+ 18th-19th April – Weekend Parish MASS

18 April 2020

The Frangipani plant on the cover of this Parish Blog post was saved during the scorching drought in January by a parishioner – It’s now looking strong out the front of the church and serves as a small symbol of life for this weekend’s liturgy of the 2nd Sunday of new Easter-life!

Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter

(also referred to as Divine Mercy Sunday)

Today’s homily incorporates the theme of mercy – a theme that many people emphasise on this day related to a special devotion associated with the apparitions of Jesus reported by Saint Faustina Kowalska. There are a number of searchable sources on this Saint and on praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Introduction to Mass

(click the triangle play button to start)

Lynne and Mario arriving to represent the community today

Enjoy sharing in the leadership ministry of the community prayer and Mass this weekend as you use the combination here of reading, reflection, speaking, sharing and recordings in your own home or space. May we feel a great sense of connection with the ‘house churches’ of the earliest movement of followers of the risen Jesus. Happy Easter season and may this weekend’s Mass be nourishment and encouragement for us all as we give glory and praise to God.

Formal opening greeting

We have shared the sign of the cross in the recording above, so now you might receive the following Mass greeting if you’re alone – or someone leading the prayer in your space might say:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you

Reply: And with your spirit

Pentitential

Let’s pause and breathe deeply for 10 seconds. As you do, be assured that God is aware of you personally, right now!
Take a moment to give thanks for one two things from recent days – however small. If you’re with someone you might like to share with each other what one of those things is.
Then, you or the person leading the prayer in your household can pray the following:

Lord Jesus – you came to earth and lived our human life – the joys and the struggles too – Lord have mercy

Lord Jesus – you accepted the brutal death your culture imposed on you – we honour your witness to the power of radical faith in God’s possibilities – Christ have mercy

Lord Jesus – you broke through the bonds of death and allow us now to be renewed in sure hope as Easter people – Lord have mercy

May almighty God have gentle mercy on each of us, forgive us of any sin, and bring us to everlasting life – AMEN

The Gloria

Right through Lent we held off from praying the Gloria – not because God wasn’t with us or deserving of our praise – but as a way to anticipate the incredible amazement of once again proclaiming the Resurrection as such a core gift of our faith. It makes sense then that we would say this prayer of praise with a big dose of energy and joy:

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you,

we bless you,

we adore you,

we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King,

O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world,

receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,

have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Opening Prayer of Mass

Let us pray.

God of everlasting mercy,

who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast

kindle the faith of the people you have made your own,

increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed,

that all may grasp and rightly understand

in what font they have been washed,

by whose Spirit they have been reborn,

by whose Blood they have been redeemed.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

Enjoy hearing parts – and reading parts – of the scripture passages of today’s Mass, that during Coronavirus lockdown, are being used all over the world in many different ways

First reading – voice recording

A reading from Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47)

(read in Mass today by parishioner Lynne Castellari)

(click the triangle play button to start)

Now here’s the Responsorial Psalm and Second Reading for you to lead/read/share

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 117(118):2-4,13-15,22-24)

Response: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love is everlasting.

Let the sons of Israel say:

‘His love has no end.’

Let the sons of Aaron say:

‘His love has no end.’

Let those who fear the Lord say:

‘His love has no end.’

R> Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love is everlasting.

I was thrust down, thrust down and falling,

but the Lord was my helper.

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he was my saviour.

There are shouts of joy and victory

in the tents of the just.

R> Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love is everlasting.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the corner stone.

This is the work of the Lord,

a marvel in our eyes.

This day was made by the Lord;

we rejoice and are glad.

R> Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love is everlasting.

Second Reading

A Reading from the First Letter of Peter (1:3-9)

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.

The word of the Lord.

The word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation

You might even wish to stand to honour the Gospel and to assist a special focus of hearing

Alleluia alleluia!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me;

happy are those who have not seen me, but still believe!

Alleluia!

Gospel – voice recording

(click the triangle play button to start)

HOMILY – voice recording

I hope this recorded homily helps to connect to each of our lives in some helpful way – feel welcome to use it as you wish, as a prompt for your own reflections and/or sharing

(click the triangle play button to start)

Profession of Faith

Whilst a bit unusual to see the Profession of Faith in a Parish Blog, maybe a certain phrase of it can strike each of us anew as we reflectively profess our faith, united from our various ‘house churches’

I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting

AMEN

Prayers of the Faithful

Whether you’re praying this Mass on your own or with a partner, family or friends – here are some prayers of the faithful to use – or that might prompt some of your own special prayer intentions too –

God our life and love – we take a moment to bring our intentions before your heart – asking that you allow us to know you are with us in our every breath – as we are gathered in prayer in our homes right now:

For people in our community and across the world, that even when gathering for worship is not possible, we may commit to ways of expanding the experience of welcome, belonging and community

Lord, hear us – Lord, hear our prayer

For all who are most affected by isolation, especially during the coronavirus restrictions – that with good people’s support they can experience the joy of the risen Christ in practical and surprising ways

Lord, hear us – Lord, hear our prayer
For those living with the fear of disease, that they can be blessed with a sense of calm and shelter. And as we ask God to swiftly receive those who have died into the fullness of life, we pray in union of care with so many who grieve.

Lord, hear us – Lord, hear our prayer
For exhausted healthcare workers, may they be given patience and determination to mirror Christ’s compassion in their ministry of healing. And for the initiatives of all who are

Lord, hear us – Lord, hear our prayer
For countries where health infrastructure is limited, that they will be granted equipment and resources through generous sharing between nations. And we ask God’s blessing of wisdom on all responsibilities of leadership –in households and families, churches, organisations, work teams and governments.

Lord, hear us – Lord, hear our prayer
For Thomas Plummer of Our Lady of the Way parish, whose funeral is this coming week – and for all who seek joy for their loved ones – and the grace of their prayers from heaven.

Lord, hear us – Lord, hear our prayer

Gracious God of life – source of Easter hope – hear our prayers and allow us to trust in you as we make our prayers through Christ our risen Lord – Amen

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Voice Recording

You are welcome to enter into the following Eucharistic prayer, recorded during this weekend’s celebration of Mass at Our Lady of the Way Church

May we feel united with many who break the bread of life across the world; with people who share Sacramental faith in Jesus with us – and with those across beliefs, who along with us, put flesh on God’s presence and goodness in creation.

(click the triangle play button to start)

Prayer after Communion

Grant, we pray, almighty God,

that our reception of this paschal Sacrament

may have a continuing effect

in our minds and hearts.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Final Blessing

May you breathe deeply of God’s presence for you and God’s love for you, here in the Blessed Sacrament honoured and celebrated in Mass – and truly living through you / with you / and in you …

And may almighty God bless each of us – in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – Amen

Let us go and proclaim the Gospel by our lives

Thanks be to God!

A final word

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Notices

Feedback about your use of / experience of / or suggestions about / the liturgy here in the Parish Blog space is welcome to me via email to –> [email protected]
Thanks to Lynne and Mario for representing the community at the Mass celebrated today at OLOW church
Sincere thanks from the Our Lady of the Way community to the groups who continue to care for the needs of the parish grounds. Here are a few pics of today’s group of three. God bless you guys. Can you pick who they are?