Preparation

Attn. Presiders: Please inform Organist which of the Formats for the GLORIA you intend to use.
Refer below for the formats.

Sign of the Cross

Greeting

Option A
Our lives are made of days and nights,
of seasons and years,
for we are part of a universe of sun and moons and planets.
We mark ends…. and we make beginnings.
In all, we praise God.
May the Lord of the Universe be with you.

Option B
Brothers and sisters in Christ:
As we begin this new year allow me to greet you
and pray for you in the words of St Paul.
"May God fulfill all your needs according to his riches.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

May the Lord be with you.

Introduction & Litany of Praise

On this day, as we celebrate the feast of Mary,
Mother of God, we commemorate the occasion
on which her son was circumcised
and given the name of JESUS
"which is above all other names."

Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God and Son of Mary:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are Word
made flesh and radiance of God's glory:
Lord, have mercy.

Gloria

Option A
Let us praise the Lord of days and seasons and years, singing,
"Glory to God in the highest."

Option B

                                    TODAY THE ...

[This alternative Format is designed to replace the GLORIA.
Legend: P - Presider; Ay - Assembly]

P . Today the angels sing in the heavens - sing with them!
Ay - Glory to God in the highest,
        and peace to God's people on earth.
            or (Filipino Version of Gloria)
Ay - Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,
        papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!

P . Today the shepherds come to Bethlehem - come with them!
Ay - Glory to God in the highest,
        and peace to God's people on earth.
             or (Filipino Version of Gloria)
Ay - Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,
        papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!

P . They find Joseph and Mary and the newborn child - search with them!
Ay - Glory to God in the highest,
        and peace to God's people on earth.
               or (Filipino Version of Gloria)
Ay - Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,
        papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!

P . They marvel and give glory to God for all that they have seen and heard -
give glory to God!
Ay - Glory to God in the highest,
        and peace to God's people on earth.
           or (Filipino Version of Gloria)
Ay - Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,
        papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!

P . The Virgin Mary treasures all these things in her heart - pray with her!
Ay - Glory to God in the highest,
        and peace to God's people on earth.
             or (Filipino Version of Gloria)
Ay - Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,
        papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!

P . On the eighth day Jesus was circumcised and was given the name Jesus -
call him Jesus!
Ay - Glory to God in the highest,
        and peace to God's people on earth.
           or (Filipino Version of Gloria)
Ay - Papuri sa Diyos, papuri sa Diyos,
        papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan!

Opening Prayer

Option A ICEL 1997
Most high God,
you come near to us this Christmas season
in the child born of the Virgin Mary.
In the depths of darkness, she gave birth to light;
in the depths of silence, she brought forth the Word.

Grant that we who ponder these things in our hearts
may recognize in her child
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
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 Eucharistic Liturgies - 1969
Grateful for the blessings in the year gone by,
and filled with hope as a new year begins, let us pray:
[pause]
Father, with you there is no beginning and no end
for you are the origin and goal of all creation.
Yours are the heavens and yours is the earth;
you have founded the world in all its fullness.
We open this new year with a promise and a prayer
and look ahead with confidence
knowing that we have a companion on the journey,
Jesus Christ -
- the same yesterday, today and forever.
We ask all this in his name. AMEN.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading

The text listed in the Ordo (Numbers 6: 22-27 ) will be used as the Final Blessing.
In its place we use one from the Book of Ecclesiastes - found overleaf

A Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes
[ Eccl.3:1-17]

For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven;

a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
a time to weep,
and a time to dance;
a time to seek,
and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time to throw away;
a time to tear,
and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
a time to love,
and a time to hate;
a time for war,
and a time for peace.

God has made everything suitable for its time;
moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds,
yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

I know that what whatever God does endures forever;
nothing can be added to it;
nor anything taken from it;
God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

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

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.  

Joseph, Mary, after eight days, you wish to fulfill the law;
you name Jesus in the temple and have him circumcised. Ref.  

Second Reading

A Reading form the letter of St. Paul to the Church in Galatia

Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
in order to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as children.
And because you are children,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, "Abba! Father!"
So you are no longer a slave but a child,
and if a child then also an heir, through God.

The Word of the Lord.

Celtic Alleluia

Down through the years God has spoken
his message of love through the prophets;
and God speaks to us today
through Christ his Son.
Alleluia!

Gospel

A reading form the holy gospel according to Luke.
[Luke 2: 16-21]

The shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem
and found Mary and Joseph,
and the child lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child;
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,
as it had been told them. [pause]


After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child:
and he was called Jesus,
the name given by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

The gospel of the Lord.

Homily

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

P         Let us give glory to Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary
            by the power of the Holy Spirit. In him we have become children
            of the heavenly Father and have the confidence to pray.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Jesus, Son of Mary, hear us! (Please repeat)

1. For a Church that is renewed from within by the Holy Spirit,
   a Church that is a leaven of renewal for the whole world,
   let us pray:
   
2. For leaders of nations:
   May they dedicate this New Year
   to a more intensive search for peace.
   let us pray:
   
3. For fruitful land and bountiful seas;
   for deliverance from natural disasters
   and the threats of terrorism,
   let us pray:
4. For all mothers and all who care for children:
   that they may be rewarded for their love and selflessness.
   let us pray:
5. For all Christians:
   that encouraged by the example of Mary,
   we will be faithful to our calling
   and so lead others to know and love Jesus, her son.
   let us pray:

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

P      In your mercy, Lord, you have brought us to this New Year.
        Through the intercession of the Blessed Mother,
        guide us on the road to your Peace.
        We ask this through Christ your Son and our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord of All Creation,
as we begin this New Year,
we present you with the bread and wine,
that have already been blessed by sun, rain and the earth.
This is our way of saying thanks
for all the Blessings of Life
that you have given us.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN

Introduction to Eucharistic Prayer (optional)

St. Luke tells us that Mary gave praise and thanks to God saying:
"The Lord has done great things for me" and
"she reflected on them in her heart".
Let us reflect for a moment …. asking ourselves this question:
'What has God done in my life during the Year 200_ that makes me want to give thanks during this Mass' ?

After about ½ minute the Presider continues

Let us now join the shepherds in glorifying and praising God
for all that we have seen and heard.

Preface

Father, all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
as we celebrate the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
she became the virgin mother of your only Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is for ever the light of the world.
Through him the choirs of angels and all the powers of heaven
praise and worship your glory.
May our voices blend with theirs
as we join in their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord……

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 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 + 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.
B. Praise to you, Lord Jesus.
C. Christ is the bread of life.
D. Jesus Christ is Lord.


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

Through the Spirit of Jesus,
we, his brothers and sisters,
pray with him to our Abba, Father: Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord

Lord, as we begin this new year,
deliver us from every evil.
In your mercy keep us free
from natural disasters, disease and accidents
and help us 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.'
Look not on our sins in the year that has passed
but rather on the hope we have for the future.
For we are no longer slaves but your children
and heirs to kingdom where you live for ever and ever.

Exchange of Peace
We are the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus,
so let us now offer each other a sign of his peace.
e.g. Happy New Year!

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:
A     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 children of God.

Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion

Creator God,
you crown the year with your goodness.
May the Bread of Life which we have received
bring healing and peace to us
and to all in our broken world.
Send the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
so that we can be instruments of your peace
and heralds of the Good News.
All this we ask in the name of him who is our brother -
Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing
[taken from the First Official reading for January 01]

CM    The Lord spoke to Moses:
         "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
         'Thus you shall bless the Israelites:
         you shall say to them:

P       May the Lord bless you and keep you.
A       AMEN.

P       May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
A       AMEN.

P       May he look upon you with kindness, and give you his peace.
A      AMEN.

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

Dismissal      

Option A
[Presider's own words]

Option B
Rejoicing in EMMANUEL, God-is-with-us,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord