Parts of the MassCelebrating as a Community

Why do we attend mass?

1. Mass is the core of our faith and it where we come to know Jesus and gather as a community.

2. At Mass, we re-enact the Last Supper, as Jesus said to his disciples, “Do this in memory of me.”

3. We attend to strengthen our relationship with God, and strengthen our prayer life.

4. To receive the Body and Blood of Christ, which is our spiritual nourishment.

1. GatheringO As a reminder of our baptismal promises –

we dip our fingers in holy water when we enter the church, and make the sign of the cross.

O Opening Song: opens the celebration and leads our thoughts to what we are celebrating

O Entrance Procession: involves those with special role within the celebration such as the lectors and the priests

O Sign of the Cross/Amen: reminds us of the trinity that is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

O Greeting/Response: in each form, we are reminded that God is with is and always will be.

O Penitential Rite: The community seeks reconciliation with one another and with God

O Gloria: hymn of praise and thanksgiving

O Opening Prayer Silence/Amen: This is the “collect” or gathering prayer

2. Liturgy of the WordO First Reading: A proclamation from the Old

Testament O Responsorial Psalm/ Refrain: A psalm that

reflects the spirit of the first readingO Second Reading: A proclamation from the

letters of the New Testament O Gospel Acclamation: we make the sign of the

cross on our foreheads (God in our thoughts), our lips (God in our words), and on our hearts (God in our hearts and actions)

O Gospel: A proclamation from one of the Gospels as word of God.

O Homily: the priest teaches and explains the Gospel and readings.

O Profession of FaithO General Intercessions: we pray for –

O our communityO the oppressed, afflicted and sickO our ChurchO those in need

3. Liturgy of the Eucharist

O Preparation of the Altar and Presentations of the Gifts: Before beginning the Eucharistic action, we prepare the table.

O The Eucharistic Prayer: There are nine different Eucharistic prayers.

O The host is consecrated, and the miracle of transubstantiation occurs.

TransubstantiationO As Catholics, we believe that the

host and the wine BECOME Jesus Christ.

O Transubstantiation means “changing substance”.

O The host and wine, the “substance”, still look like bread and wine, but it isn’t.

O Jesus humbled himself to become bread and wine so he can PHYSICALLY connect with us.

O He knew we would want to connect with him in a real and tangible way.

O There is evidence of transubstantiation in the Bible, and through Eucharistic miracles.

4. Communion RiteO Lord’s Prayer, Rite of Peace: Before we break

bread together and eat and drink of the same loaf and cup, we express unity with one another

O Breaking of the Bread: This is the key action of the celebration: we all eat from the one bread which is Christ

O This is the Lamb of God….Lord, I am not Worthy: Priest and people prepare themselves to receive the Christ’s body and blood

O Communion: We receive the body and blood of Christ

5. DismissalO Blessing/Amen: The final blessing

can be given in a simple or more complex form

O Dismissal/Thanks be to God: The liturgy always concludes with the Trinitarian blessing

O Closing Song: The closing song and procession remind us that we are sent out into the world to share the Good News we have received

Final thoughts….O When we are dismissed, we are asked to

GO FORTH TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD AND ONE ANOTHER. How can we do this?

O Our posture and actions in mass are also a sign of respect. O Genuflect: means to kneel on one knee

toward the tabernacle, where the consecrated host is kept. This is showing respect to the true presence of Jesus, in the host.

Liturgical ColorsGreenO Life eternal; hopeWhiteO Light; innocence; purity; joyPurpleO Penance; humilityRedO The Passion; blood; martyrdom