a liturgy of the word - catholic missioncm.org.au/wmm/resources/liturgy of the word.pdf · is...

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A Liturgy of the WordChecklist of items

White fabric

Orange fabric

Yellow fabric

Container of stagnant water

Container of clean water

Empty bowl

Cardboard box flattened

Laminated anchor cut-out

Laminated photo of a child in an urban poor area

Candle

Matches

Bible/Book of the Gospel

Lectern

Folded blanket

Pillow

Bowl of rice

Container of milk

Laminated photo of children in library

Data projector

Screen

Computer

Notes– The colours of the white, yellow

and orange fabrics represent the Year of Grace.

– The white fabric is draped over boxes if the sacred space needs to be elevated so all can see, or it can be spread on the floor if the setting is more intimate.

– The flattened cardboard box represents the plight of street kids.

– If you want to use this Liturgy in the wider setting of a Mass, check with your pastor about how much can be retained and refer to the sacred space as a focus space.

Personnel required Student one:

Student two:

Reader:

Voice of Renallyn:

Voice of Jessamae:

Voice of Miguel:

First Reader:

Psalm (if spoken):

Gospel Reader:

Reflective talk:

Prayers of intercession

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Computer op:


GatheringStudent 1:Welcome to our Liturgy of the Word. Let us begin with an Acknowledgement of Country.

Together we say:We wish to acknowledge that we are in the Country of the people.

We pay our respect to their tribal Elders.

We acknowledge the memories of their ancestors and celebrate their continuing culture.

Student 2:The theme for our Liturgy today is: Restore hope… to someone special.

Let us prepare our sacred space.

In this Year of Grace we remember God’s favour, and love, for all… We place orange and yellow fabric.

Student 1:Many children in our world do not have access to safe drinking water. We place a glass of stagnant water.

Student 2:Many children in our world go to bed hungry. We place an empty bowl.

Student 1:Many children in our world sleep on the street. We place a sheet of cardboard.

Student 2:Many children in our world do not receive an education and are child labourers.

We place a photo of Jon-Jon who lives and works on a garbage dump, in the city of Cebu, in the Philippines.

Student 1:The early Christians who were persecuted for their faith placed their hope in Jesus. We place a cut-out of an anchor: an early Christian symbol of hope.

Student 2:Jesus is the hope of all the world. We place a lighted candle.

Student 1:Please join in singing our beginning song.Select an appropriate gathering song known by your community or make use of the song provided on the Powerpoint: GATHERED.

Leader:We gather as a community ready to be nourished by God’s word.

We gather as people of hope ready to commit ourselves to bringing hope and fullness of life to all God’s children

We gather…

All: …in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

A Liturgy of the Word

Page 1


Penitential RiteVoice of Renallyn: (The following is read as Renallyn’s photo is displayed on the Powerpoint.)

My name is Renallyn.I am ten years old.I have been neglected and abandoned by my father.I have been abused by my stepmother.I have nowhere to go.I have felt so terribly scared and overcome by a great feeling of hopelessness.Restore me to hope… I am a special child of God.

Leader: Lord, Jesus you are light for all,You guide us on our way. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Voice of Jessamae: (The following is read as Jessamae’s photo is displayed on the Powerpoint.)

My name is Jessamae.I come from Cebu in the Philippines.I come from a poor neighbourhood where there is a lot of crime.My father died several years ago, and my mother has just lost her battle with cancer.Where I live we are at constant risk of typhoons. Our home gets flooded 15 times each year.Many people get sick because around us there is stagnant water, rats and rubbish.Many times I have gone to bed hungry.Restore me to hope… I am a special child of God.

Leader:Lord, Jesus you are hope for all,You take away our sins.Christ, have mercy.

All: Christ, have mercy.

Voice of Miguel: (The following is read as Miguel’s photo is displayed on the Powerpoint.)

I live on the streets of the city of Manila in the Philippines.I sleep in a cardboard box.I make my bed under a freeway bridge.I wash myself in the filthy waste water from a nearby factory.I do not receive an education.I have no dream of a decent future.Every day is a fight for survival.Restore me to hope… I am a special child of God.

Leader:Lord, Jesus you are strength for all,Your word is truth and light. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

A Liturgy of the Word (continued)

Page 2


Liturgy of the WordLeader:Let us listen to God’s Word.

First Reader: A reading from the book of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 29:11–13)

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me: if you seek me with all your heart…

The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm (Spoken, or join in with sung version on the Powerpoint.)

Reader:The Lord hears the cry of the poor.I will bless the Lord at all times,His praise always on my lips;in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.The humble shall hear and be glad.

Response: The Lord hears the cry of the poor

Glorify the Lord with me.Together let us praise his name.I sought the Lord and he answered me;From my fears he sets me free.


Look towards him and be radiant;let your faces not be abashed.This poor man called; the Lord heard himand rescued him from all his distress.


Leader: Let us greet the Gospel.(The Gospel may be held aloft and processed to a lectern during a sung alleluia.)

Alleluia (Your Word is Hope)

Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! Alleluia to our God! Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! Alleluia to our God! Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! Alleluia to our God! Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! Alleluia to our God!

Your word is hope! Your word is life! Your word is hope! Your word is life!

Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! Alleluia to our God! Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! Alleluia to our God! Alleluia to our God!

© Richard Cootes 2012


Page 3


Gospel (Matt 25:31–40)Reader: Please join in with the reading as indicated on the Powerpoint.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

When the Son of Man comes in his Glory… He will say to those on his right: ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry…

All: And you gave me something to eat

Reader: I was thirsty

All: And you gave me something to drink

Reader: I was a stranger

All: And you invited me in

Reader: I needed clothes

All: And you clothed me

Reader: I was sick

All: And you looked after me

Reader: I was in prison

All: And you came to visit me…

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.

Reader: The Gospel of the Lord

All: Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ.

Reflection after the Gospel(DVD with song “A Special Someone” now played.)


Page 4


Refective talk: Restoring Hope(Show the anchor on the Powerpoint.)

The early Christians were a people who were persecuted and abused. They adopted the anchor as a symbol of hope. It was a secret symbol.

One can see the cross inside the shape of the anchor. It has been found carved in many ancient cemeteries and catacombs. An anchor symbolises safety. For the early Christians the anchor was a reminder of the hope they had in Jesus their saviour.

In our Penitential Rite we heard the voices of three children: Renallyn, Jessamae, and Miguel. They have suffered the abuses of hunger, homelessness and health risks. Happily, there are good people who are restoring hope to these children; people who are the anchors in their lives.

(Show slide of Sr Anne.)

Sr Anne runs a community centre. Jessamae attends this centre. She and others who are victims of extreme poverty receive vital help from Sr Anne and the centre. It has provided them with nutritional, social, psychological, and spiritual well being. Sr Anne is an anchor in their lives… restoring hope.

(Show slide of Renallyn and a Sister of St John the Baptist.)

The Sisters of St John the Baptist in Cebu run an orphanage. Renallyn, whose mother and father have died, has been at this orphanage for seven years Renallyn sees this orphanage as her home. She has excelled at her studies and is now in the first year of college. The Sisters have been the anchors in her life… restoring hope.

(Show slide of Jorge and the street kids.)

This slide shows Jorge with street children. These children miss out on the things we take for granted in Australia, like education, food, shelter and someone to love and care for them and keep them safe. Jorge is a street educator and social worker for street children in Manila.

Jorge talks to the children about such important issues as education, child rights, health risks and substance abuse. Jorge offers the street children the opportunity to attend a centre providing shelter, clothing, food, education and job training.

Jorge is an anchor in the lives of many street kids… restoring hope.

Let us have a moment of silence.

Reader:Let us pray for all who have lost hope and for the needs of all God’s children.


Page 5


Prayers of IntercessionSong HEAR OUR PRAYER now played.

(Two students process to the sacred space. They remove the sheet of cardboard and replace it with a folded blanket and a pillow.)

We pray for all those children who have been forced to leave their homes because of poverty and abuse. May they find shelter, and know love and care in their lives.

Lord of Hope, hear us.

All: Lord of Hope, hear our prayer.

(Two students process to the sacred space. They remove the photo of the child from an urban poor area and replace it with a photo of children in a library, text books and writing utensils.)

We pray for all those children who do not receive a full education, who are in need of job training or counselling, who have no dreams for the future. May we be able to make a difference to their lives.



(A student processes to the sacred space and substitutes the stagnant water with a container of clean water.)

We pray for all children who have no clean water to drink, that they may be saved from sickness and death through access to safe drinking water.



(Two students process to the sacred space and substitute the empty bowl with a bowl of rice and a container of milk.)

For children who are vulnerable to health risks, malnutrition, and substance abuse. May their lives be saved through medical care and a proper diet.



For our own school community, that we may always share in the mission of Jesus in bringing hope and fullness of life to all God’s children.



Leader:Let us pray the words that Jesus taught us.

All: Our Father…


Page 6


DismissalLeader:Together let us say our final blessing: (On Powerpoint.)

May God bless us with eyes that see the people in need in our world.

May God bless us with courage to seek justice and peace.

May God bless us with generosity to share what we have.

May God bless us with grace and love to see Christ in each other.

Leader:Nourished and graced by God’s Word and moved by the Spirit of Jesus may we go forth bringing hope to all God’s children.

Final Song (Sing an appropriate recessional song, or sing the song embedded in the Powerpoint.)


With special thanks and credit to Richard Cootes, REC- Maitland Newcastle and Mission Education Officer – Catholic Mission.

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a liturgy of the word - catholic missioncm.org.au/wmm/resources/liturgy of the word.pdf · is...

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