FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTPRESIDENTIAL PRAYERS FROM THE CHAIR

Introductory Rites(If the Optional Penitential Rite is used, skip now to the Collect, otherwise, use the following:)

Sign of the Cross

Priest Celebrant (†): In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Faithful Celebrants (‡): Amen.Greeting

† The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

or† Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.or

† The Lord be with you.

‡ And with your spirit.Penitential Act

† Brothers and sisters,Let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred

mysteries.Choose one of the following forms:

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†‡ I confess to almighty Godand to you, my brothers and sisters,that I have greatly sinnedin my thoughts and in my words,in what I have doneand in what I have failed to do,through my fault, †

through my fault,through my most grievous fault;therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,all the Angels and Saints,and you, my brothers and sisters,to pray for me to the Lord our God.or

† Have mercy on us, O Lord.‡ For we have sinned against you.† Show us, O Lord, your mercy.‡ And grant us your salvation

or

† Lord Jesus, you listen to the cry of the oppressed:

Lord, have mercy. ‡ Lord, have mercy.

† Christ Jesus, you save all those who call on you:

Christ, have mercy. ‡ Christ, have mercy.

† Lord Jesus, you overcame the temptations of the enemy: Lord, have mercy. ‡ Lord, have mercy.

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† May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

‡ Amen.The invocations follow, unless they occurred previously.

† Lord, have mercy.‡ Lord, have mercy.† Christ, have mercy.‡ Christ, have mercy.† Lord, have mercy.‡ Lord, have mercy.

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OPTIONAL PENITENTIAL RITE/ENTRANCE

We begin our celebration standing in silence. When the celebrant arrives at the altar, please kneel for the Penitential Rite.

Penitential Rite: Week I of Lent 

Lord Jesus, Son of God, on whose mercy we depend, to forgive all our sins… Lord, have mercy. Response: Lord, Have Mercy. Christ Jesus, life for all, font of grace, the righteousness of God… Christ, have mercy. Response: Christ, Have Mercy. Lord Jesus, drawn into the desert, you were tempted by the devil and victorious over sin… Lord, Have Mercy. Response: Lord, Have Mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Response: Amen

Collect

† Let us pray.

Grant, almighty God,through the yearly observances of holy Lent,that we may grow in understandingof the riches hidden in Christ

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and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.

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 takes place.]

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Parish Rite of SendingCatechumens for Election & Candidates for Recognition by the

Bishop

Presentation of Catechumens

[After the Homily, a representative presents the catechumens:]

Rep.: Reverend Father, these catechumens, ₦ and ₦, are beginning their final period of preparation and purification leading to their initiation. They have found strength in God’s grace and support in our community’s prayers and example.

Now, they ask that they be recognized for the progress they have made in their spiritual formation and that they receive the assurance of our blessings and prayers as they go forth to the rite of election celebrated this Sunday by Bishop Scharfenberger.

†: Those who are to be sent to the celebration of election in Christ, come forward, together with those who will be your godparents.

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Affirmation by the Godparents & Assembly

†: My dear friends, these catechumens who have been preparing for the sacraments of initiation hope that they will be found ready to participate in the rite of election and be chosen in Christ for the Easter sacraments. It is the responsibility of this community to inquire about their readiness before they are presented to the bishop.

[to the godparents and the entire assembly:]

†: I turn to you, godparents and all of the faithful here gathered, for your testimony about these candidates. Have these catechumens taken their formation in the Gospel and in the Catholic way of life seriously?

‡ They have.

†: Have they given evidence of their conversion by the example of their lives?

‡ They have.

†: Do you judge them to be ready to be presented to the bishop for the rite of election?

‡ We do.

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†: My dear catechumens, This community gladly recommends you to the bishop, who, in the name of Christ, will call you to the Easter sacraments. May God bring to completion the good work he has begun in you.

Presentation of Candidates

[A representative now presents the candidates:]

Rep.: Reverend Father, I now present to you the candidates who are beginning their final preparation for the sacraments of confirmation and eucharist (and/or: reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church).They have found strength in God’s grace and support in our community’s prayers and example.

Now, they ask that they be recognized for the progress they have made in their spiritual formation and that they receive the assurance of our blessings and prayers as they go forth for recognition by Bishop Scharfenberger this Sunday.

†: Those who are to be recognized, come forward, together with your sponsors.

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Affirmation by the Sponsors

†: My dear friends, these candidates, already one with us by reason of their baptism in Christ, have asked to be able to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Those who know them have judged them to be sincere in their desire. During the period of their catechetical formation they have listened to the word of Christ and endeavored to follow his commands more perfectly; they have shared the company of their Christian brothers and sisters in this community and joined with them in prayer.

And so I announce to all of you here

that our community supports these candidates in their desire. Therefore, I ask their sponsors to state their opinion once again, so that all of you may hear.

[to the sponsors:]

†: As God is your witness, do you consider these candidates ready to receive the sacraments of confirmation and eucharist (or: ready to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church)?

‡ We do.

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[to the candidates:]

†: And now, my dear friends, I address you. Your own sponsors—in union with this assembly—have spoken in your favor. The Church, in the name of Christ, accepts their testimony and sends you to Bishop Scharfenberger, who will exhort you to live in deeper conformity to the life of Christ.

Intercessions for the Catechumens and Candidates:

†: Brothers and sisters, as we journey together to the Easter sacraments, these catechumens and candidates will look to us for examples of Christian renewal. Let us then pray to the Lord,that we may be renewed by one another’s efforts and together come to share the joys of Easter.

[Intercessions appropriate to the community and RCIA are shared]

[following the intercessions, with hands outstretched:]

Prayer Over the Catechumens and Candidates:

†: Father of love and power, it is your will to establish everything in Christ and to draw us into his all-embracing love.

Guide these catechumens and candidates in the days and weeks ahead: strengthen them in their vocation, build them into the kingdom of your Son, and seal them with the Spirit of your promise.

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We ask this through Christ our Lord. ‡ Amen.

Optional Dismissal of the Catechumens:

†: My dear friends, this community now sends you forth to reflect more deeply upon the word of God which you have shared with us today. Be assured of our loving support and prayers for you. We look forward to the day when you will share fully in the Lord’s Table.

[The Mass continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist]

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RCIA Rite of Dismissal: To be used when the Rite of Sending does not take place

[Catechetical leader or Presider invites those to be dismissed:]

† Would our candidate/s and/or catechumen/s please come forward?

[once gathered in the dismissal area, continues:]

† My dear candidate/s and catechumen/s,you gather with us today as we begin the season of Lent.With Jesus, each of us is led into the desertto be liberated from the compulsions of the worldand to open our hearts to the kingdom of God.

We invite you to join with usin prayer, in fasting, and in almsgiving,three ways through which Godmakes his presence known to us.

Go now in the peace of Christto reflect on the Scripturesand break open the Word of God in your lives.We long for the day when you will join with usto be nourished at the Eucharistic table.

God bless you.

[a dismissal mantra is sung as they are led out, and then follows the community’s Profession of Faith.]

Choose one of the following Creeds:

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Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed

†‡ I believe in one God, the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,the Only Begotten Son of God,born of the Father before all ages.God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;through him all things were made.For us men and for our salvation he came down from heavenand by the Holy Spiritwas incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,he suffered death and was buried,and rose again on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures.He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in gloryto judge the living and the deadand his kingdom will have no end.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets.I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins

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and I look forward to the resurrection of the deadand the life of the world to come. Amen.

or, the Apostles’ Creed, may be recited:

†‡ 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 handof God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judgethe 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.

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The Prayer of the Faithful or Universal Prayer

† [Insert Priest Celebrant’s Introduction here]

Petitions of prayer are proclaimed by the Lector or, if present, the deacon.

† [Insert Priest Celebrant’s Concluding Prayer here]

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Prayers of the Faithful

[Insert particular petitions, prayers and intentions on this page.]

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Prayer after Communion

† Let us pray.

Renewed now with heavenly bread,by which faith is nourished, hope increased,and charity strengthened,we pray, O Lord,that we may learn to hunger for Christ,the true and living Bread,and strive to live by every wordwhich proceeds from your mouth.Through Christ our Lord.

‡ Amen.

Optional Blessing After Communion

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Concluding Rites & Prayer over the People

† The Lord be with you.19

‡ And with your spirit.

† Bow down for the blessing:† May bountiful blessing, O Lord, we pray,

come down upon your people,that hope may grow in tribulation,virtue be strengthened in temptation,and eternal redemption be assured. Through Christ our Lord.

‡ Amen.

† And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.

‡ Amen.

Dismissal

† Go forth, the Mass is ended.or

† Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.or

† Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.or

† Go in peace.‡ Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

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