Staff Prayer Ritual in the week of the Feast of Mary MacKillop: OUTLINE of Ritual We Gather: Welcome

Sign of the Cross Catching Fire Song with the Lighting of the 3 Candles Opening Prayer

We Listen: Scripture Reading Words from Mary MacKillop Sharing

We Respond: Statement of Commitment

Closing Prayer

We Go Forth: Blessing Dismissal Sign of Peace

The Environment Ideally, set out chairs around a prayer focus – creating a space where people can be present to one another. Three candles are placed near the Bible which rests open at the Scripture Reading for today. You will need:

� a Leader of prayer; 2 Readers (one of whom will read the Scripture from the Bible; the other who will read an extract from a letter by Mary MacKillop); person(s) to light the candles at the appropriate times in the ritual; A person to light the lantern and hold it high as noted in the script.

� a Bible (open at the Reading) on a small table

� 3 candles (head, heart and hands) + matches

� Handouts for each staff member

� Full text of the ritual for the Leader

� CD of song, player and a person to organise the music at the appropriate time

Staff Prayer Ritual in the week of the Feast of Mary MacKillop: Detail

We Gather Welcome & Introduction Leader: This week, we remember and celebrate Australia’s first Saint, Mary MacKillop.

We all need heroes and heroines to give us HOPE, to CHALLENGE us, and to show us the way to LIVE the Christian life. Mary is a Saint for our times. Let me introduce her to you:

Mary was born in Melbourne in 1842. She died in Sydney on the 8th August in 1909. Mary took the religious name, Mary of the Cross. Responding to the isolation of colonial families, she pioneered a new form of religious life to provide education for their children. She and her Sisters shared the life of the poor and the itinerant, offering special care to destitute women and children. She is remembered for her eagerness to discover God's will in all things, for her charity in the face of calumny, (often at the hands of Church authorities) and for her abiding trust in God's Providence. Sign of the Cross Leader: Let’s now mark ourselves with the Sign that Mary MacKillop chose as her new name. All: In the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Song Leader: In the words of our song, let us ‘catch fire’ with the same enthusiasm for the gospel

that we see in the life of Mary MacKillop.

Jesus, we embrace you and your vision. Teach us prayer, to see God’s presence here And to live out, a life of principle on our journey finding faith with you. With fire in our minds, with fire through our hands, Catching fire in our hearts, we turn to you.

A person lights the ‘head’ candle as the song continues ...

In communion, we build with God and others, an accepting place of welcome for all. We see, with eyes that know no other way the sacredness of every face & moment.

With fire in our minds, etc.

We’re people of purpose and commitment faithful to all those who’ve gone before We’re challenged to be witness in your mission, to transform a world that’s free for all.

With fire in our minds, etc. A person lights the ‘heart’ candle as the song continues ...

And we’re the ones, we are keepers of the flame. We are called to pass on this great story And your life we find deep in our hearts and souls. Oh how it changes everything for us.

With fire in our minds, etc.

Your spirit fire, draws us to your centre, it animates all that we say and do Together, we will journey with each other knowing we don’t walk the path alone.

With fire in our minds, etc. A person lights the ‘hands’ candle as the song continues ...

Leading us, Your guiding light shines through the gift we have to recognize and grow And we celebrate all the richness found among us This power of our own transforming love.

With fire in our minds, etc.

(Warren Fields and Jill Gowdie 2007)

Opening Prayer Leader: Let us pray ... All: Holy God, source of all goodness,

you show us in Mary MacKillop a woman of faith who lived by the power of the cross. Teach us to embrace what she pioneered: new ways of living the gospel that respect and defend the human dignity of all in our land.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

We Listen Scripture Reading

Reader 1: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matt 6:25-26)

I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and what you are to wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body more than clothing! Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? SHORT PAUSE ...

Reader 2: An extract from a letter written by Mary MacKillop (16 May 1873) Pray that God may direct, and that St Joseph’s humble spirit may guide you. May a great unity prevail, may Charity shine, and a holy wisdom influence every word and act. Whoever we are, let God’s glory shine and the general good absorb our thoughts, deliberations and actions. SHORT PAUSE ...

Sharing Leader: How do the sentiments expressed in the Word of God and echoed in the life of

Mary MacKillop speak to us as teachers today? People may like to share for a few minutes ...

We Respond

Leader: Let us commit ourselves to shine with the light of the gospel in the words of those who continue the work of Mary MacKillop:

All: Today, we promise - in our classrooms, in our offices, and in our homes,

To live from the Heart ... To live with the Sacred ... To live like Joseph ... To live as brothers and sisters ... To live!

Closing Prayer Leader: Let us pray ... All: God of abundance,

on this feast of Mary MacKillop, strengthen us to walk the way of the cross in our own lives and bring us to the glory of the resurrection.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We Go Forth Blessing Leader: Through the example of Mary MacKillop,

may we learn to recognise God's will for us and trust in God's providence. All: Amen. Leader: May her life of service awaken in us a deep respect for the poor

and a passion for justice. All: Amen. Leader: May we share in her courage,

see with her vision, and love with her heart.

All: Amen. Leader: May almighty God bless us, the + Father, and Son, and the Holy Spirit. All: Amen. Dismissal Leader: Go to shine the light of God’s glory into all the situations that you meet today! All: Thanks be to God! Sign of Peace Leader: Let us encourage one another in Mary’s way of simplicity and trust

by offering one another a Sign of Peace.