Acknowledging God in Overcoming Adversities, Working
Through Opportunities with Thanksgiving.
BACCALAUREATE MASS
27 MARCH 2014, 7:15 AM
St. James the Apostle Church Santiago St. Poblacion, Cateel
Officiating Prelate
Most Reverend Patricio H. Alo, D.D. Bishop of the Diocese of Mati Commentator: Good Morning my dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our dear graduates and our beloved children, today is an important event that comes into your lives as graduating students in elementary and high school. We, your teachers and your parents are happy to witness our success and we pray as you begin a new adventure and journey of your lives.
We offer thanks to God because He has always been with us in our quest for success in life. We are also thankful to God for loving and forgiving us at times when we failed to give our best by not loving our neighbors.
It is proper then in this Eucharistic celebration that we express our gratitude to God for the gift of salvation, the gift of wisdom and understanding. We implore and pray to our Heavenly Father to bestow on us more blessings for the coming years. We also offer prayers to those who became instruments of the success that we gained today especially our parents, the faculty members, staff and administrator. We thank God for the Maryknoll Fathers who founded this Catholic institution and instilled in us the ideals of quality Christian Education.
Commentator: Let us all stand as we witness the processional entrance of the acolytes, Graduates with their parents, Faculty and Staff, concelebrants and the celebrants.
(Instrumental music is played while having the processional; when everybody is in their proper places, the commentator continues to say..)
Commentator: Together let us praise God as we sing the entrance song.
INTRODUCTORY RITE
Entrance Hymn:
GREETING
2 3
Presider : In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All : Amen.
Presider : The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always.
All : And with your spirit
Presider : God is the source of all wisdom and understanding. Let us give thanks to Him for His saving love and for all the blessings that we received from Him. In order for us to be worthy to express our gratitude and celebrate this occasion as one family, let us offer to God our failures and mistakes and ask for his mercy and forgiveness.
All : I CONFESS TO ALMIGHTY GOD, AND TO YOU, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THAT I HAVE GREATLY SINNED IN MY THOUGHTS AND IN MY WORDS AND IN WHAT I HAVE DONE AND IN WHAT I HAVE FAILED TO DO, THROUGH MY FAULT, THROUGH MY FAULT, THROUGH MY MOST GRIEVIOUS FAULT; THEREFORE I ASK THE BLESSED MARY EVER VIRGIN, ALL THE ANGELS AND SAINTS, AND YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TO PRAY FOR ME TO THE LORD OUR GOD.
Presider : May the Almighty God, our loving and forgiving Father, have mercy on us and forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.
All : Amen.
KYRIE : (TO BE SUNG)
GLORIA : (TO BE SUNG)
Presider : Let us pray O God our father, you are the source of all graces, life and knowledge. We praise and give you thanks. Hear our prayers for these students who will graduate. Together with their parents, brothers and sisters and friends, teach us to know always the good things that you have shared to us. We ask this through our lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one god forever and ever.
All : Amen.
Commentator : Please be seated to listen to the word of God.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 7: 23-28
Reader :The word of the Lord.
All : Thanks be to God.
RES. PSALM : You made me, You formed me, You kept me alive, long before I was born.
Commentator: Please stand to honor the Gospel.
Alleluia (to be sung)
Gospel
Presider : The Lord be with you.
All : And with your spirit.
Presider : A reading from the Holy Gospel according to..
All : Glory to You, O Lord. Presider : The Gospel of the Lord..
4 5
All : Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
Commentator: Please be seated for the homily.
Commentator: May I request the graduates please stand for the blessing of diplomas, medals and graduates.
GRADUATES: Rev. Father, these candidates for graduation, would like to offer with much gratitude and joy these diplomas, medals and certificates as fruits of their diligence and hard work in studies all these years. Help us pray that these will keep them remember their Alma Mater and their founder who planted seeds of Catholic Education in their hearts and minds.
Presider : Our help is in the Lord. All : Who made heaven and Earth.
Presider : O Lord hear our prayer. All : And let out cry unto You.
Presider : The Lord be with you. All : And with your spirit.
Presider : Let us pray: Lord God, giver of all success and glory, bless these diplomas, certificates and medals, fruits of the many years with which they embody. Graciously help these graduates to put into practice the Christian formation they have attained for your greater honor and glory and for the service of their fellow human beings. We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
All : Amen
Commentator: May I request everybody to stand for the Prayers of the Faithful.
Presider: The Lord always remembers his covenant with His people and He makes us aware of His constant love and blessings. With confidence and trust to the Lord, let us offer our petitions; let our response be- LORD, FILL US WITH YOUR WISDOM.
1. We entrust to you our political leaders especially our government officials in the national, provincial and local levels, may you continue to enlighten them to make plans and programs for the common good and serve your people with honesty and integrity. We pray
2. We pray for our suffering brothers and sisters, the victims of war and injustice, oppressions, terrorism and natural calamities especially the survivors of Typhoon Pablo and Yolanda that they may find comfort, consolation and help from generous people and may they continue to experience Gods love and hope. We pray.
3. Grant our teachers patience and wisdom as they mold the minds of the. May you give them courage to face challenges in life, grow in ministry and vocation as teachers. We pray..
4. We especially pray for our parents, guardians, benefactors and all those who have unselfishly helped us finish our schooling. May you look on them with kindness and give them joy and peace and bestow on them blessings they need. We pray..
5. As we offer to you all the success that we have achieved today, may we, graduates of elementary and high school of Maryknoll Academy of Cateel, Inc. of school year 2013-2014 live up to the ideals of our Alma Mater. We pray..
6 7 6. We offer you these fruits of our labor. Grant that we may have open hearts and minds to share the abundant blessings we have received to those in need. We pray..
7. As we offer these bread and wine, help us to live the example of Jesus by giving ourselves unselfishly in proclaiming the kingdom of God. We pray..
Presider :Lord God, hear the prayers of your people. May you always remain with us as we continue to share the blessings our children and our parents received. May we continue to acknowledge your goodness through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
All :Amen.
Commentator: Please be seated for the preparations of the gifts and offertory.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presider : Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer You: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
All : Blessed be God forever.
Presider : Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: , fruit of the vine and work of the human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
All : Blessed be God forever.
Commentator: Please rise.
Presider : Pray brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.
All : May the Lord accept the sacrifice at Your hands, for the praise and glory of His name for our good and the good of all His holy church.
Commentator: Please stand.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Presider : O Lord our God, who once established these created things to sustain us in our frailty, grant, we pray, that they may become for us now the Sacrament of eternal life.
All : Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II
Presider : The Lord be with you.
All : And with your spirit.
Presider : Lift up your hearts.
All : We lift them up to the Lord.
Presider : Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All : It is right and just.
8 9 Presider: Father, All-Powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He came to save mankind by becoming a man himself. The Virgin Mary, receiving the angels message in faith, conceived by the power of the spirit and bore your son in purest love.
In Christ, the eternal truth, your promise to Israel came true. In Christ, the hope of all peoples, mans hope was realized beyond all expectation.
Through Christ the angels of heaven offer their prayer of adoration as they rejoice in your presence forever. May our voices be one with their in their triumphant hymn of praise.
Sanctus (sung)
Commentator: Please kneel.
Presider : You are indeed Holy O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your spirit upon them life dewfall, so that they may become for us the body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
At the time, He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion, He took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and eat it, for this is my body which will be given up for you.
In similar way, when supper was ended, He took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, He gave it to His disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it, this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
Presider : The mystery of faith.
Commentator : Please rise.
Acclamation
Presider : Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His Death and Resurrection, we offer You, Lord, the Bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that You have held us worthy to be in Your presence and minister to You.
Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.
Concelebrant 1: Remember, Lord, Your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Francis our Pope, Patricio, our bishop, and all the clergy.
Concelebrant 2: Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy: welcome them into the light of Your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints who have pleased You throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify You through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
10 11 DOXOLOGY
Presider : Through him, and with Him, and in Him, O God, Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.
Great Amen (sung)
COMMUNION RITE
Presider : Jesus taught us to call God Father. For God is a Father who loves us and cares for us. Let us join together and sing with eagerness the prayer that Jesus himself taught us.
Lords Prayer (to be sung)
PRIEST : Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of Your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For the Kingdom the power (to be sung)
Invitation to Peace
Presider : Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of Your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with Your will. Who live and reign forever and ever.
All : Amen.
Presider : The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All : And with your spirit.
Presider : Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Invitation to Communion
Lamb of God (sung)
PRIVATE PREPARATION OF THE PRIEST
Commentator : Please kneel.
Presider : Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. All : Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
Commentator : Please be seated for the Holy Communion
COMMUNION SONGS:
Commentator : Please stand.
Prayer after Communion
Presider : Let us pray: Heavenly father, in this spiritual nourishment you have given back to us the sacrifice that we offer in thanksgiving, the saving sacrament of Christ Your son. Strengthen us through these gifts in our service and bring us to Your gift of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
12 13 All : Amen.
Commentator: Requesting everybody to kneel for the thanksgiving prayers of graduates and parents.
THANKSGIVING PRAYER OF THE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION
Heavenly Father, on this memorable occasion of our graduation day in elementary and high school, we offer you our praises and thanks.
Thank you for the gift of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and fortitude. Thank you for your unending guidance in everything we do. Thank you for the times you consoled us in moments of distress and difficulties. Thank you also for the countless times you have listened to our prayers.
Thank you for the unselfish services and loving patience of our teachers and administrators, our priests, and most especially the care, protection and love of our parents.
We beg you Lord; bless all those people who have contributed to our happiness today. Protect them in everything that they do for your greater glory. Amen.
THANKSGIVING PRAYER FOR PARENTS
Most powerful and ever-loving Father, we thank you for letting us partake this eternal food. Thank you also for the gift of life, which enables us to reach this momentous day, the commencement day of our children. We are truly happy to witness todays celebration, a proof of your boundless love and care for all of us.
Thank you also Loving Father, for your constant encouragement in times of distress and discouragement. Thank you for moving us to advance in times we failed to fulfill our responsibility as parents. Because of this, we are truly convinced of your help, presence and protection..
May your ever-loving presence in us, strengthen and deepen our commitment as instruments of recreating your love in the children you have given us.
We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ your Son, forever and ever. Amen.
Commentator: May I request the administrator, faculty and staff of Maryknoll Academy of Cateel, Inc. for the school year 2013-2014 to come forward for the sending-off of the graduates. Please remain kneeling.
SENDING OFF
(The commentator will lead the administrator, faculty and staff in reciting the following)
Our dear graduates, as you leave your Alma Mater, we want you to remember these words:
Believe in your questions, no matter how trifling, they are the gateway to knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment.
Believe in your gifts, no matter how small. They are Gods providence to your world, enrich it then, ennoble it then, and bring it to love then to life
Believe in your past, no matter how painful. It is a unique book of history- A Gospel Revelation of Gods mercy and faithfulness.
Believe in your vision, no matter what the climb. It is a mountain peak, calling you to experience God.
Believe in your decisions, no matter the mistakes. They are your YES to life, your assent to the field, where God is found.
14 15 Believe in your ideas, no matter the doubts. They are seeds, seeking nourishment, sunshine and life-giving water.
Believe and trust in God, no matter the mist. He is strong and trustworthy and He cares for you. In Jesus name, we are sending you to be witnesses in your chosen professions. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
Consecration to Our Lady by the graduates
Commentator: The graduates will now consecrate their lives to Mother Mary, the Patroness of Maryknoll Academy of Cateel.
(The graduates will now recite the Prayer of Consecration)
Marian HymnStella Maris
Commentator: (After the singing and floral offering) Please be seated for some announcements.
Commentator : Please rise for the Final Blessing
CONCLUDING RITE
Presider : The Lord be with you.
All : And with your spirit.
Presider : Bow your heads and pray for Gods blessing.
May the Lord who is the source of all good intentions enlighten your minds and strengthen your hearts. May he help you to fulfill with steadfast faith all you have promised.
All : Amen.
Presider : May the Lord enable you to travel in the joy of Christ as you follow along His way, you may gladly share each others burdens.
All : Amen.
Presider : May you walk in His ways, always knowing what is right and good until you enter into the happiness of everlasting life.
All : Amen.
Presider : May the Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All : Amen.
Presider : The mass has been offered; go in peace and love of Christ.