The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was completed in 1978 by Yolanda Lopez. She did a series of images but this one is for activists today. notice her tennis shoes... moving on to new life, new visions....with women of today.
"the litany of Our Lady of Guadalupe" written by Barbara Flaherty, and prayed at the border for several years
Refrain: “Am I not your Mother? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?”
Mother Most Compassionate, hear the cries of the orphaned and separated children,
Mother who protects us against danger, protect especially those most vulnerable from violence and oppression.
Mother Who Never Turns Her Back, tear down the fences that divide us from one another,
Sister in Suffering, comfort those who live in the cold, who have no food, who cry for basic human needs,
Subversive Virgin, teach us to be community beyond nation states,
Undocumented Virgin, enfold in your arms the undocumented immigrants in the desert’s wilds.
Mother Most Vulnerable, fleeing violence and the injustice of rulers, fleeing through the desert, help us to become justice.
La tele Virgen, "sustainer of life”, sustain those who are in despair, who have little hope, whose lives are stolen away by the callous rich, and the indifferent.
Mother who comforts our sorrows, be with us in our grief and fear. * Mother whose arms hold her crucified son, hold those who have died crossing the desert,
Mother who "understands everything," become forgiveness in the hearts of those we have hurt or betrayed, become forgiveness in our own hearts.
“Then came one named John, sent by God, who came as a witness to
testify about the Light, so that through his testament everyone might believe”.
WELCOME:
GATHERING SONG: “Come to the Water” by John Foley, SJ
https://youtu.be/W1gKmZBtoiI
Presider: As we gather together
in this sacred place and share in this banquet of love, let us pray in the name
of our God for us whom we call Creator, in the name of our God alongside us
whom we call Jesus, and in the name of our God within us whom we call Spirit.
ALL:Amen.
Presider:My sisters and brothers, our Loving God is
with you!
ALL:And also with you.
OPENING PRAYER:
ALL: O Holy One, in
this journey into the heart of compassion, we celebrate your love as we see it.
Open our eyes and hearts to the message of the Gospel so that your inspiration
and peace may lighten our hearts, your justice guide our lives, and your love direct
and support us in our concern and care for one another. You call us to
recognize and warmly welcome everyone who comes through our doors as your
presence among us, which they are. In communion with Jesus, our brother, and
with the power of your Spirit, we will try to live the example of your love
each day. Amen.
PENITENTIAL
RITE
Presider:Divine Mystery and Compassionate God to whom
all hearts are open, no desires unknown, and from whom no secrets can be
hidden, cleanse our hearts by the inspiration of Holy Wisdom.
ALL:We take your Word into our minds and hearts.
Open them to new understanding.
Presider:We ask for the grace to continually
acknowledge our need to grow in goodness and caring for ourselves, for others
and for our earth, and all the while to be Jesus for others and to meet Jesus
in others.
ALL: We accept your love and understanding of the
frailty of our human nature.
Presider:And we join with you, Jesus the Christ, believing
the strength and insight of the Holy Spirit will lead us to deeper dedication
to justice, equality and peace in our world.ALL:Amen.
(All raise hands extended in blessing over
one another)
Presider: God, our Father and
Mother of Mercy and Love,
ALL:Through his living, dying and rising, Jesus
has revealed that nothing can separate us from your infinite love.May you, Loving God, give us pardon and
peace, and may we forgive each other our failures to care for one another and
our earth in the name of you, our Creator, of Jesus, our brother, and of the
Holy Spirit, our wisdom. Amen.
GLORY TO
GOD
ALL: (sung) Glory to
God, glory, O praise and alleluia. Glory to God, glory, O praise the name of
our God. (2x)
LITURGY
OF THE WORD
First
Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6 (Response: Thanks be to God)
Responsorial
Psalm 139 (written by Nan Merrill)
“I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have loved you and you are mine,
I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have loved you and you are mine”.
Second
Reading: Acts: 13: 23-26(Response: Thanks
be to God)
Gospel
Acclamation:“Alle, Alle, Alleluia!”
Gospel:
John 1: 6-8, 15, 19-28 (Response: Glory
and praise to Jesus, the Christ)
SHARED
HOMILY
Sally Brochu's homily starter:
Our readings today reflect the man, John, cousin of Jesus, the man who saw something extraordinary in the ordinary man, Jesus. He saw him as the One who was the Messiah whom prophets like Isaiah had foretold as coming to show us a new way of living one’s life. John seemed astounded that Jesus would come to him to be baptized, by saying simply, “I baptize only with water, but you baptize with the Spirit”. As I reflected on the relationship of these two cousins, who knew each other growing up, they attended the same family gatherings, and saw the goodness in each other. But John knew there was more. I think it was a growing awareness of Jesus and his goodness over the years and John so clearly saw this that day. It was his living faith and ability to see who Jesus was, that he became the first one at the beginning of Jesus public life to tell people: here is the One you have been waiting for, here is the One to follow. Listen to what he is teaching, watch how he lives his life, see how he loves. Because of his relationship with Jesus, John, by and through his life, encouraged people to follow Jesus.
How then does this scripture have meaning for us today? What I take from this is, do we like John in the way we live our lives speak of whether or not we are followers of Jesus and all that he taught and stood for. Do our lives reflect Jesus?
I’d like you to turn to the front page of today’s liturgy and look for the quote in blue letters. Now read it slowly to yourself, putting your name in place of John’s name. Read it twice, each time speaking your name. Can you believe this? Can you see yourself as being called by God for a special purpose in your life that only you can do? Is your life a “witness to testify about the Light” which is Jesus. Is your life such that “through your testament (the way you live your life) everyone might believe”?
Profession
of Faith
All: We believe in the
Divine Mystery, beyond all definition and understanding, the heart of all that
has ever existed, that exists now, or that ever will exist in the expanding
universe.
We believe in Jesus of
Nazareth, the human Jesus, an enlightened soul who carried the message of God’s
Word, who brought the ability to show us how to heal ourselves and others, and
the heart of God’s compassion. He is the bright star in the firmament of God’s
prophets, mystics, and saints. And it is through him that we become a new
people with a different story of salvation. We are here to share his stories of
the new message, that we are all holy, we were born holy, and we shall be holy
forevermore.
We believe in the
Spirit, the one that inspires our innermost life. She keeps the Anointed One
present to all those who are searching for meaning and wholeness in their
lives. She strengthens our call to follow Jesus as a vehicle of God’s love. She
is the one who helps us reach within ourselves so that we can heal and energize
ourselves when our spirits may grow weary in our lives.
And we believe that
God’s kin-dom is here and now, stretched out all around us for those with eyes
to see it, hearts to receive it, and hands to take it to share with those
around us.
GENERAL
INTERCESSIONS
Presider:We are people of faith.We believe in the power of prayer.We believe that we send blessings to those
who are struggling and who need to experience hope, to those who are grieving
and need to be comforted in their loss, to those who are facing medical
challenges that they be granted hope and healing. We bring the needs of the
people throughout our community and our world to our gracious God.
After each
intercession, the response is:ALL:
Loving God, bless our petitions.
Presider: That those who are
hungry and homeless, especially the children, that they may receive the food
and shelter that they so badly need, we pray. ALL: Loving God, bless our petitions.
Presider:
That hearts in Washington are changed so that the
innocent, terrified immigrant children will be reunited with their parents.
Presider: For what else shall we
pray?
Presider: Healing God, you
faithfully listen to our prayers. Strengthen us as we strive to respond to the
needs of your people. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, the Christ,
Amen.
Offertory Song: “Our God is Here”
https://youtu.be/WtSnIxnIB3k
PREPARATION OF THE
GIFTS
Presider:Blessed are you, gracious God of all life,
through your goodness we have this bread, wine, all creation and our own lives
to offer.
ALL:Blessed be God forever.
Presider: Through this sacred
meal may we become your new creation as we respond to your call to use our
gifts in loving service to our sisters and brothers. ALL:Blessed be God forever.
Presider: Jesus, who has often
sat at our table, now invites all of
us to join him at his. There is room and a place for everyone at this table.
Please join us in this circle of love that feeds us all on our life’s
journey.(Everyone is welcome and has a place at God’s table).
Presider: As we recognize God
within each other, let us greet one another at this table.
ALL: Namaste! Namaste! Namaste!
Presider: Pray my friends that
as we celebrate this breaking of bread and blessing of wine we accept more
fully the mission of our Church by actively living our response to God’s
call.
ALL:May our gracious God accept these gifts for
the praise and glory of God’s name, for our good, and for the good of all our
Church.
Presider:God is always with you.
ALL:And also with you.
Presider:Together, we lift up our hearts.
ALL:To God and one another we lift them.
Presider:Together, we give thanks to our gracious
God.
ALL:Indeed it is right to
constantly give thanks and praise.
Eucharistic Prayer Voice 1: Gracious Wisdom, you embrace us with
your extravagant affection in both our blessedness and times of weakness. You
are always with us and live in us, and we in you. In this festive meal, your
Spirit is poured out to each of us gathered in this circle of your disciples,
to share your gift of shalom, our peace. ALL: We are holy, holy, holy (3x), we are whole
(You, I, We) - (Karen
Drucker) https://youtu.be/J3r-3TFB6wI
Voice 2: Gracious God, you have set the banquet
table and have invited all of us to the feast of unending delight. Here we
celebrate your divine love beyond what words can describe. Your divine
compassion connects us to the young and the old, the least and the last, to
everyone, everywhere, on our journey into the heart of your mercy. Voice 3:
We thank you, Holy Mystery, for the gift of Jesus of Nazareth in history –and
the gift of Jesus in faith. You brought him from among your people to baptize
us in your Spirit. His life was moved by his vision of your presence in himself
and in his mission, and he recognized you in everyone he met. He showed us,
through his example, not only how we should live, but also for what was worth
dying. Voice 4: And when his time on earth had come to
a close, Jesus – aware of and accepting his destiny – gave up his life for the
values that he deeply believed, lived and taught…his conviction that love is
stronger than death. And then, in providing an example of this wisdom for all
people in the ages to come, he opened wide his arms…and died. And the Spirit
that lived in Jesus is resurrected in all of us who decide to live the new
story. Jesus is with us today as he will be through the end of time. ALL: We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on
the night before he died. He gathered with his friends to share a final
Passover meal. And it was at that supper that Jesus took bread, said the
blessing and shared it with them saying: take this all of you and eat it. This
bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the
world. When you do this, remember me and all I have taught you. (pause a moment, then
continue….) ALL: In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine,
said the blessing and gave it to his friends saying: take this all of you and
drink it. This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, the presence of
God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all I have taught you. Presider:
Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and
the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets
spoke in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of
our faith. ALL: The Anointed One lives in us and through
us in the world today. Voice 5: God, we know that you bless your
church throughout the world. We, your people, desire to grow in our love and
caring for Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop, and with everyone we
come in contact, especially those who live on the margins of church and
society. They are all our brothers and sisters and are reflections of your
presence within all your people. We remember also those, living and dead, who
touched our lives and left their footprints on our hearts. We remember
especially….(mention names, if you would like to…) ALL: We believe that the Spirit of God is at
work in and among us and will do more than we can ever ask or imagine. Amen.
(sung, x times)
THE
PRAYER OF JESUS
Presider:Let us join hands and raise our voices as we sing
the Prayer Jesus taught us:
ALL: Our Father and Mother…….
Presider: God of Love, grant us
peace in our day.In your mercy, keep us
holy in your sight and protect us from all anxiety and fear.We watch and wait, discerning signs that You
are continually with us.
ALL:Amen.
THE SIGN
OF PEACE
Presider: Jesus, You said to your disciples, “My peace I
leave you.My peace I give you.”Look on the faith of all and grant us the
peace and unity of your kin-dom where you live forever and ever.ALL:Amen.
Presider:May the peace of our gracious and loving God be
always with you.ALL: And
also with you.
Presider: Let us offer each other
the gift of peace.
LITANY
FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD
Presider: Loving God…All: you call us to Spirit-filled service
and to live the Gospel of nonviolence for peace and justice. We will live
justly.
Presider: Loving God….All: you call us to be your presence in the
world and to be bearers of forgiveness and understanding, healing and
compassion everywhere in your name. We will love tenderly.
Presider: Loving God . All: you call us to speak truth to
power. We will walk humbly with you.
Presider: This is Jesus, who
calls us to open doors that are closed and share our bread and wine on the
altar of the world. All are invited to eat and drink at this sacred banquet of
love.
All: When we share in
this meal, we who have always been worthy, commit to live your teachings, dear
Jesus, and to tell your stories that allow Spirit to rise up within us and
empower us to bring the kin-dom of God to this world. This is the good news of
salvation.
Presider: Let us share and
spread this good news!
ALL: Amen.
(As
we share this sacred meal, we say to one another with the passing of the bread,
“You are the love of God in the world.” When we share the wine we say, “You are
the face of God in the world.”)
Communion:
Instrumental
After Communion Song: Taste and See” by James Moore
https://youtu.be/Y8H5Nd78-tU
PRAYER
AFTER COMMUNION
Presider:May love, wonder, gratitude and thanksgiving
fill us, may compassion fully fill our hearts, that you may heal the numbness
that continues because of our society’s injustices. May we each know that we
are loved and may we continue to be the face of God to one another. Amen.
PRAYERS
OF GRATITUDE / INTRODUCTIONS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONCLUDING
RITE
Presider:May God be with you.ALL:And also with you.
Presider:Let us call upon our gracious God as we share
blessings with each other.We bless one
another and pledge to live the Gospel of Christ.ALL:Amen.
BLESSING
(Everyone
please extend your hands in mutual blessing.)
ALL:May our gracious God, bless us all gathered
here, in the name of God our Creator, in the name of Jesus our Light, in the
name of the Holy Spirit our Wisdom, as we care and minister to one another in
love, for we are the Body of Christ and the face of God to the world.Amen.
DISMISSAL
Presider:Go in the peace of Christ.Let our service continue!
ALL:Thanks be to God.
CLOSING HYMN: “Canticle of the Sun” by Marty Haugen
In a wide-ranging interview this week
with Reuters, Pope Francis was asked to respond to
the idea of a woman with a "strong
desire" to become a priest.
Throughout his pontificate, Pope
Francis has remained trapped in outdated arguments about the role of women as
the "bride of Christ," and unwilling to walk with women who
prayerfully discern a call to priesthood.
Pope Francis needs to meet Paula
Hoeffer.
Beyond just desire, women prayerfully
discern their call to priesthood from God, just as men do. We know these women
and we support these women. To be a
priest is rooted in a calling from God; no man should attempt to deny that
call.
In this week's Catholic Women Called
video, Paula shares how her unexpected call brought her to deeper joy and
authenticity.
In endorsing his
predecessors' misogyny, Pope Francis loses credibility among the majority
of Catholics calling for women's ordination as deacons and priests. Until
women's priestly vocations are recognized and affirmed by the Church through
ordination, women will have no true leadership and equity in its structures, no
matter how many dicasteries they are appointed to lead.
Our work to uncompromisingly advocate for
women's equality in our Church urgently continues. A door jammed with
sexism cannot hold.
