Family Mass

WELCOME!

Here in St. Sylvester’s Church we pride ourselves on our celebration of the Family Mass.  We create a friendly, prayerful atmosphere where families can feel a real part of the community of faith.  The children look forward to the Mass for a variety of reasons. Most notably they can see other children participate themselves and gain a fuller understand what is going on.

Why is our Mass so special.  Simply because the Mass is for children and their parents and therefore it is orientated towards their needs.  The readings are read by our children and a member of our team.  The homily is directed towards the children.  The children offer the prayers of the faithful and throughout the Mass lead the congregation in song.  All in all it is an excellent opportunity for families to worship together and actively participate.

Come join us!

Contact

Mary Kirk, Pastoral Worker

mary.kirk@dublindiocese.ie

tel 087 4570981

Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am there among them.

FAMILY PRAYERS. 

Bless Our Family.

Praise to you Lord Jesus, guide and protector of our family.

Bless our family and help us lead our children to you.

Give us light and strength and courage when our task is difficult.

Let your spirit fill us with your love and peace, so that we may help our children to love you.

All glory and praise are Yours, Lord Jesus, forever and ever.  Amen.

Lord, be with our family.

We thank you for our home and the gift of each other.

We thank you for the love that unites us, for the peace given to us this day.

We thank you for the hope you give our tomorrows, for the health, the work,

the food and bright skies that make our lives delightful.

We thank you for your presence in our family.

Amen.

 MAY THE GOD OF GOODNESS……THE GOD OF LOVE……THE GOD OF PEACE….BLESS ALL OUR FAMILIES AND KEEP US IN HIS LOVE.

Prayer of Baptism.

Father in Heaven, when the Spirit came down upon Jesus at

His Baptism in the Jordan, you revealed Him as you’re only

Beloved Son.

Keep safe those who are newly baptised, and may they share always

in your life, becoming one with you, hearing your word with an abundance of faith and love.

Amen.

Prayer of First Eucharist.

Lord in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, you give to us your love and protection.  Thank you for coming to me in Holy Communion, for the experience of your love and the knowing that you will walk with me.

As I continue to receive you in Holy Communion may I grow ever closer to you.

We make our prayer through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of Confirmation.      

O Holy Spirit of God, let me be your disciple.

guide me, light my way and always keep me in your holiness.

Let my hands do the work of your goodness and never allow me

to stray from the path of my faith.

Be in my heart that no evil will touch me, for you are my friend,

for you are my God.

Let me bear fruit the gifts you bring to me on my Confirmation day.

Make me an instrument of your peace, give me the courage to follow the path

Of your truth and guide me on my way.

Amen.

Sit a while and listen to the Lord

SEASONS OF THE CHURCH…………………………….

Advent

Advent begins our Church year.  It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and ends on Christmas Eve.  Advent is a time of waiting for the arrival of Christmas, Jesus entering this world when He was born as a baby at Bethlehem two thousand years ago.

This season as a unique symbol in the Advent wreath.  Its symbolism reminds us of God, his eternity and love, which has no beginning or end.  The green in the wreath speaks about the hope that we Christians have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.  The Advent wreath displays five candles in total, three purple, one pink and one white.

Purple candles:  It is the colour of penance, encouraging us to ask God’s forgiveness for our sins and to do a little extra in preparing ourselves to celebrate Jesus’ birth on Christmas Day.

Pink candle:  Reminds us of the joy we share in the life of Jesus.

White Candle:  Jesus is the light of the world.

IT IS THE BEAUTIFUL TASK OF ADVENT TO AWAKEN IN ALL OF US MEMORIES OF GOODNESS AND TO OPEN THE DOORS OF HOPE………….

CHRISTMAS

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given,

And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER.

I believe in Jesus Christ and in the beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem.

I believe in Jesus who brings joy to the world.

I believe in Jesus who proclaims the love of God to our world.

I confess my need of God.  The need for forgiveness, the need for His love, the need for the new life He gives us all.

I believe in Jesus, the Son of the living God, born in Bethlehem this night, for me and for the world.

LENT

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts in total for forty days.  So in reality we have forty days to become more Christian in our lives, deepen our relationship with God and share that with the community of faith we live in.

The three ways we do this are through fasting, prayer and almsgiving.  Each of these disciplines tells us so much about ourselves.  For example what happens to me when I am hungry, what happens to my patience, to my spirit of generosity.

What happens to me when I give alms, where are my attachments and am I aware of those who are in need around my community.

Do I take time for prayer?  What happens to me when I pray, am I talking to myself, or is my prayer allowing me to be more like Christ?

So in this holy season the challenge is this, how are we, how are you going to use this time of Lent to create change in your life to be drawn closer to God and reflect what being a Christian is all about.

REMEMBER YOU HAVE 40 DAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
EASTER

What is Easter? 

Easter is the celebration of the death and coming to life again of Jesus Christ.  For us Christians the dawn of Easter Sunday with its message of new life is the high point of the year.

Why is Easter so meaningful?

Easter recounts the events of Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem before His death.  This includes Holy Thursday – The Last Supper – leading to the Eucharist.

Good Friday the day on which Jesus was crucified.

Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday is the day in which Jesus came back to life.

Easter is a sad tale of events because Jesus died on the cross.  Nevertheless it has a happy ending because Jesus came back to life, he rose from the dead, visited His friends and followers once more.  He went back to Heaven to be with God His Father.

JESUS IS RISEN!!!!!