The mercy of God has no end; even humans who disfigure God’s beautiful creation can turn back to God’s ways and find mercy. We continue to mark Creationtide all through September, and we gather for worship, drawn in by God’s endless love.

Penitential Rite
As we enter into the celebration, we call to mind our sins: (pause)
You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord, have mercy.
You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.
You plead for us at the right hand of the Father: Lord, have mercy.

Alternative Opening Prayer (from the 1998 ICEL Missal)
Undaunted you seek the lost, O God,
exultant you bring home the found.
Touch our hearts with grateful wonder
at the tenderness of your forbearing love.
Grant us delight in the mercy that has found us
and bring all to rejoice at the feast of forgiveness.
We ask 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
Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14 God relents in response to pleas for leniency.
Psalm: We ask for God’s mercy, as prodigals turning to our loving Father.
1 Timothy 1: 12-17 Paul insists that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, people like Paul himself.
Luke 15: 1-32 A series of stories that show God stretching out a hand to sinners (Shorter form recommended, verses 1-10)

BIDDING PRAYERS
Introduction (by the Presider) With confidence, let us bring the needs of the community before our great and compassionate God.

1. That Christians may listen to the voice of creation (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
2. That we may care more deeply for the earth, our common home (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
3. That the starving people in Africa may be fed (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
4. That those affected by flooding and wildfires may get the help they need (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
5. That young people receiving C.A.O. offers may choose well (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
6. That people who are sick or troubled may find comfort in God’s merciful love (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.

The presider prays for the dead: That those who have died, (especially N and N) may know the joy of God’s presence. And we pray especially for the children who died this week in tragic incidents in Tallaght and Westmeath (pause for quiet prayer)……. Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the Presider) O God, in your kindness, you blot out our sins and failings: hear our humble prayers, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Be attentive to our prayers, O Lord,
and receive with favour these gifts of your servants,
that what each of us has offered to the glory of your name
may advance the salvation of us all.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer I for Reconciliation (with its own Preface)
Holy Father, compassionate and good,
it is right to give you thanks and praise,
for you never cease to call us to a new and more abundant life.
Though we are sinners,
you constantly offer us pardon and ask us to trust in your mercy alone.
Time after time, when we broke your covenants,
you did not cast us aside;
but through the incarnation of Jesus, your Son,
you bound the human family to yourself with a new and unbreakable bond.
In Christ you give your people
a season of reconciliation and grace:
a time to draw new breath for our journey back to you,
a time to open our hearts to your Spirit and respond to the needs of all.
In wonder and gratitude
we join our voices with the choirs of heaven,
as we proclaim with joy the power of your love
and sing the endless hymn of your glory:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY……

From the beginning, O God,
all you have done for the human family
you have done for our good,
that we may be holy, as you yourself are holy.
Look with kindness, then,
on your people gathered before you.

Send forth your Spirit in power,
that these gifts may become for us
the body + and blood of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son,
in whom we too are your children.
When we were lost and our hearts were far from you,
you showed the depth of your love:
your Son, who alone is the Just One,
gave himself into our hands and was nailed to the wood of the cross.
Before he stretched out his arms between heaven and earth
as the lasting sign of your covenant,
he desired to celebrate the Passover in the company of his disciples.

While they were at table,
he took bread and 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.
At the end of the meal,
knowing he would reconcile all things in himself
by his blood poured out on the cross,
he took the cup filled with wine;
again he gave you thanks,
and, handing the cup to his friends, he 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……

We remember Jesus Christ, our Passover and our lasting peace,
we celebrate his death and resurrection, we await the blessed day of his return.
And so we present to you, God ever faithful and true,
the offering that restores the world to your grace.
Merciful Father,
look with love on those you draw to yourself
through their sharing in the sacrifice of Christ.

By the power of your Spirit,
may they become the body of your risen Son,
in whom all divisions are healed.
Keep us in communion of mind and heart,
together with Francis our Pope and N. our Bishop.

Help us to work for the coming of your kingdom,
until at last we stand in your presence
and take our place among the saints,
with the Virgin Mary and the apostles,
and with our departed brothers and sisters,
whom we commend to your mercy.
Then, in the glory of your new creation,
freed from the sting of death,
we shall sing to you the hymn of thanksgiving
which rises from Christ the living Lord.
THROUGH HIM ………

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Almighty God,
let the power of this sacrament
take hold of us, body and soul,
that our lives may be ruled
not by our own will
but by the working of your grace within us.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SONGS FOR TODAY’S MASS
God of Mercy and Compassion; Grant To Us, O Lord; Be Not Afraid; Lord Of All Hopefulness.

Songs for the Season of Creation: Our God Reigns; Ag Críost an Síol; Laudete Omnes Gentes; How Great Thou Art;