The various parts of the Mass that we celebrate every Sunday
call us into a special and deep relationship with Jesus and
God the Father. We are called to open our hearts in prayer,
our minds in reflection on the Word of God and our body to
receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. We begin by:
- Gathering as
a community: The priest greets the people. Together we reflect
on our lives and our journey and ask God for forgiveness and
healing.
- Liturgy of the Word: Selection of readings
from the Old and New Testament and one of the four Gospels
are read. The readings are rotated in a three year cycle.
Here we are reminded that we are listening to the Word of
God. This is followed by the Homily, the Creed and Prayers
of the Faithful.
- Liturgy of the Eucharist: The Liturgy of
the Eucharist begins with the Presentation of the Gifts, followed
by the Preface which introduces the Eucharist Prayer, leading
into the invocation of the Holy Spirit to change the Gifts
of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. The Eucharistic
Prayer embraces many aspects of our Church and our faith journey.
Next, we journey into the Communion Rite, calling on God our
Father and finally preparing to receive Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament.
- Concluding Rite: The final section of the
Mass concludes with the final prayer, offered in thanksgiving
and asking us to bring the message and face of Jesus into
our world.
