APENITENTIALSERVICEFORTHEYEAROFMERCY

Theme:BeMercifulastheFatherisMerciful.

INTRODUCTORYRITES

ENTRANCEHYMN:CreateANewaHeart(GatherAustralia438) Stand
Celebrant: InthenameoftheFather,andoftheSonandtheHolySpirit.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: TheLordbewithyou.
All: Andwithyourspirit.
Celebrant: Aswecometothistimeofprayer,weareawareofGodspresence.
Letusprayforafewmomentsinsilence,trustingintheGodsmercy.

OPENINGPRAYER:
Celebrant: GraciousGod,youareFatherofusall.
Youcreatedthehumanfamilytodwellforeverwithyouandtopraiseyourglory.
Openourearstohearyourvoice
sothatwemayreturntoyouwithsincererepentanceforoursins.
TeachustocometoyouasourlovingFather,
fullofmercyandcompassionforallwhocallforyourhelp.
WeaskthisthroughChristourLord.Amen.

LITURGYOFTHEWORD

READING: 11Corinthians:51721 Sit

Lector: AreadingfromthesecondletterofStPaultotheCorinthians.
ForanyonewhoisinChrist,thereisanewcreation;theoldcreationhasgone,andnow
thenewoneishere.ItisallGodswork.ItwasGodwhoreconciledustohimselfthrough
Christ and gave us this work of handing on this reconciliation. In other words, God in
Christwasreconcilingtheworldtohimself,notholdingourfaultsagainstus,andHehas
entrustedtousthenewsthatwearereconciled.SoweareambassadorsforChrist;itis
thoughGodwasappealingthroughus,andtheappealthatwemakeinChristsnameis:
bereconciledtoGod.ForoursakeGodmadethesinlessoneintosin,sothatinhimwe
mightbecomethegoodnessofGod.
ThewordoftheLord.
All: ThanksbetoGod.
RESPONSORIALPSALM:ToyouOLordIliftmysoul;toyouIliftmysoul.(Sung)

GOSPEL: Luke15:1132 Stand

Leader: AreadingfromtheholyGospelaccordingtoLuke
Jesustoldthisparable:Amanhadtwosons.Theyoungersaidtohisfather,Father,letme
havetheshareoftheestatethatwouldcometome.Sothefatherdividedtheproperty
betweenthem.Afewdayslater,theyoungersongottogethereverythinghehadandleft
foradistantcountrywherehesquanderedhismoneyonalifeofdebauchery.
Whenhehadspentitallthatcountryexperiencedaseverefamine,andnowhebeganto
feelthepinch,sohehiredhimselfouttooneofthelocalinhabitantswhoputhimonhis
farmtofeedthepigs.Andhewouldwillinglyhavefilledhisbellywiththehusksthepigs
wereeatingbutnooneofferedhimanything.Thenhecametohissensesandsaid,How
manyofmyfatherspaidservantshavemorefoodthantheywantandhereIamdyingof
hunger! I will leave thisplace and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinnedagainst
heavenandagainstyou;Inolongerdeservetobecalledyourson;treatmeasoneofyour
paidservants.Sohelefttheplaceandwentbacktohisfather.
Whilehewasstillalongwayoff,hisfathersawhimandwasmovedtopity.Herantothe
boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, Father, I have
sinnedagainstheavenandagainstyou;Inolongerdeservetobecalledyourson.Butthe
fathersaidtohisservants,Quick!Bringoutthebestrobeandputitonhim;putaringon
hisfingerandsandalsonhisfeet.Bringthecalfwehavebeenfattening,andkillit;weare
goingtohaveafeast,acelebration,becausethissonofminewasdeadandhascomeback
tolife,hewaslostandisfound.Andtheybegantocelebrate.
Nowtheeldersonwasoutinthefields,andonhiswayback,ashedrewnearthehouse,
he could hear music and dancing. Calling pone of the servants he asked what it was all
about.Yourbrotherhascome.repliedtheservant,andyourfatherhaskilledthecalfwe
hadfattenedbecausehehasgothimbacksafeandsound.Hewasangrythenandrefused
togoin,andhisfathercameouttopleadwithhim;butheansweredhisfather,Look,all
these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never
offeredmeasmuchasakidformetocelebratewithmyfriends.But,forthissonofyours,
whenhecomesbackafterswallowingupyourpropertyheandhiswomenyoukillthe
calfwehadbeenfattening.
Thefathersaid,Myson,youarewithmealwaysandallIhaveisyours.Butitwasonly
rightweshouldcelebrateandrejoice,becauseyourbrotherherewasdeadandhascome
tolife;hewaslostandisfound.
TheGospeloftheLord.
All: Praisetoyou,LordJesusChrist.

HOMILY(sampleattached) Sit

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EXAMINATIONOFCONSCIENCE

Reader: IsmyheartsetonGod,sothatIreallylovehimaboveallthingsandamIfaithfultohis
commandments?(pause)
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Reader: HaveIprayeddailyandhaveIreallyraisedmyheartandmindtoGod?(pause)
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Reader: HaveIagenuineloveofmyneighbours?OrdoIusethemformyownends?(pause)
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Reader: DoIsharemypossessionswiththelessfortunate?DoIdomybesttohelpthevictimsof
oppression,misfortuneandpoverty?
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Reader: In my family life, have I contributed to the well being and happiness of the rest of the
family?(pause)
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Reader: WhatusehaveImadeoftime,healthandstrength,ofthegiftsGodhasgivenme?HaveI
beenlazyandgiventoomuchtimetoleisure?
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Reader: HaveIbeenpatientinacceptingthesorrowsanddisappointmentsoflife?(pause)
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Reader: DoIusetheearthsresourceswisely?OrdoIpurchasealotofmaterialgoodsthatIdo
notreallyneed?
Allsing: LordletyourmercybeonasweplaceourtrustinYou.
Celebrant: Letusjointogetherinprayer.
Allpray: OmyGod,IamverysorrythatIhavesinnedagainstyou,
inchoosingtodowrongandfailingtodogood.
Ifirmlyintend,withyourhelp,todopenanceandsinnomore.
OurSaviourJesusChristsufferedanddiedforus.
Inhisname,myGod,havemercy.

INDIVIDUALCONFESSIONANDABSOLUTION

Reflectivemusicplayedquietly

Celebrant: Letuspray.Father,weneedtobeawareofyourmercyandkindness.
Wehaveaskedforyourforgiveness,withasincereandcontriteheart
andaspiritoflovetogoforthinyourpeace.
LetusnowpraytoGodourmercifulFatherinthewordsChristgaveus.
All: OurFather..

SIGNOFPEACE

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 CONCLUDINGRITE

Celebrant: TheLordbewithyou.
All: Andwithyourspirit.
Celebrant: BowyourheadsandprayforGodsblessing.
MaytheLordguideyourheartsinthewayofhisloveandfillyouwithChristlikemercy.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: MayGodgiveyoustrengthtowalkinnewnessoflifeandtopleasehiminallthings.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: MayalmightyGodblessyou,theFather,andtheSon+andtheHolySpirit.
All: Amen.

DISMISSAL
Celebrant: GoinpeaceforGodhasdonegreatthingsforus,andhismercyisfromagetoage.
All: ThanksbetoGod.

FINALHYMN:SingaNewSong(GatherAustralia414)

CatholicDioceseofBallarat2015

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 HOMILYFORA
PENITENTIALSERVICE
INTHEJUBILEEYEAROFMERCY

OnDecember8,PopeFrancisopenedspecialdoorsinStPetersBasilicainRome.Thiswastomark
thestartofaHolyYear,ayearinwhichthePopeencouragesustofocusonGodsmercy.

TheceremonyofopeningthedoorsisaremindertousthatthedoorsofGodsmercyareopen.In
fact,thedoorsofGodsmercyareopenallthetime.Godisalwaysreadytoshowusmercy.Godis
alwayslookingtowelcomeuswithmercyandcompassion.

PopeFrancisannouncedtheHolyYearofMercyinadocumentcalledMisericordiaevultus,The
FaceofMercy.

ThefirstsentenceofthedocumentputsthespotlightonJesusastheonewhoshowsusthemercy
ofGod.Thefirstsentencereads:JesusChrististhefaceoftheFathersmercy.PopeFrancisgoes
ontosay:MercyhasbecomelivingandvisibleinJesusofNazareth.WhoeverseesJesusseethe
Father.JesusofNazareth,byhiswords,hisactions,andhisentirepersonrevealsthemercyofGod.

As we come to this Penitential Service, we are coming to Jesus as the one who shows us Gods
mercy.Herewewillfindamercifulwelcomethekindofwelcomewereadaboutinthegospela
fewmomentsago,inthestoryoftheprodigalsonwhocamebacktohisfatherandfoundhisfather
readytowelcomehimwithopenarms.

PopeFrancisspokeabouttheChurchbeinganoasisofmercy.Thewordoasissuggestsalush
greenplacewithcool,clearwater,inthemidstofanotherwisebarrendesert.PopeFrancisspeaks
oftheChurchasanoasisofmercyinthemidstofaworldthatisratherbarrenofmercy.

Hewrote:Sadtosay,wemustadmitthatthepracticeofmercyiswaninginthewiderculture.In
somecasesthewordseemstohavedroppedoutof use.By contrast,PopeFrancissaysthatthe
mercyofGodisthebeatingheartoftheGospelandtheChurchhasamissiontoannouncethis
mercy.

He writes: Wherever the Church is present, the mercy of the Father must be evident. In our
parishes, communities, associations and movements, in a word, wherever there are Christians,
everyoneshouldfindanoasisofmercy.

Thisisverytrueofourcelebrationthisevening.ThisPenitentialServiceismeanttobeanoasisof
mercy a place where we can find a mercy that will refresh us and give us new hope and new
strengthtocontinueonourlifesjourney.

Maythiscelebrationtrulybeanoasisofmercyforeachoneofus.Here,inourprayertogetherand
inourpersonalconfessionofsins,wecanmeetJesus,theonewhoshowsustheFathersmercy.As
wepray,aswemakeourconfession,maythemercyofGodflowoverus,bringingusforgivenessof
oursinsandthegreatgiftofpeaceofheart.

CatholicDioceseofBallarat2015