Invitation to Pray Together during the Covid -19 Pandemic

Praying together during
the Covid-19 pandemic

Click here –> for printable version – Praying together during Covid-19

While all public Masses have been suspended for the moment during the Covid-19 let’s continue to pray together as a parish from our own homes. If you can’t pray at your usual Mass time, pray the Mass at any time, somewhere in the world it will be being said. 

How we do it:

Before you start follow this link for the Mass readings of the day.
Sunday and Weekday Readings 
At your usual Mass time find a quiet space alone or invite others in your house to join you.

Begin with the sign of the cross

Then say, aloud or in silence, the penitential rite:

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault,
through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Then quietly read the absolution:

May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

During Lent we don’t pray the Gloria
Now to move the reading of the Mass for today.

Click here –> Sunday and Weekday Mass Readings

Either take turns to read them if praying with others or read them quietly alone. Take time to read them slowly, notice the words and phrases and be particularly aware of the feelings they stir in you as you read. Do you feel comforted, energised, challenged, peaceful. Notice how your feelings move and change as you read God’s word.

Click here –> Sunday and Weekday Mass Readings

Feel free to read them again if you want.
Once the Gospel has been read, take a moment to sit quietly.
If with others, and after a few moments, feel free to share thoughts or comments on how the readings speak to you today.
We now pray the Creed. During Lent we say the Apostles Creed

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
At the words that follow, up to and including ‘the Virgin Mary’, all bow.who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

After a moment of quiet offer your prayers for yourself, each other and our wider world.

Ending each one with

Lord hear us
Lord graciously hear us.

At this point you can quietly read through the rest of the Mass
here –> Order of Holy Mass

Or finish by saying aloud the full 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.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen.

And together or alone say:

“Peace be with you”

Then sit quietly for a few minutes as the Eucharist is shared virtually, thanking God for the continued gift of presence to us even in the darkest times and remembering all we love and all we connect with and miss at this time.

When you are ready end with the blessing:

Reading quietly:

The Lord be with you.

And aloud:

And with your spirit.

Reading quietly:

May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, ✠ and the Holy Spirit.

And aloud:

Amen.

Dismissal

Then reading quietly:

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

And aloud:

Thanks be to God.

CLICK HERE for printable version – Praying together during Covid-19

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