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Presider’s Page for 29 March (Palm Sunday)

Opening Comment (for Mass without Procession or Solemn Entrance)
Today’s liturgy gives a preview of the events we will celebrate between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday: the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. These events are also the focus of this and every Sunday celebration. We ask for God’s help in understanding their significance.

Alternative Opening Prayer (from 1998 ICEL Missal)
O God of eternal glory,
you anointed Jesus, your servant,
to bear our sins,
to encourage the weary,
to raise up and restore the fallen.
Keep before our eyes
the splendour of the paschal mystery of Christ,
and, by our sharing in the passion and resurrection,
seal our lives with the victorious sign
of his obedience and exaltation.
We ask this through Christ, our liberator from sin,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
holy and mighty God for ever and ever.

Introduction to the Scripture Readings
Isaiah 50:4-7 — Describes someone putting up with a lot of suffering. Our tradition teaches us that these lines apply to Jesus.
Philippians 2:6-11 — An ancient hymn about Christ, which tells us that Jesus achieved glory through suffering.
Mark 14:1 to 15:47 — Mark’s account of the passion is in a lively style which relishes detail and doesn’t avoid what might appear offensive. His message is that Jesus freely gives up control.

BIDDING PRAYERS

Introduction (by the Presider) Brothers and sisters, let us pray to God who saves us.

  1. For all who take up the cross as followers of Christ (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  2. For the courage never to be afraid to speak up for justice (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  3. For people who feel tired and weary from the struggles of life (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  4. For the sick and all who care for them (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.

The presider prays for the dead, especially N & N (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.

Conclusion (by the Presider) God of our salvation, your love for the world has no end: hear the prayers your faithful people make, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SONGS AT MASS (Suggestions)‘All Glory Praise and Honour’; ‘Jesus Remember Me’ (Taizé); ‘Hail Redeemer, King Divine’.

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An intimate act of love

Articles, Liturgy
3 Comments

Chris McDonnell shares some thoughts on how we could use the ‘washing of the feet’.
“It is also a liturgy that can be shared without raising contentious issues in an ecumenical setting. There need be no divisions in this mutual giving, no barriers of race, age or social status. It fundamentally cuts through these restrictions and offers an example of Christian love in a simple yet powerful manner.”

“An intimate act of love” was first published in the Catholic Times on 10 March 2017

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