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National Vocations
Awareness Week
Kit
5th August – 12th August 2012
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Contents
Acknowledgement .................................................................................................................................. 3
General Information ...................................................................................................................... 4
Poster General ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Introduction – 2012 Theme .................................................................................................................... 6
Poster Vocations Specific ........................................................................................................................ 7
Book Mark ............................................................................................................................................... 8
Vocation Song 2012 ................................................................................................................................ 9
Schools ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Classroom Lesson Ideas on Tides .......................................................................................................... 11
Scripture Readings – on Calls: ............................................................................................................... 13
Vocation Songs/Hymns: ........................................................................................................................ 14
Primary School Saints Focus ................................................................................................................. 15
Secondary School Powerpoint .............................................................................................................. 18
Parishes ............................................................................................................................................. 20
Parish Notices ....................................................................................................................................... 21
Prayer for Meetings .............................................................................................................................. 24
A Water Prayer ...................................................................................................................................... 25
Homily Notes – 5th August .................................................................................................................... 26
Homily Notes – 12th August .................................................................................................................. 29
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Ages 3‐9 ............................................................................................... 31
Parish Liturgy......................................................................................................................................... 35
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Acknowledgement
The 2012 National Vocations Awareness Kit was created and designed by
members of the Western Australian Vocations Network.
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General Information
General Information and promotional material that can be utilised in Schools, Parishes and
Catholic Agencies
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PosterGeneral
Come
Discover
the
Lord of the
Living Waters (Jn 7:37);
Know your vocation.
“The Father is the spring, the Son is called the stream and we are said to drink the Spirit” (St Athanasius – Ad Serapionem 1:19)
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Introduction–2012Theme
Vocations have been mentioned on countless occasions in scripture. We have the call of Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Miriam, Mary, the Twelve Apostles and Paul to name a few. We read their journeys in scripture and how they responded to God’s mission. Metaphors always help us to discover truths. The metaphor that will be employed in the 2012 National Awareness Week is “Living Waters” with an emphasis on ‘Tides’. The use of the metaphor is to help individuals:
1. Visualise a concept
2. Cause moments to ponder the concept and
3. Deepen their reflection by meditating on the concept with all its possibilities for the individual’s life Ultimately, it will provide the individuals to see and hear in a real way what God’s message / call is for them.
Understanding Vocations and in particular our own vocation is important for a fulfilled and contented life. The difficulty for many is in the ‘HOW’ to read the signs to understand my vocation. The NVAW kit attempts to assist individuals to “open up” to the possibilities in Vocations. Will the individual’s desire for God in their life be found in:
Single Life? Consecrated Religious Life?
Married Life? or Ordained Priesthood?
God calls us to seek God, to know God, to love God with all our strength (ccc).
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PosterVocationsSpecific
National Vocations Awareness Week 5th August – 12th August 2012
Being baptised Christian
is the beginning of sharing in Christ’s ministry of love.
Through Baptism Christians are gifted and called to live lives of love in response to God’s action. Within the Catholic tradition there are four ways in which a person can achieve this:
Single Life: Being one with the Living Water Married Life: giving life to one another with an undivided heart so that love is outpoured and shared Consecrated Religious Life: contemplating and reflecting the Living Water
Priesthood: embodying the Living Water All Christian Life is called to reflect in essence and action the Lord of the Living Waters. Where is the tide in your life?
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BookMark As per separate document
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VocationSong2012
“A Gentle Call” Sr Maureen Mohen rsm
Verse 1
I heard a whisper while at prayer, And almost tangible Presence there A deepest love and a gentle call To give myself and to render all.
Chorus
Give me your life with all that you are Answer my call if you’re willing to dare You will receive a hundredfold o’er And you will be mine forever more.
Verse 2
I thought of our planet so ailing and sore Of people so hungry – their children no more I felt myself called to help in some way And so I said ‘Yes’ I’ll come right away.
Verse 3
So, let us join together as one eager band To bring peace and justice to every land For this is the vision of Jesus, our Lord. To bring all together in one loving fold.
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Schools
The following information develops the concept
of Water with a focus on tides to provide assistance to the teacher to developing a lesson
on Vocations with students at primary and secondary levels.
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ClassroomLessonIdeasonTides
Introduction In scripture we read that fundamental encounters take place beside wells or springs and like any holy place, the waterside plays an extraordinary part. At these places in scripture love comes into being and marriages are solemnized. The wanderings of the Children of Israel and the earthly pilgrimage of the human soul are intimately involved with external or internal contact with water, the latter becoming an oasis of light and peace. (The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols 1982:1083).
What is a tide? Simply is a movement of waters around the world that ebbs and flows through other environmental factors. As a result of the ebb and flow of the waters marine life maintains its equilibrium.
What’s the purpose of a tide? A tide nurtures life and is never stagnant. It recedes from and flows to the land. Tides help a huge number of species around the world to move to a new destination where they’ll be nourished. Just as tides provide a structure that assists the environment, discovering the source of our own vocation drives us with a purpose for life.
Are there influences in tides? The moon, atmosphere, undercurrents, wind, energy, rips, are just a few factors that influence tides. Just as these factors provide great influences on the waters the four vocations in the Catholic tradition also influences a person’s sense of fulfilment which then impacts on our living, relating and working with one another in a spirit of mutuality, respect and love as Christ intended.
What is the significance of Baptism for a Christian?
Each person has a part to play in God’s mission of love and has a particular vocation to assist in this mission. Baptised people belong to God and live in communion with the one body in one Spirit; through baptism Christians can be formed into the likeness of Christ. Christians are reconciled to God through Christ and are never alone in their journey. The Holy Spirit provides guidance to live a fulfilled life through their vocation.
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The three main symbolic meanings for Water:
1 a source of life
2 cleansing
3 centre of regeneration Water is powerful and very symbolic. Water is the spring and channel of all life. Water conditions life itself. Explore Scripture Passages
Scripture Passages re: Water Jeremiah 2:13 Isaiah 35:6-7 Revelations 7:17 Job 28:25-6; Prov 3:20; 8-22, 24, 28-9; Ecc 1:2-4. “This water dwells in the heart of the wise man and is like a well or spring (Prov 20:5; Ecc 21:13) John 4:14 ‘whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”.
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ScriptureReadings–onCalls:
Exercise: Compare the Calls of the people from scripture
Call of discipleship Mk 1:14-20 Call of Abram Gen 12.1-9 Call of Moses Ex 3.1-4.17 Call of Ruth Ruth Call of Samuel 1 Sam 3 Call of David 1 Sam 16 Call of Isaiah Isa 43.1-7 Call of Jeremiah Jer 1.4-10 Call of First Disciples Mt 4.18-22 Call of any disciple Mk 8.31-38 Lk 9.1-6 Eph 5.1-20 Call of rich ruler Lk 18.18-30 Call of Paul Acts 9.1-19 You! 1 Pet 2.9-17 Turning Point: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1 Cor 7:29-31 Different Roles 1 Cor 7:32-35
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VocationSongs/Hymns: As One Voice: Sing a New Song Christ Will Be Your Light Look to Christ Alive in Christ Jesus – David Haas Love is the Compass – Nathan Tasker Here I Am – Rebecca St James
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PrimarySchoolSaintsFocus During National Vocation Awareness Week we focus on the different vocation God calls us to, whether it be to the Single or Married life, Priesthood or Religious life. This week we celebrate two major Feast days in the church’s calendar: St Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, and St. Mary MacKillop, Foundress of Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Mary is our first Australian canonized saint.
St. Dominic (1170 ‐1221)
St Dominic is honoured as founder of the Order of Preachers.
Dominic was born at Caleruega, Spain in 1170 of noble parentage. His father was Felix de Guzman and his mother Jane of Aza. Dominic was the second-born son. His parents later had another two sons and a daughter.
Dominic’s mother taught him many things. Jane taught her son how to love God by showing him how to pray, to thank God for what he had, to ask God’s forgiveness when things went wrong and turn to God always.
Dominic was eager to learn and share. When he was seven years old, he went to school. His uncle, a priest directed his education. He was a conscientious student and worked very hard at his studies. When Dominic was fourteen years old he went to the University of Palencia in Spain, where he studied Theology, (an in-depth study of God) Philosophy, Public Speaking, Mathematics, Music, Latin and he studied the Stars.
After six years studying, Dominic began training for the priesthood. After completing his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1195 and went to Osma, in Spain, to carry out his priestly duties. In Osma Dominic worked with Bishop Diego, who asked Dominic to accompany him on a mission to Denmark. When they reached the south of France, Dominic discovered that the people there were following false teaching of a heretical group, who had changed their beliefs about the Gospel message of Jesus. Dominic set about lovingly teaching them the Truth and slowly the people began to pray and love God as Dominic taught them. Dominic wanted to teach all people about God’s special love for each one of us. After he became a priest Dominic began his life as a preacher and teacher. Dominic spent all his life telling people about God and showing his love for them. Dominic was a man of prayer and prayed often throughout the day and night. He sometimes spent the night in prayer in the church. His favourite books in the bible were Matthew’s Gospel and the Letters of St. Paul. He knew these books off by heart.
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In the year 1206 Dominic founded the Order of Dominican Sisters. These women supported Dominic in his work by prayer, fasting, study and teaching. The Sisters were engaged in teaching children in Southern France in a place called Prouille. This was the very first convent of Dominican Sisters. Dominic was convinced of the need for a group of trained teachers who would spread the truth of the Gospel by their teaching and preaching. In 1215 in Toulouse in France, Dominic founded the Dominican Order of Friars. These priests went out in twos to preach and teach in various parts of Europe. Today the Dominican Priests and Sisters are in many countries throughout the World following in the footsteps of Dominic, continuing to spread the Gospel message of Truth and Love of our Compassionate and Forgiving God.
The Dominican Motto is VERITAS which means TRUTH
Dominic died on the 6th August 1221 in Bologna Italy. In Australia St. Dominic’s Feast day is celebrated on the 5th of August.
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St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop (1842 ‐1909)
Mary was an ordinary Victorian farm girl who devoted her life to the service of God and did great things for Australian and New Zealand families. Mary MacKillop was born of Scottish parents, Alexander MacKillop and Flora MacDonald in Fitzroy, Victoria on January 15, 1842. She was the eldest child in the family and had three sisters and four brothers. Mary started work at the age of fourteen as a clerk in Melbourne and later as a teacher in Portland. To provide for her needy family, Mary took up a job as governess in 1860 at her Aunt and Uncle's place at Penola in South Australia. She was to look after their children and teach them. While there, Mary met Father Tenison Woods who needed help in the religious education of children in the outback. After two years, Mary returned to Portland and opened her own boarding school. While in Portland Father Woods invited Mary and her two sisters, Annie and Lexie, to come to Penola and open a Catholic school. In 1866 a school was opened in a stable and the MacKillops started teaching more than fifty children. Also in 1866 Mary MacKillop and Father Woods started the religious order of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Josephites) and in 1867 Mary MacKillop became the first Sister (Sister Mary of the Cross) and Mother Superior, of the newly formed Order. Dedicated to the education of the children of the poor, it was the first religious order to be founded by an Australian and by the end of 1867 ten other Sisters had joined the Josephites. By the end of 1869 more than seventy Sisters were educating children at twenty-one schools in Adelaide and the country. Throughout her life, Mary met with opposition from people outside and inside the Church. However, she believed God was calling her and was always ready to forgive those who wronged her. During the later years of her life she had many problems with her health. She suffered from rheumatism and after a stroke became paralysed on her right side. For seven years she had to rely on a wheelchair to move around. She died on August 8, 1909 at the age of 67 in the convent in Mount Street, North Sydney where her tomb is now enshrined. Mary was Beatified by Pope John Paul II on 19 January 1995. On 17 October 2010 Mary MacKillop was declared a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI and is now known as Saint Mary of the Cross.
(Sr Edith Murphy OP)
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PuzzlesandWordSearch
Attachment in a separate file/document
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SecondarySchoolPowerpoint Attachment in separate document/file
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Parishes
Furthering the metaphor of the ‘Living Waters’ the following provides assistance to parishioners to emphasise the National Vocations Awareness Week and in particular the four vocations in the
catholic tradition to the parish community
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ParishNotices
Come Discover the
Lord
of the Living Waters
For further information Australia
visit www.catholicvocationsoz.com
Western Australia www.wavocations.com
National Vocations Awareness Week August 5‐12, 2012
Provides an opportunity for all Australian dioceses, parishes, schools, religious communities, youth, campus ministers and other Catholic Organisations to foster a “VOCATIONS CULTURE” across Australia by:
Focusing in unison on the ‘call to holiness’ that arises from our Baptismal Call
Recognising that the Call which comes from the Heart of God must always find its way into the hearts of men and women.
PERTH – International Speaker
“Understanding your Call”
Br Paul Bednarczyk CSC
Executive Director
National Religious Conference United States of America
Saturday 11th AUGUST 2012
Newman Siena Centre 9.30am – 12 Noon
To register email: [email protected]
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NATIONAL VOCATIONS AWARENESS WEEK
AUGUST 5‐12, 2012
Invites you in this ‘YEAR of GRACE’
to reflect on the opportunities
for all Australians, Dioceses, Parishes,
Schools,
Religious Congregations,
Youth Groups, Campus Ministers
and other Catholic Organisaitons
to foster a vibrant
VOCATIONS CULTURE
and recognising
that we cannot respond
unless we are drawn by
God the Creator.
“Understanding your Call”
By Br Paul Bednarczyk CSC SATURDAY 11th AUGUST 2012
Newman Siena Centre 9.30am – 12 Noon
To register email: [email protected]
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NATIONAL VOCATIONS AWARENESS WEEK
AUGUST 5‐12, 2012
Invites you in this ‘YEAR of GRACE’
to reflect on the opportunities
for all Australians, Diocesses, Parishes,
Schools,
Religious Congregations,
Youth Groups, Campus Ministers
and other Catholic Organisaitons
to foster a vibrant
VOCATIONSCULTUREAnd recognising that
we cannot respond unless
we are drawn by
God the Creator.
“Understanding your Call”
Br Paul Bednarczyk CSC Saturday 11th August 2012
Newman Siena Centre 9.30am – 12 Noon
To register email: [email protected]
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PrayerforMeetings
Loving Spirit of God
Most loving God, in whom we live and more
and have our being, give us new awareness of your presence.
Touch our minds,
that we may know you in the word of Scripture
and in the living Word, Jesus Christ.
Touch our ears, that we may hear you in music and song.
Touch our eyes,
that we may remember you in the signs of cross and candlelight.
Touch our hearts,
that we may love you with a love that sweeps through us
like a great tide.
Living, loving Spirit of God, touch us with the spirit of love, joy, and praise.
(Anonymous)
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AWaterPrayer
Water
God, through the guiding power of your spirit, lead us to springs of the water of life. 1
Give to us this water in abundance We who are thirsty wish to come. 2 The water you give will become a spring gushing up to eternal life. 3
Help us to believe in Jesus more deeply. Whoever believes will never be thirsty. 4 Gift every person with a believer’s heart. Rivers of living water shall flow. 5
Cleanse our world and touch it with healing. Make us generous in reaching out. 6
Jesus, you used water for the first of your signs, revealing your glory while meeting a need. 7
Like a slave, you washed the apostles’ feet, showing with water, God’s love for us all. 8
Be with us as we walk over the waters of life. Let us hear your words: ‘It is I, take heart’. 9 Water of life, God, bright as crystal, flowing from your throne and the throne of the Lamb. 10
(Preparing the Good News 1998 Fr Des O’Donnell omi and Sr Maureen Mohen rsm)
References:
1 Rev 7:17; 2 Rev 22:17; 3 Jn 4:14; 4 Jn 6:35; 5 Jn 7:37-39; 6 Jn 5:6-9; Jn 2:1-11; 8 Jn 13:3-5; 9 Mk 6:47-52; 10 Rev 22:1
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HomilyNotes–5thAugustNational Vocations Awareness Week 2012
Homily Reflections: Sunday 5 August 2012
(18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)
Scripture Readings:
Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15 Psalm 77: 3-4, 23-25, 54 Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24 John 6: 24-35
God provides for His people: There is an undisputable truth that runs throughout the entire history of God’s relationship with humanity. This truth is that God provides for His people. From the dawn of Creation through to the present day, God has provided, and continues to provide for us – with an everlasting love, and with an unbounded compassion and generosity. Time and time again … God makes a way when there is no way:
(The Red Sea, the manna in the desert, Jesus feeding the multitude … to mention but a few) God creates life out of death and brokenness.
(The “dry bones” vision of Ezekiel, the resurrection of Jesus, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, etc.) God brings direction and a future to people who have lost hope:
(The Exodus experience, the family of Lazarus, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, etc.)
God has promised to always be with us, to always provide for us
… and God never revokes or takes back His promises. Do we really believe this? Truths like this can be easy to hear with our ears and speak with out lips, but not so easy to believe in our hearts. Do we really believe that God always provides for His people? … for US? … for ME? If we do, that’s fantastic! The challenge is then to live a life that reflects this belief: a life which radiates joy and hope, care and compassion to those around us; a life which encourages deeper faith and hope in others; a life which encourages other to recognise their gifts and their God-given calling in life. If we are perhaps struggling to believe that God always provides at this point in our lives, that’s OK too. Sometimes life can get so dark and cloudy that we wonder if the sun is still
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there. Rest assured, however, that it is. If we are finding it difficult to believe in God’s care for us, can we at least hold on to God’s Word and trust in God’s promises until better days come? God provides for His people … through His people! We know that God can do all things, that God is all-powerful. But it is also true that God needs us. God uses everyday people to bring about His plans for His people. God therefore requires our co-operation, our active participation, to help make real the future that God desires for His people. This is the primary calling of our baptism – to be witnesses. In practical terms, this means living “outwardly” – being people who: encourage others, enable others to discover and recognise their unique gifts, call forth the gifts which we see in other people, but which may be as yet unknown to
them. (Remember that “vocation” comes from the Latin “vocare” which means “to call”)
In this sense, not only does God need us, but we also need one another if we are each to discover who we really are and where God is calling us in our lives. You may have heard the joke about a man caught in a flood …
As the waters rose, the man stood on the raised verandah of his house. A man in a row boat came by and called out to him to get in and he’d take him to safety. But the man on the verandah said, “No, I have faith in God. God will save me.” The waters kept rising and the man had to go up to his second floor balcony. A man in a motor boat came by and called out to him get in, because he had come to rescue him. The man in the house said no thank you. He had perfect faith in God and would wait for God to save him. The waters continued to rise and soon the man was forced onto the roof of his house. A helicopter flew by and lowered a rope to him. The pilot shouted for the man to climb up, as he’d come to rescue him. The man on the roof refused, telling the pilot that he had faith in God and would wait for God to rescue him. The flood waters kept rising and the man drowned. When he got to heaven, he was not at all impressed with God and asked why God had let him down so badly and allowed him to drown when he had such perfect faith. To which God replied: “Well, what more did you want from me? … I sent you two boats and a helicopter!”
At every Mass we pray to Our Father to “give us this day our daily bread.” In praying this, do we recognise and accept that each and every one of us is part of that “daily bread” that God gives for each other. We are all called to be “bread of life” – vehicles of God’s life and sustenance to each other. So how do we do this? We’re all in this together: Firstly, we do it together …
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We are community – the body of Christ – the People of God. None of us is saved as an isolated individual – we all belong to, and are part of, each other. What a comfort it is to know that we are not alone! We are always a part of something much greater that ourselves. We are all therefore called to help one another discern our true vocation in life. By both … listening and responding; following and leading; discerning and encouraging;
… we are called to bring out the best in each other and guide each other to discover where God is leading us in every moment of our lives.
These tasks are given to us all. In this sense we are all, in a way, “vocations directors” for each other. So we come here today to this Mass to receive Jesus himself – in His Word and Sacrament. In this celebration, we receive the bread of life, the bread that sustains us. But this bread is given to us, so that we in turn will become bread for one another. Through this Bread of Life, we are enabled and empowered to be life, strength and encouragement to the members of our families, or local communities, our work colleagues, our sporting and social groups. Wherever we live and work and play – this is where we are called … to bring the life-giving message of God’s love and care for all people; to guide and sustain them in their journey; to help them identify their gifts, their calling, the path that God has for their lives. This is not just the roles of priests, religious and vocations ministers. It is a fundamental calling given to all of us in baptism…to be enablers, encouragers of others. Today, there are so many people in our world, our communities and our families who are hungry and thirsty, who are searching for life and meaning…but often in the wrong places. We are called to be the person in the boat and the helicopter, offering them a way back to life and safety, a future and a hope. God promises to be with us always. Jesus promises to be our Bread of Life. And we are called to be not just recipients of these promises, but also the means through which they are fulfilled.
(Fr Wayne Bendotti – Vocations Director – Bunbury Diocese)
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HomilyNotes–12thAugust
National Vocations Awareness Week 2012
Homily Reflections: Sunday 12 August 2012
(19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)
Scripture Readings:
1 Kings 19: 4-8 Psalm 33: 2-9 Ephesians 4: 30 – 5: 12 John 6: 41-51
Food for the Journey:
Have you ever felt like Elijah in today’s First Reading? Have you ever reached a point where you have simply “had enough”? The task at hand was just too difficult, or even felt impossible. You had tried and tried again, with little or no success. You had reached the end of your strength or endurance.
What did that feel like? How did you get through it? What brought you respite and enabled you to continue on? Perhaps it was a word of encouragement from a friend? Perhaps a new insight which helped you to see your situation from a different perspective? Or perhaps just some time to rest and regain some inner strength? For Moses and the Israelites, God provided manna in the desert each and every day. This manna sustained them year after year as they wandered, until they finally reached the Promised Land. This manna was more than just food: It was also a daily reminder to the Israelites of God’s continuing presence with them and care for them. When Elijah’ strength was gone and he had given up all hope, God provided – again, not just food and drink – but also the encouragement and hope that he needed to continue his journey. And so it is with us. When we are most in need, God provides for us. Whether it is through the love of family and friends, the encouragement of loyal companions, or renewed inner strength and resolve, we receive our food for the journey – the grace we need to continue on. But for us Christians, there’s also a twist! In receiving from God’s grace – revealed to us in the love of Christ – we are also called and commissioned to be bearers of that grace to others. We are to provide for one another, so that no one is left wanting or in need. Jesus himself is our life-giving bread. He is our nourishment – our food for the journey. He came that we may have life, and have it in abundance. But this life and nourishment is for ALL God’s people … and needs to be shared with ALL God’s people.
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As Christians, we know that each and every one of us is called to be a “Christ-bearer” – people who share the life and goodness of Christ to the people we encounter in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives. But we also know that Christ calls from among the community of believers, some of His faithful to serve his mission with their whole lives – through the priesthood or consecrated life. Each one of us is here today because at some point in our lives, ordained ministers or professed religious have ministered the presence and life of Christ to us. For nearly two thousand years, the presence of Christ – ministered through the celebration of the sacraments of the Church – has nourished, strengthened and sustained the People of God throughout the world. This is why today, as we conclude National Vocations Awareness Week, we are asked to pray especially for vocations to priesthood and consecrated life. But we are also asked to more than simply pray. We are asked – commissioned, even – to do our part in nurturing and fostering the call of God in our families, our parishes and our communities. Today we might each ask ourselves:
a) Who do I know who has the personal and spiritual characteristics that would make them a suitable candidate for priesthood or religious life?
b) Have I ever invited them to consider such a call? The truth is, vocations are rarely, if ever, discerned in isolation. They don’t just “fall out of the sky”. More often than not they are grown, fostered and called-forth by others. While a religious calling is deeply personal, it is never private. Therefore the Lord needs us to be encouragers; to be people who help and enable others – especially the young – to firstly recognise their gifts, and secondly, to discern how God is calling them to use their gifts for the service of God’s people. Day after day, year after year, Jesus continues to offer himself to us. He gives himself to us so that we may be strengthened; so that we may discover our calling; and so that we may live with life, love and purpose. Today we pray that many people – including people from within THIS community gathered here – will recognise and take up Christ’s call to serve his people as priests and religious. And we also pray that we will never cease to do our part to help others recognise and respond to Christ’s call for their lives.
(Fr Wayne Bendotti – Vocations Director – Bunbury Diocese)
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Children’sLiturgyoftheWordAges3‐9
The Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Mary said “Yes” to God’s plan Welcome
Have children come forward with a little flower (cut for them out of paper and placed in the entry of the Parish Hall before the Liturgy) and place them at the foot of the statue of Mary or at her picture in the sacred space of the room.
Prayer
All make sign of the cross. Dear God, we thank you for Mary, who opened her heart to your call. Help us to open our hears to your plans as Mary did. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
Introduction
We come today to listen to God’s word. In the Gospel today we will hear the special news from Heaven brought to Mary by a heavenly messenger. That message is very important to all the people in the world.
Scripture Reading
Luke 1:26-38
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Exploring the Scripture
In the city of Nazareth lived a young lady called Mary. She was promised to be a wife to Joseph, a local carpenter. Before she moved to Joseph as his wife, a messenger from Heaven, an Angel of God, whose name was Gabriel came to her. She was quite scared to see a stranger, so the Angel calmed her and explained his visit. The Angel Gabriel told Mary that she is a chosen person by God to have a baby son and she will call him Jesus. Mary said:” YES” to God’s plan and the Angel went back to Heaven. Today God is calling people as well to do his special work. For example some people are called to be married and have children; some are called to be priests, deacons or religious sisters or missionaries who go around the world to help people to know our loving God and to love God like Mary did.
Discussion
Who is Mary? Where did she live? Who came to visit her? Why was she afraid? What did the Angel asked her to do? What did Mary say to the Angel? What does the word ‘YES’ mean? Who are the other people who like Mary say Yes to God? What does a Priest? What does a Religious Sister (Nun) do? What does a Religious Brother do? How parents help us? How can we follow Mary’s example in our lives?
Activities
Invite the children to reread the story with you. The older children may read the part of the Angel Gabriel and the part of Mary, while the adult may read the narrative. The younger children may role-play while the story is reread. OR/AND Children may colour-in the pictures of The Annunciation, or a family, or a missionary, or a priest, or a religious sister. Their coloured pictures can be placed for display on a board under the Title: God’s Calling. OR/AND
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Children may sing a song appropriate for the theme and do some movement accordingly to the words heard in the song. AND / OR Have a “Mary Discussion” with the children. Read and talk through: “The Hail Mary” by Victor Hoagland, C.P.
Intercession
Leader: Let us open our hearts to God in Prayer. Leader: We pray for our Church, the Pope Benedict XVI and all priests that they will help us to grow closer to God. All: Amen Leader: We pray for our Parents and for all families in the world. May God bless us with His love. All: Amen Leader: We pray for Religious Brothers and Sisters and for Missionaries. May God protect them in their work to teach others about His Love. All: Amen Leader: God, our loving Father in Heaven, may we share your love with others as Mary did. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen All bless themselves with the sign of the cross then join-in the Eucharistic prayer in the Church. Children may carry the board with their picture and the gifts to the altar. Music suggestion
Mary Said ‘Yes’ by Michael Mangan, “My Spirit Sings” Hail Mary by John Burland, “One Family”
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Practical Task Make cut-out or find some pictures of parents, priests, religious persons, lay missionaries to be coloured-in. Have the board prepared with the Title: God’s calling. For your background you may find useful: “Brisbane Guidance for Children’s Liturgy of the Word” (Brisbane Liturgical Commission, website); and “The Complete Children’s Liturgy Book, Liturgies of the Word for Years A, B, C” by Katie Thompson.
(Holy Family of Nazareth Sisters)
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ParishLiturgy
COME DISCOVER THE LORD OF THE LIVING WATERS
KNOW YOUR VOCATION
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ENTRANCE HYMN
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First Reading: a reading from the Book of Exodus 16:2-4; 12-15
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’
Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
Responsorial Psalm:
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Second Reading: a reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. That is not the way you learned Christ! For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Gospel: a reading from the holy Gospel according to John 6:24-35
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
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Prayer of the Faithful:
Trusting in the God who sustains us like an overflowing fountain, we turn to God now so that our supplication may be heard and that the people we pray for may be nourished by God’s life-giving water.
1. We pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, bishops, priests religious that God may fill them always with courage, hope and joy as they continue to labour in His vineyard by their self-giving service. We pray to the Lord…
All: God of the Living Waters, refresh us
2. That the Government and our local leaders may always strive to better lead our country and stand up for its people through honest, fair and genuine leadership. We pray to the Lord…
All: God of the Living Waters, refresh us
3. That as we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week, we pray that the Lord of the harvest may touch our hearts to re-dedicate our lives to him in our particular vocation in life. We pray to the Lord…
All: God of the Living Waters, refresh us
4. That young people may be generous and sincere in choosing their vocations that they may be channels of God’s peace and goodness to others.
We pray to the Lord…
All: God of the Living Waters, refresh us
Prayer:
Lord God, ever flowing with hope, love and joy, we ask you to hear our prayers and pray that you may give us the grace to fulfil what we beg of you, so that in turn we may be your instrument in this world. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
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Offertory Hymn:
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Recessional Hymn:
