The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated today, ‘World Communications Day’. As he left his disciples, Jesus sent them out to spread the Good News. This is our task too. We ask for the grace we need.

Alternative Opening Prayer (from the 1998 ICEL Missal)
God of power and might,
in the mystery of the ascension
you have raised up and glorified your Son
and exalted our humanity at your right hand.

Confirm the good news your Church proclaims,
so that when Christ returns in glory
all nations may be gathered into the kingdom,
where he lives and reigns with you now and always
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

Introduction to the Scripture Readings
Acts 1:1-11 — This gives Luke’s description of the event we celebrate today, taken from the very start of the book of Acts.
Ephesians 4:1-13 — Paul appeals to Christians to live in peace and unity, and lists some of the gifts the ascended Lord has passed on.
Mark 16:15-20 — These last verses of Mark’s Gospel show how Jesus remains with us.

BIDDING PRAYERS

Introduction (by the Presider) With confidence, let us bring our prayers before God, the Most High.

1. For all Christians, that they may pass on the Good News in their lives (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
2. For those who work as missionaries, that they may keep on doing the Lord’s work (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
3. For the people of the Middle East, that they may be spared from the horrors of war (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
4. For all who work in the media, that their work may bring truth and justice (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
5. For those preparing for exams, that they may have the Holy Spirit’s help (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
6. For people who feel lonely or under-valued, that our friendship may show them how much they are loved (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.

The Presider prays for the dead: For all our brothers and sisters who have died (especially N & N), that where Christ has gone, they may soon follow (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.

Conclusion (by the Presider) Lord Most High, great king over all the earth, you calm your people in their distress: hear and grant the prayers we make to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
We offer you this sacrifice, Lord,
on the feast of your Son’s ascension,
begging that through this holy exchange of gifts
we may rise with him to the joys of heaven.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.

PREFACE (Ascension)
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
that we should always sing your glory, Lord;
but we praise you with greater joy than ever
in this Easter season when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.
Today the Lord Jesus,
the King of glory, who has conquered sin and death,
ascended to the highest heavens
while angels gazed in wonder.
He is the mediator between God and humankind,
judge of the world and Lord of heavenly powers.
He has not abandoned our human condition
but has filled us with hope
that where he, our head, has gone before us
we, his members, shall follow after.
Therefore, the universe resounds with Easter joy,
and the choirs of angels sing the endless hymn of your glory: Holy, holy, holy

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER I - The Roman Canon (with interpolation for the feast)
All-merciful Father,
we come before you with praise and thanksgiving
through Jesus Christ your Son.
Through him we ask you to accept and bless + these gifts
we offer you in sacrifice.

We offer them for your holy catholic Church:
watch over it, Lord, and guide it,
grant it peace and unity throughout the world.
We offer them for Francis our Pope,
for N. our Bishop,
and for all who hold and teach the catholic faith
that comes to us from the apostles.

Remember, Lord, your faithful people,
especially those for whom we now pray [N. and N.].
Remember all of us gathered here before you.
You know that we believe in you
and dedicate ourselves to you.
We offer you this sacrifice of praise
for ourselves and those who are dear to us;
we pray to you, our living and true God,
for our well-being and redemption.

As we celebrate that most holy day
when your only Son our Lord
lifted up to the glory of heaven our mortal nature,
which he had made his own,
we pray in communion with the whole Church
with those whose memory we now honour:
especially with Mary,
the glorious and ever-virgin mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God,
with Joseph, her husband,
the apostles and martyrs,
Peter and Paul, Andrew,
and with all the saints.
By their merits and prayers
grant us your constant help and protection.
Lord, accept this offering from your whole family.
Grant us your peace in this life,
save us from final damnation,
and count us among those you have chosen.

Bless and approve our offering,
make it acceptable to you,
an offering in spirit and in truth:
let it become for us
the body and blood of your beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.

The day before he suffered
he took bread in his sacred hands,
and looking up to heaven
to you, his almighty Father,
he gave you thanks and praise;
he broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT:
THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

When supper was ended, he took the cup;
again he gave you thanks and praise,
gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT:
THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT.
IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL,
SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

The mystery of faith

And so, Lord God,
we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son:
we, your holy people and your ministers,
call to mind his passion,
his resurrection from the dead,
and his ascension into glory;
and from the many gifts you have given us
we offer to you, God of glory and majesty,
this holy and perfect sacrifice,
the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.

Look with favour on these offerings
and accept them as once you accepted
the gifts of your just servant Abel,
the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith,
and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedek.

Almighty God,
command that your angel carry this sacrifice
to your altar in heaven.
Then, as we receive from this altar
the sacred body and blood of your Son,
let us be filled with every grace and blessing.

Remember, Lord, your servants who have died
and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith,
especially those for whom we now pray [N. and N.].
Grant them and all who sleep in Christ
a haven of light and peace.

For ourselves, too,
sinners who trust in your mercy and love,
we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs,
with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas,
and all your saints.
Welcome us into their company,
not considering what we deserve,
but freely granting us your pardon

Through Christ our Lord you give us all these gifts,
you fill them with life and goodness,
you bless them and make them holy.

Through him, with him, In him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Almighty and eternal God,
you have entrusted to us here on earth
the mysteries that foreshadow heaven.
Draw our gaze upward
where Christ, who shares our human nature,
sits in glory at your right hand
and lives and reigns with you for ever and ever.

SOLEMN BLESSING
Bow your heads for God’s blessing.

On this day Christ, the only Son,
passed into the highest heaven
to take his place with the Father in majesty
and to open the way for us.

May almighty God grant
that, where Christ is, you also may be.
R. Amen.
May God grant
that when Christ comes to judge the world
his face may shine upon you in lasting mercy.
R. Amen.
May God grant you the joyous fulfilment of Christ’s promise
to remain with you even to the end of time.
R. Amen.

SONGS AT MASS  (Suggestions) ‘Let The Earth Rejoice And Sing’; ‘Now the Green Blade Rises’, This is the Day the Lord has made’; ‘He is Lord’.