of your presence.

Have mercy on us all:
make us worthy to share eternal life,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with the apostles and with all the saints,
who have found favor with you throughout the ages;
in union with them
may we praise you and give you glory
through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father,
forever and ever. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Option A
In union with family of all the children of God
we pray the prayer taught us by our Brother, Jesus:
Our Father ...

Option B
Because we are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
we can say together the family prayer our Savior gave us:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and let the peace of Christ
live in our hearts and our homes.
Give us compassion, gentleness and patience
that we may prepare in hope and joy
for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus, at your birth the angels sang:
'Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.'

[Yet conflict and war still continue
in the land where you were born.
Do not let us abandon the struggle for peace
in the Middle East
and in other countries.]

Grant to us who have heard the message of the angels
the peace and unity were you live forever and ever. AMEN.

May the peace and joy of the Risen Lord be always with you.

Invitation to share the gift of peace
St. Paul reminds us today that
if "we bear with one another
and forgive one another
then the peace of Christ will rule in our hearts".
So let us now offer each other a sign of peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P     When we break this Bread and share this Wine,
       we declare that we are willing to see all people
       as our sisters and brothers.
       With God as our Father
       we are all members of his one family :

Lamb of God

Invitation to Communion

Behold Christ Jesus, the Son of the Virgin Mary.
Blessed are we who are invited
to the banquet of the family of the children of God.

Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion

Creator God,
we thank you for the gift of Jesus your Son.
May he keep on living in our homes and communities.
Let us, like Mary and Joseph,
be ready for any task you may entrust to us,
for we can do everything in the name of Jesus the Lord. AMEN

Blessing

You are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved.
Clothe yourselves with compassion and love. AMEN.

May the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
And be thankful. AMEN.

And whatever you do,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. AMEN.

And may God bless you,
+ the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Dismissal

Our celebration is ended.
Go and follow the example of the Holy Family in your daily lives.