We gather together as friends, called by the Lord to forgive each other as quickly as God forgives us.

Penitential Rite
Let us call to mind our sins (pause)
I confess…..

Alternative Opening Prayer (from 1998 ICEL Missal)
God, our Father and provider,
whose Son has given his flesh for the life of the world,
sustain your pilgrim Church on its journey
with the word of life and the bread of heaven.

Draw us nearer to him in whose name we gather,
that, following his way of sacrificial love,
we may come to the banquet of eternal life.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

Introduction to the Scripture Readings
1 Kings 19:4-8 — Elijah was at the point of despair when God sent him food and drink to nourish him on his journey.
Ephesians 4:30 to 5:2 — Paul challenges Christians to imitate Christ in the way they treat each other.
John 6:41-51 — Jesus is the true bread come down from heaven, promising the fullness of life.

BIDDING PRAYERS

Introduction (by the Presider) Let us bring our needs to God, knowing that when we call, the Lord hears.

1. For an end to war and disaster in the Middle East (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
2. For a welcome for refugees escaping terror (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
3. For an end to violence and racism in every place (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
4. For new hope for people on the verge of despair (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
5. For the grace to treat everyone with love and kindness (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.
6. For refreshment for people on holidays (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.

The Presider prays for those who have died: For our brothers and sisters who have died in Christ (especially N & N), that having eaten the Bread of Life, they may live forever (pause and pray). Lord, hear us.

Conclusion (by the Presider) We bless you, O Lord, at all times: from all our terrors you set us free: let our prayers come into your presence, and continue to support us, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Over The Gifts
Lord,
accept from your Church these gifts,
which in your mercy you have given us to offer
and which by your power
you transform into the sacrament of our salvation.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IV
Father most holy,
it is right for us to give you thanks,
it is right to give you glory,
for you are the one God, living and true.

Before time began and for all eternity
you dwell in unapproachable light.
Source of life and goodness, you have created all things,
that they may abound with every blessing
and rejoice in the radiance of your light.

Countless hosts of angels stand before you
and gaze upon your splendour;
night and day they serve you
and worship you without end.
We join with them
and, giving voice to every creature under heaven,
we acclaim you and glorify your name:
Holy, holy, holy….

Father most holy, we proclaim your greatness:
all your works show forth your wisdom and love.
You formed man and woman in your own likeness
and entrusted the whole world to their care,
so that in serving you alone, their Creator,
they might be stewards of all creation.

Even when they disobeyed you and turned away from your friendship,
you did not abandon them to the power of death,
but extended your hand in mercy,
that all who search for you might find you.

Again and again you offered the human race a covenant
and through the prophets nurtured the hope of salvation.

Father, you so loved the world
that in the fullness of time
you sent your only Son to be our Saviour.
Made flesh by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary,
he lived as one of us in all things but sin.
To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation,
to prisoners, freedom,
and to those in sorrow, joy.

In order to fulfil your purpose
he gave himself up to death,
and by rising from the dead
he destroyed death and restored life.
And that we might live no longer for ourselves
but for him who died and rose for us,
he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father,
as his first gift to those who believe,
to complete his work on earth
and renew the world in perfect holiness.

Lord God,
we pray that the same Holy Spirit may sanctify these gifts:
let them become the body + and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that we may celebrate the great mystery
which he left us as an everlasting covenant.

When the hour had come for him to be glorified by you,
Father most holy,
having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end.
While they were at supper,
he took bread and said the blessing;
he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT:
THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

In the same way he took the cup filled with wine;
he gave you thanks and, giving the cup to his disciples, 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 memorial of our redemption:
we recall Christ’s death and his descent among the dead;
we proclaim his resurrection and his ascension to your right hand;
and, looking forward to his coming in glory,
we offer you the sacrifice of his body and blood,
an offering acceptable to you,
which brings salvation to all the world.

Lord, look upon the sacrifice
which you yourself have prepared for your Church;
and by your Holy Spirit
gather all who share this one bread and one cup
into one body, a living sacrifice in Christ,
to the praise and glory of your name.

Lord, remember those for whom we make this offering:
your servant Pope Francis, our Bishop N., and all bishops,
the priests, deacons, and other ministers of your Church,
those who take part in this offering,
those here present, all your people,
and all who seek you with a sincere heart.

Remember those who have died in the peace of Christ
and all the dead whose faith is known only to you.

Merciful Father, grant that we, your children,
may enjoy the inheritance of heaven
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with the apostles, St Clare and all your saints.
There, together with all creation,
set free from the corruption of sin and death,
we shall sing your glory
through Christ our Lord,
through whom you bless the world with all that is good.

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
Merciful God,
let our sharing in this sacrament
deliver us from evil
and make us stand firm in the light of your truth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord.

SONGS AT MASS (Suggestions): ‘All the Earth Proclaim The Lord’; ‘Ag Críost an Síol’; ‘Take and Eat’; ‘I am the Bread of Life’.

Greeting visitors
If continental visitors attend Mass during their summer holidays, the presider might welcome them in their own language.

(In Dutch): ‘Beste vrienden, die bij ons uw verlof komt doorbrengen, wij zijn blij u hier te begroeten
(Phonetically) ‘Best-eh freend-en, dee by uns oo fer-lof come-teh door-breng-en, vigh zine bligh oo here tuh buh-ghroot-in.’

(In French): Chers amis qui venez passer vos vacances chez nous, nous sommes heureux de vous acceuillir parmi nous.
(Phonetically) ‘Shares am-ee key venay passay vo va-kawnce shay noo, noo soms uru de vooz a-cow-year parmee noo.’

(In German): ‘Liebe Freunde, Sie kamen um Ihre Ferien hier zu verbringen. Wir freuen uns, Sie bei uns aufzunehmen.’
(Phonetically) ‘Leeba froy-unda, zee cam-en um eere fair-ee-en here tsoo ver-bring-en. Veer froy-en unts, zee by unts owf-zoo-name-in.’

(In Italian): ‘Cari amici, che venite a passare le vostre vacanza qui da noi, siamo felici di accogliervi nella nostra communità.’
(Phonetically) ‘Caree amee-chee, kay vay-nee-tay ah pass-ah-ray lay voss-tray vah-can-za kwee da noy, see-amo fay-lee-chay day akol-ee-err-vee nellah noss-trah com-oo-nee-tah.

(In Spanish): ‘Quiero dar una bienvenida muy especial a los visitantes españoles. Deseo que tengan unas vaccaciones felices entre nosotros.
(Phonetically) ‘Ki-er-oh dar oona be-en-ven-eeda mo-ee espes-ee-al a lows visi-tant-eys e-span-yole-es.
Des-ay-o kay ten-gan oon-as vack-ass-ee-owen-es fe-lee-th-es en-tray nose-ot-rose.’