A MARIAN CELEBRATION May 2020 ENTRANCE CHANT Gentle

A MARIAN CELEBRATION May 2020

ENTRANCE CHANT Gentle Woman

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

Today, we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary, who models for us what it means to follow Christ.

Let us pray. O God, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the model of love and humility; help us to be like her in loving and serving others that everyone may learn to love as she loves and bring you glory. 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. All: Amen

FIRST READING: ACTS 1: 12 -14 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The Mount of Olives was about half a mile from Jerusalem. The apostles who had gone there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas the son of James. After the apostles returned to the city, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying. The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers. The word of the Lord. . . All: Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: PSALM 87: 1 -2, 3 AND 5, 6 -7 Response: Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: PSALM 87: 1 -2, 3 AND 5, 67 Reader: The Lord loves the city founded on holy mountains, loves the gates of Zion more than any dwelling in Jacob. Response: Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: PSALM 87: 1 -2, 3 AND 5, 6 -7 Reader: Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! But of Zion it must be said: “They all were born here. ” Response: Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: PSALM 87: 1 -2, 3 AND 5, 6 -7 Reader: The Most High confirms this; the Lord notes in the register of the peoples: “This one was born right here. ” So all sing in their festive dance: “Within you is my true home. ” Response: Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION All: Alleluia… All: O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord; O blessed mother of the Church, you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ. All: Alleluia…

GOSPEL A reading from the holy gospel according to John. All: Glory to you , O Lord. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was at a wedding feast in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited and were there. When the wine was all gone, Mary said to Jesus, “They don’t have any more wine. ” Mary then said to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do. ” At the feast there were six stone water jars that were used by the people for washing themselves in the way that their religion said they must. Each jar held about twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants to fill them to the top with water. Then after the jars had been filled, he said, “Now take some water and give it to the man in charge of the feast. ”

GOSPEL A reading from the holy gospel according to John. Continuing The servants did as Jesus told them, and the man in charge drank some of the water that had now turned into wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants did. He called the bridegroom over and said, “The best wine is always served first. Then after the guests have had plenty, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last!” This was Jesus’ first miracle, 7 and he did it in the village of Cana in Galilee. There Jesus showed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. The gospel of the Lord All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION

Sample Reflection/Homily When we think of Mary, we often think of her as the Mother of Jesus and as the greatest disciple. We remember that she said “Yes” to God with her whole being and showed us what it takes to surrender our lives to God. We think of how she reflected in her heart on the many things she observed and experienced and showed us what it is like to have an interior life of faith in God. We look at her life and recognize that she faithfully followed Jesus in word and action. Because she is so important to us, we also recognize and celebrate many aspects of Mary such as her wisdom, hope and peace and have given her special titles. As the Image of the Church, Mary reveals and models what we are to do, both as individuals and as the Body of Christ, to live as faithful disciples. Just as Mary did, we are to actively listen to the word of God and be open to him. We are to answer God’s call and offer ourselves in humble obedience to him. In today’s Gospel, we find Mary at a wedding celebration in Cana with Jesus and his disciples. She notices that they have run out of wine. She knows the cultural expectations around weddings and is aware that running out of wine will cause embarrassment for the hosts. Sensitive to their needs, she intercedes on their behalf and brings the dilemma to the attention of Jesus. By so doing, Mary demonstrates that we can always bring our needs and the needs of others to Jesus and trust that he will be there to help us. After bringing her concern to Jesus, Mary also tells the servants to “Do whatever he tells you. ” In other words, she calls others to serve and to follow the lead of Jesus. By so doing, Mary encourages us to “Do whatever he tells you”.

I Wanna Say Yes.

I Wanna Say Yes. I wanna say Yes (YES!) Just like Mary said (3 x) Yes yes Lord (2 x)

I Wanna Say Yes. Doing God's will in the little things Like trusting and praying through a real hard day Doing God's will in the little things Rejoicing in God my Saviour

I Wanna Say Yes. I wanna say Yes (YES!) Just like Mary said (3 x) Yes yes Lord (2 x)

I Wanna Say Yes. Doing God's will in the little things Like listening and obeying with a joyful heart Doing God's will in the little things Rejoicing in God my Saviour

I Wanna Say Yes. I wanna say Yes (YES!) Just like Mary said (3 x) Yes yes Lord (2 x)

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL AS CHILDREN OF THE BLESSED MOTHER, WE BRING OUR NEEDS TO GOD. Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That all believers may bring Christ to the world in word and deed, we pray to the Lord: Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That world leaders may respect the dignity of all, we pray to the Lord. Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That those who are burdened in any way may be renewed through the kindness and care of others, we pray to the Lord: Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That mothers, grandmothers and all who fill a motherly role may be surrounded and embraced by love as they strive to raise and inspire children, we pray to the Lord: Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That the good works of our Catholic schools may reveal Christ's love to others, we pray to the Lord: Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That staff, students and their families, may continue to grow together in faith and confidently turn to Mary asking for her intercession, we pray to the Lord: Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That all gathered here may persevere in our efforts to imitate Mary and become bearers of Christ to the world, we pray to the Lord: Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL For our personal needs and the needs of all who have asked for our prayers, we pray to the Lord: Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

O God, who chose Mary as the mother of your Son and as our mother, hear our prayers and grant what we need to enjoy your presence forever. Through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

CONCLUDING PRAYER AND BLESSING Let us pray. Lord God, you have filled our hearts and minds with the sacred words of scripture; help us to always look to Mary that we may grow in faith and love and bring you glory. Through Christ our Lord. All: Amen