Prayer Service: Jesus, Bread of Life

Sheet for the Co-coordinator and the Readers

Presider: Grade 9 10 Students. (3 Readers and some students to help with PP,
music and symbols)
Title: Jesus: The Bread of Life
Liturgical Season: Easter season
Intended Audience: Grade 9 -10
Context: Preparation for the Feast of Corpus Christi. (Service to be presented in
the week leading up to Corpus Christi.
Location: This can be in a classroom, chapel, or even in a hall. Groups can be
single classes, or as a Year group.
**Note** The aim of this service is to introduce the students to the Feast of Corpus
Christi, giving them an opportunity to participate in a prayerful reflection exercise
that focuses on a central theme of our faith and the Paschal Mystery.

Structure:

1. Introductory Rite
Reader 1 Welcome and introduction
Welcome everyone to our service of reflection entitled, Jesus, Bread of Life.
In a few days time, the Church celebrates the beautiful Feast of Corpus
Christi. In this feast, we celebrate the memorial meal that Jesus left us, in
offering himself in the form of bread and wine. When we receive Holy
Communion, we eat His flesh that he sacrificed for us; as we drink his Blood
that was poured out for us, we are washed clean. Jesus is our saving priest
and victim of love.

As the introduction rite is being read, a table can be dressed up with a white
linen cloth, a lit candle, Bible, chalice and loaf of bread. Quiet instrumental
music can be playing the background.

Reader 2 Opening prayer

Let us pray
for the willingness to make present in our world the love of Christ shown to us
in the Eucharist, Lord Jesus Christ,
we worship you living among us
in the sacrament of your body and blood.
May we offer to our Father in heaven
a solemn pledge of undivided love.
May we offer to our brothers and sisters
a life poured out in loving service of that kingdom where you live with the
Father and the Holy Spirit one God for ever and ever. Amen

(New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal)

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2. Scripture (Three readers)
A reading from the Gospel according John. (John 6:27-33)

Reader 1
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds:

Reader 2
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world."

Reader 1: The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying:

Reader 3: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Reader 1: Jesus said to them:

Reader 2: "Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."

Reader 1: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All. Praise to You, Lord Jesus.

(Short silence)

A short 3 to 5minute homily or reflection can be given by a priest, deacon or

teacher.

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3. Response: Psalm 147 (Use slides or PP with instrumental background music)

Reader 1 Having heard the reading, we now have an opportunity to respond to

Gods Word with a psalm of praise. Please join in with the response which is Praise
the Lord, Jerusalem.

Reader 2 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.

R/ Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Reader 3
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!

R/ Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Reader 1
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.

R/ Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Transition

Reader 1 This next song is the prayer of St. Teresa of Avila. As Catholics who
receive the gift of the Eucharist, we are all parts of the one body of Christ. Jesus is
in us and we are in Him. He gives us His Holy Spirit and asks us to be his disciples.
Please listen reflectively to this song, which reminds us that we are his hands, his
feet, and his love to others.

4. Prayer of St. Theresa by John Michael Talbot (See PP)

https://youtu.be/wUbxOli4HcI

5. Intercessory prayer: (Taken from Living with Christ June 2017 p.110)
Prayers and response on the PP

Reader 1: Let us prayer for the wider community, the Church and the world.

For the Church, the people of God, nourished by the real presence of Christ in the
community, the word, and Eucharist, we pray to the Lord.

All respond. Lord hear our prayer.

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Reader 2: For governments searching for ways to ensure faith and equal
distribution of food and resources, we prayer to the Lord.

R/ Lord hear our prayer

Reader 3: For the children in our own country who live in poverty, and for all the
worlds children whose parents and guardians lack the means to nourish them, we
prayer to the Lord.

R/ Lord hear our prayer

Reader 1: For the young people of our school, in whose lives God is working, we
prayer to the Lord.

R/ Lord hear our prayer

Let us prayer in the words that Jesus taught us: Our Father Words on PP

6. Concluding Rite

Reader 1
We thank you, Lord, for your presence with us this day. As we prepare Lord for the
Feast of Corpus Christi, we pray that you fill our hearts with a new desire and a
deeper faith for this wonderful sacrament of your Body and Blood. We thank you,
that you love us so much and call us into the fullness of life and love. Who live and
reign for ever and ever. Amen.

General Considerations:

1. Were participants appropriately engaged?

There is a varied use of multimedia: images, prayers, music video and background
instrumental music, when needed. There are responses to the psalms and the
intercessory prayers for participants to join in. the introductions aim to be
catechetical in nature.

2. Did the order of service provide just what was essential to engage the
participants?
Yes. No sheets were used as this can be distracting. The presiders invited
participants to respond using the words on the PowerPoint.

3. Was a complete presiders version made available?

Yes. In this case we have a team of presiders. Order of service with instructions
and notes were given to each.

4. Should my colleagues be able to duplicate this prayer service with what

they have been given?

Yes. Anyone could use this service outline. It leaves room for choice of music and
symbols.
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5. Was the language: inclusive; age appropriate?
Yes. This is aimed at grade 9 to 10, but could also be used with grades 11 and 12.

6. What understanding of the Paschal Mystery was conveyed?

Yes. The theme is Corpus Christi, so the Paschal Mystery is central to the service.
7. Other comments:
This service will give some pupils who do not attend parish liturgies a chance to
reflect and pray, guided by the theme of Corpus Christi. The gospel, psalm and
intercessions are taken from the Sunday liturgy of the feast.

Resources

Catholic Prayer for Teachers

http://www.churchyear.net/teacherprayers.html

CCCB
http://www.cccb.ca/

Youtube
https://youtu.be/wUbxOli4HcI

York Catholic District School Board

Gifts of Love: A Collection of Prayer Services - http://www.ycdsb.ca/programs-
services/religion/giftsoflove.htm

Living with Christ June 2017 Vol. 23 No. 6