Greeting

A Happy New Year to all of you.
May God’s grace and peace be with you
the whole year long
and may the Lord Jesus stay with you always. R/ And also with you.

1.  INTRODUCTORY SECTION FOR MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Introduction by the Celebrant

Today’s solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, is a very fitting occasion to begin the New Year. She went ahead of us and showed us the way of what we should be and do as Christians. Indeed, Mary is the first Christian. With Jesus she spoke her yes to God. Jesus was born in her and she gave him to the world. Would that Jesus would be born more deeply in us and that we could given him more to the world! This is our wish for today and for the whole year.

Penitential Act

The Lord gives us new chances today.
We ask him now to forgive us
our sins and failures of the past.
                        (pause)
Lord Jesus, you are the Son of Mary,
Virgin and Mother:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, Son of the heavenly Father,
you were sent to make us
adopted sons and daughters of the Father:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, your Spirit is alive in our hearts
and cries out to God that he is our Father:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and as people who have been forgiven
let us live in your love and your peace.
Lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our mighty God
who chose Mary as the mother of his Son
                        (pause)
Our faithful and saving God,
in Mary our earth said its yes to your call
and there burst upon humanity
forgiveness and blessing and new life
in the person of your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us Mary’s trusting faith,
that we may ever be close to Jesus
even in the darkness of suffering
and that we may take him
to the poor and the lonely of our world.
Bless us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

2.  INTRODUCTORY SECTION FOR A BLESSED YEAR

Introduction by the Celebrant

In the Hail Mary we say to God’s Mother: “Blessed are you among women.” Mary was indeed blessed by God. God placed in her all his trust and all the blessings he would bring on all people through her Son, Jesus. On this New Year’s Day we wish one another all God’s blessings for the whole year to come. May God bless us all today as he blessed Mary, that we too may bring God’s love and peace to one another and that we may give Jesus to this cold world.

Penitential Act

We regret our sins of the past
and ask the Lord and one another
to forgive us wholeheartedly:
 We look forward to a better future.
            (pause)
Lord Jesus, you know us better
than we know ourselves:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you want us to be free
from any form of slavery.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are our hope,
our joy and our strength:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
Keep us always young of heart
and full of generosity.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray God for a blessed year
            (pause)
Our God and Father,
to you belong the ages.
For each of us you want this year to be
a time of grace.

Bless us, that like Mary
we may grow closer to you
and bring to one another
the life and the love of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives with you,
and we hope and pray also with us,
now and for ever. R/ Amen.

3.  INTRODUCTORY SECTION FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE

Introduction by the Celebrant

On the day when we celebrate both the New Year and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, we still include very earnestly and urgently wishes and prayers for a deep and lasting peace for a world beset by violence and war. Mary gave us Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Let our sense of justice and unity, of mutual acceptance and forgiveness, create the atmosphere in which peace can grow in our hearts, in our homes, in the world.

Penitential Act

Let us seek from God and one another
the peace of forgiveness and reconciliation,
that we may share more deeply in the eucharist.
            (pause)
In our homes and our communities
we have not always spread joy and peace.
Forgive us, Lord:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

We give little encouragement and support
to those who fight without violence
for justice and peace.
Forgive us, Lord.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

We have failed to speak to one another
words of forgiveness and peace.
Forgive us, Lord:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy, Lord, and forgive us our sins.
Renew our hearts and minds,
fill us with your Spirit of peace
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray that the new year
may bring God’s peace to all
            (pause)
God our Father,
you chose the Blessed Virgin Mary
as the mother of Jesus your Son.
She gave birth to the Prince of Peace.
With the help of her prayers
sow the seeds of peace in our hearts,
that we may build up peace for our world
by seeking justice and serving one another.
Give us the lasting peace of your kingdom
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: God Blesses His People

God blessed the people with whom he had made a covenant: he was to them the source of all blessing. May his blessings and grace come down on us, his people, this whole year long.

First Reading: Num 6:22-27

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses saying, "Speak to Aaron and his sons and say to them: This is how you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say:
May Yahweh bless you and keep you!
May Yahweh let his face shine on you, and be gracious to you!
May Yahweh look kindly on you, and give you his peace!
In that way shall they put my name on the people of Israel and I will bless them."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67:2-3, 5-6, 8

O God, be gracious and bless us.

That your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.

May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Second Reading Introduction: Sons and Daughters of God through Mary’s Son

God has given us his Son Jesus through the Virgin Mary. With God’s Son we have become the sons and daughters of God.

Second Reading: Gal 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son. He came born of woman and subject to the Law, in order to redeem the subjects of the Law, that we might receive adoption as children of God. And because you are children, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son which cries out: Abba! that is, Father!

You yourself are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and yours is the inheritance by God's grace.

Gospel Introduction: They Found Mary and the Child

The shepherds saw Jesus and accepted him in faith. They praised God and could not keep silent about what they had seen. Mary treasured these events in her heart.

Gospel Reading: Lk 2:16-21 (Listen to MP3 - Birth of Jesus & Circumcision and presentation)

The shepherds came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger. On seeing this they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary, she treasured all these messages and continually pondered over them.

The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.
On the eighth day the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.