Ash Wednesday

Eucharistic Celebration
(Year 4)
GATHER: Welcome

We are gathered here today to mark the beginning of the Church’s season of
Lent. The 40 days of Lent begin today. Lent is a special time when we remember
that God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to give his life for us. During Lent
we ask God to help us to be more like Jesus. We pray to become closer to God,
go without things we like in order to focus on more on our friendship with God and
others and helping others by doing good work. Lent ends after forty days when
we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead at Easter.

This Lent we are participating in Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. We are

thinking about how we can all work towards making a better world through our
Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy.

We will, in class, spend time talking about how we can reach out to others, to
show care for others and importantly to do things for others. Sometimes our efforts
like this are focused on people far away, but it can also be for people who are
close to us.

Today, we will receive ashes on our forehead. This is a sign to the world that we
are happy to be known as believers and that we will follow the teachings of Christ.

Please stand and join in our opening song as we welcome the procession.

Introductory Rites

Entrance Hymn: This is the Time (M. Mangan)

The Greeting from the Father

Penitential Rite

Gloria
Glory to God in the highest.
And on earth peace to men of good will.
We praise You.
We bless You.
We adore you.
We glorify You.
We give You thanks for Your great glory.
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty.
O Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father: you Who take away the sins of the
world, have mercy on us.
You Who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
You Who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you alone are holy.
You alone are the Lord.
You alone, O Jesus Christ, are most high.
Together with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray.

Lord as we begin Lent, make this season holy and give us the blessing of your
forgiveness.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

FOUCUS- Liturgy of the Word

Note:
As the reader gets up, so do the children participating in the
dramatisation of the reading. As the reader starts reading, the students
act out the elements of the story through freeze frames. Between each
section, the reader pauses so the Church can see how the students’
freeze frames act like a visual picture that show the actions and facial
expressions of the characters and the nature of the situation in the story.
Once the reading is over the students return to their seats.
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:1-2 (Make friends with God).

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his
appeal through us.

We plead on Christ’s behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!

In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God’s
grace not to let it be wasted. Hear what God says:

“When the time came for me to show you favour, I heard you; when the day
arrived for me to save you, I helped you.”

Listen! This is the hour to receive God’s favour; today is the day to be saved!

The word of the Lord,

Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:1-3

Response: Forgive our sins, O Lord.

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your

great mercy wipe away my sins.

Forgive our sins, O Lord.

Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sins!

I recognise my faults; I am always conscious of my sins.

Forgive our sins, O Lord.

Please stand for the Gospel and join in the Gospel Acclamation.

Gospel Acclamation (Sung)

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

“I want sinners to come back t me,” says the Lord.
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Gospel

Luke 5:27-32 (Jesus came not to call the good people but sinners to conversion)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Jesus went out and saw a tax collector called Levi sitting in his office. Jesus said
to him, “Follow me.”

Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Then Levi had a big feast in his house for Jesus, and among the guests was a
large number of tax collectors and other people. Some Pharisees and some
teachers of the Law who belonged to their group and complained to Jesus’
disciples. “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors an other outcasts?” they
asked.

Jesus answered them, “People who are well do not need a doctor, but only
those who are sick. I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but
outcasts.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Amen
Homily

 Explain the origin and meaning of the ashes

 Explain how symbols and badges remind us of things. We wear ashes
today to remind ourselves that we are sinners. Jesus wants us to turn away
from sin and follow him.
 Draw out from the children some examples of ways of acting that really
turn them away from Jesus. Help them to make a promise to try and do
better.

Blessing and giving of the ashes

Dear brothers and sister, let us humbly ask God our Father that he be pleased to
bless with the abundance of his grace these ashes, which we will put on our
heads in penitence.

(After a pause for silent prayer, the priest blesses the ashes and sprinkles them
with holy water. The priest may say to each child” “Repent, and believe in the
Gospel.”)

General Intercessions/ Prayer of the faithful 5 or 6

Introduction (Priest)

As these ashes remind us of our need for God, let us ask Him to help us in this
season of Lent.

Let us pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

May these ashes remind us to follow Jesus.

Let us pray to the Lord.

 All: Lord hear our prayer

During Lent, may people turn away from sin and believe in Jesus.

Let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord hear our prayer

May we show Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy to help make the world a
better place, for communities near and far through projects such as Project
Compassion.

Let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord hear our prayer

God of hope, we pray that our support of Project Compassion will enable young
people to open the doors to new possibilities to live as respected members of their
communities.

Let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord hear our prayer

God of hope, we pray for children who have to work to support their families. We
pray that our efforts for Project Compassion will allow children to gain an
education and help to break the poverty cycle that exists for many.

Let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord hear our prayer

Concluding prayer (Priest)

REFLECT: Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory: Two selected students make their way to the back of the church
during the Hymn, one person carries the bread and the other brings the wine.
Once they have brought the bread and wine to the Priest, students bow to the
Tabernacle/ Cross and make their way back to their seats.

Offertory Hymn: Create a New Heart in Me (M Mangan)

Preparation of the Gifts: (Priest)

Prayer over the gifts (Priest)

Lord accept these gifts and in this season of Lent, help our love for you to grow.
We ask this through Chris our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer ( I, II or III for children)

Sanctus [Holy, Holy] (Sung)

Memorial Acclamation (Sung)

Amen (Sung)

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against
us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
 the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Sign of Peace

Lamb of God

Communion

Communion Hymn: One bread, One body (John B Foley)

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

Father, through this Lenten Holy Communion may we be freed from our sins and
give you glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

RESPOND: Concluding Rite

Blessing & Dismissal

As we begin our journey to Easter, let us turn away from sin and go in peace.

Recessional Hymn: We turn to you (Michael Managan)

Notes on the Celebration:

 Invite the students to bring their palms from home to make the ash.
 Children can bring along a resolution for Lent written down. During the
distribution of ashes they place this resolution in a receptacle near the point of
distribution
 During the giving of ashes suitable songs are sung
 Teachers or other ministers may assist with the distribution of ashes if there are
large numbers. The ash is placed on the forehead or sprinkled over the head
with the words “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”
 The blessing and Giving of Ashes follows the Homily.
Hymns

Entrance:

This Is The Time

By: Michael Mangan

This is the time to stop.

This is the time for new beginnings.
This is the time to open up your hearts.
This is the time to dream.
This is the time for building bridges.
This is the time to make a bold new start.

We’re working for a world of justice,

Where every heart is free,
A land of love and peace and unity.
As we travel on together,
Believing in the dream,
This is the time to start again
Together you and me.

This is the time to rest.

This is the time to just remember.
This is the time to let your troubles go.
This is the time to heal.
This is the time to forgive each other.
This is the time to let the new seeds grow.

This is the time to share.

This is the time for joyful giving.
This is the time to wash away all pain.
This is the time for thanks.
This is the time for celebration.
This is the time to journey home again.
Offertory Hymn:

Create a New Heart in Me

By: Michael Mangan

Create a new heart in me,

Come and set me free,
Open my eyes to see,
You can create a new heart in me.

Show me your love and kindness, Touch me deep within.

Wash me clean from pain, O God, Cleanse me from my sins.

Teach me the secrets of wisdom, Make me faithful again.

Do not shut me out, O God, Or take your Spirit away.

Fill me with joy and gladness, Keep my spirit strong.

Open up my lips, O God, And I will sing your song.
Communion Hymn:

One Bread, One Body

By: John B Foley

One bread, one body, one Lord of all

One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the earth
We are one body in this one Lord

Gentile or Jew
Servant or free
Woman or man
No more

One bread, one body, one Lord of all

One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the earth
We are one body in this one Lord

Many the gifts, many the works

One in the Lord of all

One bread, one body, one Lord of all

One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the earth

We are one body in this one Lord

We are one body in this one Lord
Recessional Hymn:

WE TURN TO YOU
By: Michael Mangan

Help us, hold us,

Heal us, cleanse us,
Open us, forgive us,
Fill us with Your peace.

Have I shared my life with others,

Shared myself and what I own?
Jesus we turn to you and pray.

Am I truthful when I speak

And always honest with myself?
Jesus we turn to you and pray.

Have I helped all those I could

And cared for them with love?
Jesus we turn to you and pray.

When I'm hurt do I forgive

Just as I'm forgiven now?
Jesus we turn to you and pray.