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Seventh Sunday of Easter Year A

PRIEST:      A few days ago we celebrated our mission as a Church to proclaim the Good News to all;  in a few days time we shall celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit with the power needed to fulfil our Christ-commissioned task.  Today,  on this World Communication Sunday, we pray for wisdom and courage in using Internet Technology, Social Media and the communications revolution to proclaim the Gospel and to build justice and unity in our world. As we cry out for the Spirit to come and empower us to communicate the Gospel to our generation, let us recognise our need for forgiveness and healing so as to set us free to speak God’s Word with authenticity and integrity to our world…

READER:       For every disunity that wounds Christ’s Body
and damages our witness to his love…

 LORD HAVE MERCY…

                             For every abuse and misuse of the media and the internet,
                             for not caring enough about the newspapers, TV programmes
                           and computer images that are seen and heard in our homes…

 CHRIST HAVE MERCY…

                            For every barrier to the Spirit’s coming
                            that we place in our lives and our community;
                             when we refuse to risk for the Gospel…

 LORD HAVE MERCY…

PRIEST:      May the God of immense love take our failures and sins
                     in his merciful hands
                    and kindle with them a fire of love
                    that will bring healing & peace,  reconciliation
                    and new beginnings to us to our world,
                   leading us all to everlasting life…

                                                AMEN!

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Seventh Sunday of Easter Year A

God speaks His Word to all the world:  that the Spirit of God will come and guide us to harness the Internet and other modern means of Mass Communication to proclaim the Gospel,  the Good News to our world

                    [reader]              HOLY SPIRIT COME…
                    [response:]      SPEAK GOD’S LOVE TO US…

Jesus,  the Truth, is Good News to the Poor:  that the new Technologies of Communication might bring home to all the truth about poverty, and the horror of war and the global threat of climate change; constantly challenging us to act with courage to bring peace and justice to our world as we listen to cries of the poor and the cries of our ‘Common Home’, our planet

                    [reader]              HOLY SPIRIT COME…
                    [response:]      SPEAK GOD’S LOVE TO US…

The Holy Spirit is the divine communication of love which unites us:  giving thanks for the ways that global communication by radio, TV and the Internet nurtured community in the midst of isolation during the Covid emergency, may it also improve our interpersonal communication,  and bring peoples, nations and races together in mutual understanding in the service of peace

                    [reader]              HOLY SPIRIT COME…
                    [response:]      SPEAK GOD’S LOVE TO US…

The Spirit is a Spirit of Justice and Truth: we pray for leaders of Governments and multi-national business – may honesty, openness, wisdom and compassion for the poor, the refugee and our planet be the hall marks of every Administration as we work together for the Common Good of our Common Home

                    [reader]              HOLY SPIRIT COME…
                    [response:]      SPEAK GOD’S LOVE TO US…

The Church is challenged to be the Living Word of God’s life-giving love:  that our parish, responding to Jesus’ prayer for all disciples, will be a House of Prayer, open to the Holy  Spirit of Pentecost empowering us to build among us  a ‘New Way of being Church’   

                    [reader]              HOLY SPIRIT COME…
                    [response:]      SPEAK GOD’S LOVE TO US…

The disciples wait in the Upper Room of Hope and Expectation for the coming of the Spirit’s Fire:  we pray for all the young people of our parish especially those preparing for Confirmation; may we all welcome the Spirit’s renewal of our lives and community, opening ourselves to Gifts of Mission and Ministry …we pray especially for a new beginning for our parish SVP Conference 

                    [reader]              HOLY SPIRIT COME…
                    [response:]      SPEAK GOD’S LOVE TO US…

That our sick and housebound might experience being listened to, embraced in the communion of our love and know they are not alone but one with us: we pray for all suffering life threatening illnesses and for those who care for them; and especially for …
for those who have died recently, especially … and all victims of war, poverty and disease
and for those whose anniversaries are at this time … and and the victims of the Rwandan Genocide

                    [reader]              HOLY SPIRIT COME…
                    [response:]      SPEAK GOD’S LOVE TO US…

Mary of the Upper Room, pray with us for the Renewing Gift of the Spirit…

                                                     HAIL MARY…

Let us wait in silence upon the Spirit…

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Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A

PRIEST:    Today the Word of God begins to point us towards the coming Feast of Pentecost,  speaking as it does of the Spirit, the other Advocate who will stand with us and speak up for us.  Today we mark as a parish the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse caused in any setting, and especially that within the Church. Too often leaders of the Church have not been advocates, speaking up for those who have been abused by clergy and religious, have not been bearers of the Spirit of Truth! As we approach the great Feast of the Spirit’s Power and Love and as we journey with our young people towards the Sacrament of Confirmation, let us all seek a deeper openness to the Spirit speaking through each other, especially through the wounded and alienated. Let us ask forgiveness for every way that we and the Church resist the Holy Spirit whom seeks to lead us into a ‘New Way of being Church’…

READER:       The Spirit is wisdom …
                            When we are unable to see or listen
                            to the wounded and hurting among us,
and so do not listen to the voice of the Spirit…

                                             LORD HAVE MERCY…

The Spirit is unity …
                             for the times we have served division rather than unity;
                             when we have not tried to reach out to those hurt by the Church
when we too quickly turned away from having
                             the difficult conversations that might have helped.

                                             CHRIST HAVE MERCY…

The Spirit is love …
                              when we have not welcomed gently cared compassionately,
                              or defended courageously those abused, in whatever way,
                               in our communities…

                                             LORD HAVE MERCY…

PRIEST:             May our God who is all love
                               speak his Word of Mercy,
                               breath his Spirit of forgiveness,
                               and send us to be reconciliation and healing
                               for one another and for our world,
                               to bring all to everlasting life…

                                                 AMEN!

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Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A

Jesus promises to send the Spirit,  the Advocate … that the Church will with humility listen to the pain of all who have been abused by priests and religious and others in authority in the Church;; that we will allow the Spirit to teach us through their experience and courage how to build safe and welcoming communities unafraid to hear and speak the Truth!

                    [reader]              SEND YOUR SPIRIT…
                    [response]       RENEW OUR WORLD!

Jesus promises to send the Spirit,  the dove of Peace … for those afflicted with war, oppression and famine, especially in Sudan, Ukraine, Isreal/Palestine Middle East, and swathes of Africa;  may the Spirit empower Prophets and servants of Peace everywhere

                    [reader]              SEND YOUR SPIRIT…
                    [response]       RENEW OUR WORLD!

Jesus promises to send the Spirit who leads into all truth … for all who search for truth and meaning that they might discover the Truth that is Jesus; for scientists and scholars who seek to understand,  for artists, writers and poets who yearn to express Truth’s beauty, for all seeking to heal the earth of the wounds of Climate Change and to heal the inhumanity of war

                    [reader]              SEND YOUR SPIRIT…
                    [response]       RENEW OUR WORLD!

Jesus promises to send the Spirit that is the love that unites … for families who are separated and divided, for couples seeking to bring healing into their hurting relationship, our parish family that we will grow in greater unity and deeper friendship as we together build ‘a new way of being Church’

                    [reader]              SEND YOUR SPIRIT…
                    [response]       RENEW OUR WORLD!

Jesus promises to send the Spirit that draws us to maturity … for the young people of our parish family preparing to be confirmed in the Holy Spirit that they will develop and offer in service to others the gifts Spirit gives them; for our children soon to meet Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time

                    [reader]              SEND YOUR SPIRIT…
                    [response]       RENEW OUR WORLD!

Jesus promises to send the Spirit that heals … for the housebound, the sick, and any in our community suffering anxiety because of physical or mental health issues and for those, especially any among us, who have wounds from abuse, disclosed or hidden still, that bring compassion to one another: in particular we pray for …
for those who have died recently, in particular … and all who died in war or famine;
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time:

                    [reader]              SEND YOUR SPIRIT…
                    [response]        RENEW OUR WORLD!

As Mary allowed the Spirit to overshadow her and transform her life, may she help us to welcome the same Spirit who renews the face of the Earth…

                                                   HAIL MARY… 

We pray for the promised Spirit to inspire us,  as we accept the challenge of  Mission…

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Fifth Sunday of Easter Year A

Jesus is the Servant … we pray for our Pope Francis in his universal service of the Church and the World as the Servant of the Servants of God; for all deacons and their wives as they offer us new models of ministry and teach us how ordained ministry and marriage can enrich each other and the Church:  that all Christians will rejoice to be Servants of God and the World

               [reader]           LORD WE PRAY…
               [response]    TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH LOVE…

Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords … we pray God’s blessing for King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they dedicate themselves to serve the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth: may the Spirit guide them to serve the Common Good, uphold justice, build peace and serve the healing of creation

               [reader]           LORD WE PRAY…
               [response]    TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH LOVE…

Jesus is the Stone that is rejected … for all who feel rejected by the Church:  for women who experience a call to ordination or increased responsibility in the Church;  for those who have suffered the breakdown of their marriage, that past rejections and hurts might be healed; for all who have suffered abuse from ministers of the Church; for those refused Holy Communion – that we might live and offer the Mercy of God to all

               [reader]           LORD WE PRAY…
               [response]    TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH LOVE…

Jesus is the Way … that nations and their leaders will walk the paths of Justice that set people free of poverty and oppression, in particular in Sudan, Ukraine and all conflict-ridden areas of our world

               [reader]           LORD WE PRAY…
               [response]    TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH LOVE…

Jesus is the Truth … that our young people, together with all our community, will continue to grow in a knowledge and love of Jesus, until we find that deep freedom of heart in Christ the Truth who sets us free

               [reader]           LORD WE PRAY…
               [response]    TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH LOVE…

Jesus is the Life … for all who work in medical, welfare and social agencies, that they will reverence the uniqueness of every life,  from the womb to the grave;  for the Christian ministry of healing that seeks to give life;  for relief agencies and all organisations like Borderlands who bring hope to the starving, impoverished and the asylum seeker and the refugee

               [reader]           LORD WE PRAY…
               [response]    TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH LOVE…

Jesus promises greater works among us … for the healing of the sick of body mind or spirit;  and for …
for those recently dead, in particular … and all who have died because of war or poverty
and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time: 

               [reader]           LORD WE PRAY…
               [response]    TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH LOVE…

We ask Mary the Servant of the Lord, to help us be as open to the Holy Spirit as she is…

                                            HAIL MARY…

Let us pray for other needs in a moment of silence…

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‘LOW’ SUNDAY YEAR A

PRIEST:  On this Octave Day of Easter we hear in the Gospel a story of doubt that becomes magnificent faith;  a story of wounds that breath peace and healing;  a story of frightened empty disciples who become courageous in the Holy Spirit;  a story of a community witnessing the Risen Christ.  It is the story not only of the apostles, but also of each one of us;  not only the early Church,  but the Church of every age and land – the story of our own communities.  Let us welcome the Risen Jesus among us to transform us and our community – that we might be life-givers.

READER:           We give thanks for God’s mercy,
                                 flowing from the Father’s love
for He has brought us from doubt to deeper faith

                                              LORD HAVE MERCY …

                                  We give thanks for God’s mercy,
                                  made flesh in Jesus the Crucified and Risen One
for his wounds are our peace

                                              CHRIST HAVE MERCY …

                                    We give thanks for God’s mercy,
                                    breathed into us by the Holy Spirit
for he has filled our emptiness and sent us
                                    as bearers of reconciling and healing  love

                                              LORD HAVE MERCY …

PRIEST:     May God our creator give us the peace of his forgiveness;
                        may the Risen Jesus heal our wounds and transform our weak love;
                      may the Spirit breathe new courage and deeper faith,
                     reconciling us and all creation to everlasting life…
                                              AMEN!

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‘LOW’ SUNDAY YEAR A

Thomas remained in doubt until he returned to the community of faith:  for the unity of all God’s Church,  that together we will offer to an unbelieving world a convincing sign of faith, proclaiming the Risen Lord of the Church

               [reader]               JESUS IS RISEN…
               [response:]        HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Thomas saw and he believed:  for those who cannot believe because they cannot see;  for those who cannot believe because they cannot hope;  for those who cannot believe because they cannot trust because of the scandal of abuse in the Church – that Christians everywhere and in our Parish will seek reform and renewal and so draw many to a renewed faith in the Risen Christ

               [reader]               JESUS IS RISEN…
               [response:]        HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus’ wounds were healing for broken disciples:  may we have the courage to face our own brokenness,  walk with others in their brokenness with an unconditional love,  and allow miracles of healing to flow from our community: we pray especially for our refugee and LBGT friends, that the pain of rejection and judgement may be soon healed

               [reader]               JESUS IS RISEN…
               [response:]        HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus sent his disciples to touch the wounds of the world, forgiving and reconciling:  that the Church of God will challenge the madness of knife and gun crimes in our cities and towns; will challenge war and terrorism, creating peace and miracles of new beginnings, especially in Ukraine, Ethiopia and Tigray, throughout the Middle East and conflict torn parts of Africa; for all communities of Reconciliation – Corrymeela in Northern Ireland; Taizé in France; Pax Christi throughout the world; may we all be living parables of reconciliation

               [reader]               JESUS IS RISEN…
               [response:]        HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus speaks the Easter ‘Peace’:  may we always serve peace in our fractured world:  serve healing for every distressed heart and wounded mind especially those traumatised by abuse, torture and refugee journeys; for peace, harmony and justice in the streets and homes of our City of Bristol

               [reader]               JESUS IS RISEN…
               [response:]        HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Jesus comes among them and heals:  for the sick of body and mind, and for all who are darkened by depression; we pray in particular for all suffering the trauma and scars of war’s brutality; and for …;
May Risen Lord share His Resurrection with all who have died recently, especially, Bishop Christopher Budd, and the victims of war and conflict
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time:  Fr Hans Kung

               [reader]               JESUS IS RISEN…
               [response:]        HE IS TRULY RISEN!

Mary,  sharing most fully the Resurrection of Jesus, pray with us and for us…

HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of the silence of peace…

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Feast of the Resurrection – EASTER

Jesus is Risen!  May all God’s People shout proclaim from the housetops that He is alive among us … may the Global Synod reshape the Church and renew our communities the better to witness to Christ in our 21st Century world;  bless Pope Francis and Bishop Declan so that they offer powerful witness to the Resurrection and may our transformed lives speak louder than our words

             [reader]           RISEN JESUS…
             [people]           SET US FREE, GIVE US LIFE…

Jesus is Risen!  May the Earth know the Power of Resurrection by nations living in peace, respecting human dignity and the rights of all women and men;  banishing hunger and exploitation from the earth;  protecting  our fragile environment: we pray for peace especially in Ukraine,The Holy Land, Yemen, Cameroon and Congo, freedom and justice for peoples everywhere and especially for the 100 million refugees world-wide

             [reader]           RISEN JESUS…
             [people]           SET US FREE, GIVE US LIFE…

Jesus is Risen!  As we recognise in the Breaking of the Bread the Crucified One alive among us, may we renew our commitment to our Risen Brother, Jesus Christ; our dedication to loving service of one another;  and, as missionary disciples, to witness to his fearless love and transform our city,  our society and our world

             [reader]           RISEN JESUS…
             [people]           SET US FREE, GIVE US LIFE…

Jesus is Risen!  May the Christian Churches of the Inner City grow closer in trust and genuine partnership, to bring the Joy of the Gospel and the Living Hope of the Risen Christ to our streets and communities              

             [reader]           RISEN JESUS…
             [people]           SET US FREE, GIVE US LIFE…

Jesus is Risen!  We bring to the Lord: Alifa and Deborah, and all our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are immersed in Easter Sacraments: may they each grow always in the love of our Risen Lord: may all parents find joy in sharing faith with their children baptised this Easter Day; and may our parish family grow in deeper love for each other and profound openness to the Spirit of the Risen One

             [reader]           RISEN JESUS…
             [people]           SET US FREE, GIVE US LIFE…

Jesus is Risen!  May His Passover from death to life be healing for the sick of body and mind:   we pray especially for all those serving the sick, vulnerable and elderly, and those who are housebound and unable to join us around the Table of the Risen Lord; in particular for Pope Francis, ….;
May He share His Resurrection with all who have died recently: …, and the victims of war and terror, especially in Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, Mali, Congo & Cameroon;
and we seek Risen Peace for all of our community who have died since our last celebration of Easter Life,  and all whose anniversaries occur at this time: …

             [reader]           RISEN JESUS…
             [people]           SET US FREE, GIVE US LIFE…

Mary, destined to share most fully the Resurrection of Your Son,  pray for us that we may live in His love…

                                        HAIL MARY…

We pray in silent wonder before the glory of our Risen Christ …

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Holy Thursday

PRIEST: On this Passover Night, Jesus commands us to bring His love to one another, and to our world.  Each one of us is called a ‘servant’,  summoned to work with one another in shared ministry.  This night we celebrate that we are called to be a community of unity, a community of prayer and a community of mission bringing the love of Christ to the people of our inner city, bringing justice and hope to the poor of the world, bringing Christ the Bread of Life to every hunger. Let us serve our world and each other by our prayer.

READER : This night Jesus prayed, ‘Father may they all be One …’ for the Unity of the whole Church gathered around the love of Jesus poured out upon the Cross and in Eucharist, so that with greater authenticity we might proclaim the Gospel of Peace: we pray for peace in all war zones, especially Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, Yemen, Syria and Cameroon

[Reader:]             Lord we pray …
                       [People]              MAKE US LIVING EUCHARIST

This night Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and taught us to do likewise … for Pope Francis and the whole College of Bishops and all who have leadership in the Church during this time of Global Synod … that they be humble servants of their people, listening compassionately, healing gently and defending bravely the vulnerable: we pray that all may experience the Church as the community of God’s infinite Mercy and Love

[Reader:]             Lord we pray …
                       [People]              MAKE US LIVING EUCHARIST

This night Jesus said, ‘I give you a new command: love one another as I have loved you’ … giving thanks for all medical and health care staff, especially those serving in war  and disaster zones, we pray that we might make this great love visible also in our care for the poor, our struggles for justice, our commitment to freedom and equality for all people: we pray especially for all in government everywhere; for the work of CAFOD, our foodbank the Wild Goose Café, for ‘Borderlands’ Charity  and our asylum ministry

[Reader:]             Lord we pray …
                       [People]              MAKE US LIVING EUCHARIST

This night Jesus broke the unleavened Bread of Purity in remembrance of the Passover … for our Jewish brothers and sisters as they celebrate God’s freedom and liberation, that there will be an end to all anti-semitism and every form of discrimination and racism: we pray too for the Muslim community as they observe Ramadan, praying that all faiths will come together in mutual understanding and acceptance to form a ‘fellowship of believers’ and serve the peace of the world

[Reader:]             Lord we pray …
                       [People]              MAKE US LIVING EUCHARIST

This night Jesus offered us all one Cup to drink … that our parish will share more effectively the struggles, hopes and aspirations of all our cultures in the Inner City and become more profoundly a community who drinks of each other’s pain and joy, and gives without measure the love in our hearts, whatever the cost.

[Reader:]             Lord we pray …
                       [People]              MAKE US LIVING EUCHARIST

May Mary, Mother of our Saviour, who lived the Great Command with the love of a humble servant, pray that we might love and serve and liberate…

                                                          HAIL MARY…

We pray in the silence of this night for our world, for the Church, and for all the sick

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FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A

For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, that God will gift him with strength, wisdom and courage as he serves to unbind the Church from dysfunction and disunity,  leading us  through the Global Synod along the paths of reform and renewal and inspiring us for mission; that we might proclaim Life to a world seeking to discover how to live with renewed humanity: 

                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

For a world held bound by poverty, drugs, alcohol, injustice and exploitation; for a world imprisoned in cycles of war, violence and the lust for power that leads to aggression; for a world struggling to be free to live in harmony with creation and in peace with each other: that we may have the courage to be prophets of the Justice and Peace of Christ – we pray especially for the people of Ukraine and those Russians who oppose the war

                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

For all held captive and bound by depression and their wounded past, that they experience healing’s freedom; for all who care for or counsel the depressed and emotionally wounded, that wise and compassionate listening might set free from inner darkness; for the healing of all scarred by memories of abuse and of terror in the countries from which they have fled

                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

For all bound up and entombed in poverty and modern forms of slavery, that they will know their dignity; that leaders of nations and economies will work together to create greater equality of health care and vaccine provision in the developing nations; for all suffering from famine, racism and class inequality, and for those enduring life in the world’s refugee camps or asylum detention centres

                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

For those who have neglected their life of faith or been hurt and alienated by the Church, that they might hear and answer the call of Jesus to return to closeness with God;  that in this coming Holy Week many will embrace the Christ who has died for love of them

                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

For all health care workers, therapists, counsellors and psychiatric practitioners; for all Christian communities that we will embrace the call to be ’God’s field hospital’, safe places of welcome, listening and caring

                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

That the sick be unbound from their suffering by the healing voice of Christ: …
that the dead may be unbound for eternal glory, in particular … and all killed both Ukrainian and Russian in the brutality of war
and those whose anniversaries are at this time: …

                    [READER]          UNBIND US,  LORD…
                    [response:]         SET US FREE!

Mary, Prophet of the Poor, help us unbind the world of injustice and pray with us for our Catechumens, children and families preparing for Easter Baptism and Confirmation   

HAIL MARY… 

Let us pray for other needs including the future of our parish in a moment of silence…