Plan for 6th Class Graduation Mass - Dublin Diocese



Plan for 6th Class Graduation Mass

This Mass plan was created to help teachers guide their students in creating a liturgy for a 6th Class Graduation Mass. Recognising that every school and liturgy is unique, teachers may wish to amend this Mass plan. An important goal is that each of your students feels involved in the planning and celebration of the liturgy so that they may grow in their understanding and appreciation of the Mass.

PREPARATION: Sacred Space

Set up a sacred space in the room where Mass is to be celebrated. During the Opening Procession the children can place symbolic gifts on this sacred space. With your students, discuss and choose what symbols best represent them as a class. For example, students could bring a football to represent their love of sport.

INTRODUCTION/WELCOME:

Read by: _______________________

On behalf of 6th class, I would like to welcome you to the 2010 __________ School Graduation Mass. We extend a special welcome to our priest, principal, staff, parents, family, and friends. Thank you for being here with us today to help us celebrate our past and our future. We share many treasured memories of our experiences at ____________ School, and we are happy to share them with you today. We pray that Christ will be the light that guides us on our journey into post-primary education. Fr. _________ will lead us as we celebrate our Mass today/this evening. Please stand now and join us in singing our Gathering Song, “Christ Be Our Light”.

GATHERING SONG: Christ Be Our Light (Alive-O 8, p.273)

ENTRANCE PROCESSION: Symbols to be brought forward at this time.

Symbol: ________________ Carried by: ________________

Symbol: ________________ Carried by: ________________

Symbol: ________________ Carried by: ________________

OPENING BLESSING

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

All: Amen

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

All: And also with you.

PENITENTIAL RITE

Priest: God of Compassion, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness as we call to mind our sins against you and against each other.

Lord, you invite us to grow close to you through prayer. Forgive us when we forget to spend time praying and asking for your guidance.

Lord, have mercy

All: Lord, have mercy

Priest: Christ, you gift us with the freedom to make wise choices. Forgive us for the times when we take the easy way out and choose to do less than our best. Christ, have mercy

All: Christ, have mercy

Priest: Lord, you showed us how to live a life of love. Forgive us for the times we do not show kindness or respect our family members or friends.

Lord, have mercy

All: Lord, have mercy

Priest: God of mercy, forgive us our failings and give us loving hearts as we come to recognise you in one another.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

OPENING PRAYER

Priest: God of life, we greet you with loving and thankful hearts. In your goodness, you have come into our lives and invited us to walk in your ways. We ask you to lead our 6th class students to know and love you even more as they begin their post-primary education. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Isaiah 60:19-22. Read by: __________________

Our First Reading comes from the book of a prophet called Isaiah. He tells us that the Lord, our God, is the only light we will ever need to brighten our world.

You will no longer need the sun to light your days nor the moon to brighten your nights because God himself will be your everlasting light. The Lord will be your glory always, never to set like the sun nor wane like the moon. God will make you holy and give you what your heart desires. For you are God’s garden, planted by his hand, blooming to his glory. The least among you will become great; the smallest of you, mighty. The Lord will do this for you with power and purpose. And may God bless you and keep you all the days of your lives.

The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “To Everything There is a Season”

Sung Response: Turn, Turn, Turn by Pete Seeger

Read by: _______________

The Book of Ecclesiastes stands as a reminder to believers that all things change, even our understanding of God. Our Responsorial is an adaptation of Ecclesiastes, Chapter

3, verses 1 through 8. Please join us in singing the response.

“To everything turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn.

And a time for every purpose under heaven”

Student to read verse 1: _______________

A time to be born; a time to die.

A time to plant; a time to harvest

Student to read verse 2: _______________

A time to heal; a time to rebuild

A time to laugh; a time to cry

Student to read verse 3: _______________

A time for gathering stones; a time for scattering stones.

A time to hug; a time not to hug.

Student to read verse 4: _______________

A time to find; a time not to find.

A time for keeping; a time for throwing away.

Student to read verse 5: _______________

A time to be quiet; a time to speak up.

A time for loving; a time for peace.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia (Sung)

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are like a light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put in under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lamp stand where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord

All: Praise to You Lord, Jesus Christ

HOMILY

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Priest: Loving God, we pray to you as we prepare to end our primary school days and begin post-primary school. We trust that in your love you will hear our prayers.

Prayer 1. Read by: _______________

God of Wisdom, we pray for the Board of Management, principal and staff of __________ School who have helped us to grow during these past eight years. We pray especially for _______ (any retiring teachers or those who are leaving). We ask that you bless them with happiness in their new endeavors. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord graciously hear us.

Prayer 2. Read by: _______________

God of Love, we pray for our parents, that they continue to guide and nurture us as we grow. May they know how much we love and appreciate them. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord graciously hear us.

Prayer 3. Read by: _______________

God of Hope, we pray that we may have the courage to share our gifts with those who need them. May we use our gifts to create a future of peace and justice for all.

Lord, hear us.

All: Lord graciously hear us.

Prayer 4. Read by: _______________

Healing God, we pray for the sick of our parish and for all our friends and relatives who are ill. Help them to feel your healing presence. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord graciously hear us.

Prayer 5. Read by: _______________

God of Compassion, we pray for those in our families, in our school and in our parish community who have died. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord graciously hear us.

Priest: God our Father, we know that you are always listening to our prayers. We pray that we may be guided by your Holy Spirit and walk always in the light of Jesus, Your Son.

All: Amen

OFFERTORY PROCESSION

Bread and wine are brought to the Altar.

Students: ______________ and _________________

Suggested Song: We Come to You Lord Jesus (Alive-O 4, p. 360-361)

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Priest: Loving God, accept these gifts from those of us who celebrate this time of ending and beginning. May we always recognise our union with each other and with You in the Eucharist. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

All join in saying/singing the Holy Holy, the Memorial Acclamation and the Great Amen.

COMMUNION RITE

All join in saying/singing the Our Father and Lamb of God

COMMUNION SONGS

(Suggestions)

1. Eat This Bread (Alive-O 6, p. 100)

2. I Will Be The Vine (Alive-O 6, p. 192)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

(Optional. Students may also like to write their own prayer)

Gracious God, we thank you for your ever-loving presence in our lives and for the guidance that you give us on every step on our journey. Please help us share our love, talents, and faith with those we meet. May we make a real difference in this world you have blessed us with. We pray, through Jesus Christ your Son, that as we let our lights shine, we will answer your call to love and serve. Amen.

BLESSING OF GRADUATES

Priest: 6th Class of 2010, nurtured by the love of your parents, inspired by the guidance of your teachers, and bound by the precious gifts of friendship, you have already been blessed. As we stand proudly in the light of your achievements, we pray that you may continue to grow in mind and heart, in wisdom and compassion, in faith and gentleness.

Lord, enable these graduates to see clearly that they can choose a meaningful life, that they must dare to dream, and above all, that they are dearly loved. And, as we send them off to continue their journey in post-primary schools, may they be blessed, The Father, The Son, and the Holy

Spirit.

All: Amen

FINAL PRAYER

Priest: Let us pray.

Almighty God, we praise you for sharing your boundless love with us. Open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts so that we may discover you in all the moments of our lives. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son.

All: Amen

CONCLUDING RITE

Priest: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Priest: May almighty God bless you,

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Priest: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

RECESSIONAL HYMN: Go Tell Everyone (Alive-O 7, p. 301)

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