ANZAC Day Prayers

Poppies in the field

On ANZAC day we are called to remember, the sacrifices, the lives and the cost that war brings with it. We gather to remember the lives of those who have gone on before us both soldiers that served in combat and non combat roles. We also give thanks to those who have till this day survived and continue to serve among us. We also remember in our prayers those who are currently in active duty.

Below are sample prayers of the faithful that can be used for Mass on ANZAC day.

ANZAC DAY

Originally composed by Fr Bill Fletcher

Let us pray for our war dead: in thanksgiving for their sacrifice. May the God of mercy welcome them into lasting peace. Lord hear us.

R: Lord hear our prayer

For our country, Aotearoa New Zealand, in thanksgiving for its influence on us. In times of sorrow and strife, may we find strength and consolation in the love and support of unselfish and brave people. Lord hear us.

R: Lord hear our prayer

For those who have died, since returning from war service. Their influence shapes us still. May we who hold their memory close to our hearts, be comforted in the sure knowledge they are rewarded by a loving and merciful God. Lord hear us.

R: Lord hear our prayer

For all who are sick, May they have comfort of Christ's presence to relieve their distress, remove their fears, give them peace, and restore their health. Lord hear us.

R: Lord hear our prayer

For all our beloved who have passed on from this life. May they be welcomed into the community of saints and share in the joy of heaven. Lord hear us.

R: Lord hear our prayer

Maori Mass Readings

Friends,

The Maori Mass readings for this coming Sunday (Fourth Sunday in Easter) have now been uploaded to our website.

Feel free to use for your parishes. The link to the readings are below.

Maori Mass Readings - 22nd April 2018

Te Koropiko Newsletter | April 2018

Friends, our quarterly Newsletter from the Liturgy Centre 'Te Koropiko' has been uploaded and sent out to all on the Liturgy Network today.

Below is the link to the newsletter

Te Koropiko - April 2018

If you would like to receive our newsletter straight in your inbox please email the Liturgy Centre staff on the email link below to subscribe.

liturgycentre@cda.org.nz

Sacristan | A prayerful Ministry

Marcelles Amiatu

When Jesus sat down to share the last supper with his disciples, someone would have had to set the table, put bowls out, bake the bread, ensure there were enough cups, pour the wine and then of course clear up at the end of the meal.

In every parish and chaplaincy there are a small number of ministers who carry out this prayerful ministry behind the scenes. It is a ministry that very few sign up for yet it is a ministry that can offer the minister the opportunity to pray and reflect while preparing the sanctuary for the celebration of the church’s liturgies. The word Sacristan comes from the word sacristy which means ‘ a place for sacred things ‘. Sacristies came about roughly around the 10th century after churches realized that a cupboard was needed to store all the vestments, chalices, patens and books that were used for Mass. Unlike other ministries of the church such as Ministers of the Word, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Music Ministers; who all minister in full public view, the ministry of the sacristan is carried out prayerfully, reflecting on each part of the preparation behind the scenes and hours before parishioners start to arrive.

By the 15th century, the church became so obsessed with ordinations and clergy that the council of Trent decided that the ministry of the Sacristan should only be for priests in minor orders. Of course that didn’t last long as priests already had so much on their plates to deal with.

As the years went by the role and responsibilities of the sacristan grew and was no longer for the priests. Parishes instead selected from among themselves one person that was trustworthy and well respected in the community to be the sacristan or ‘porter’ as they came to be known. By this time it was the Sacristan who opened and closed the church doors each day, mopped the floors, maintained the church gardens, decorated the church for weddings, dug graves for funerals as well as preparing everything for the celebration of daily and Sunday Masses.

Fortunately today, the Sacristan does not have to do everything mentioned above as parishes are well looked after by volunteers who faithfully give up their time to mop the floors, clean the gardens and decorate etc...

Can I be a sacristan? What skills do I need? Anyone who loves to serve and has a deep interest in the Church’s liturgy can be a sacristan.

A sacristan:
• Is moved by beauty to recognize the abiding presence of God.
• Is able to work well with others and dedicated to serving them.
• Is familiar with the liturgical calendar, its seasons and feasts;
• Is well organized and able to maintain good order, often in limited space.
• Is willing to learn all the liturgical books, vessels, vesture, and everything that is used in liturgies.
• Is able to spend time at the church caring for and preparing the material things for liturgy.

The Liturgy Centre has a variety of resources available for both purchase and study to assist parish sacristans in their ministry and spiritual growth. We also have workshops available to parishes and chaplaincies on request. For more information on these workshops contact the staff at the Liturgy Centre.

Correction: Re Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

In the last post that we uploaded on Monday morning regarding the new memorial which was added to the Church’s calendar earlier this year. We apologise for the miswording of the post that may have caused confusion. The original post has been removed and below is a rewrite of the post with some added information.

Earlier in March the Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments - Cardinal Sarah put out a notification to the universal Church regarding the new memorial. The full text from Cardinal Sarah can be read here

The good news is that this morning New Zealand received the official notification from Rome regarding the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church that is to be celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost.

The below is from Louise Campbell, Director of the NZ National Liturgy Office.

This obligatory memorial, newly inserted into the Roman Calendar, is celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday, 21 May 2018. Mass of ‘Our Lady, Mother of the Church’, NZ Roman Missal, p.1335; Preface, ‘Mary, Model and Mother of the Church’, p. 1336. Lectionary III: p. 841

The below documents supplied by the National Liturgy Office are also worth reading.

Official Notification Pdf.    

Decree on the Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church in the General Roman Calendar Pdf.

Copyright Explanation

As you may know, in 2013 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference requested the National
Liturgy Office (NLO) to host a seminar on Church Music Copyright. This seminar was attended by representatives from each of the six dioceses and was presented by Monica O'Brien who is an Australian Church Music Copyright Advisor.

Since that seminar the Liturgy Centre have been hosting a number of Copyright workshops throughout the diocese in parishes and chaplaincies to ensure that all parishes are using the licenses that are purchased and that everyone is on the same page of understanding when it comes to the subject of Copyright.

If you are having issues with copyright please see the attached document that was put out this morning by the Liturgy Centre.

Copyright Explanation 2018 

Chrism Mass? Never heard of it?

Don't worry, you aren't alone. I was a Catholic for two whole years before i even heard of the Chrism Mass. As a new Catholic i had weekly sessions with my Spiritual Director Monsignor Brian Arahill up in his room at St. John Vianey house in Ponsonby. In his own words he explained that the Chrism Mass is one of the Church's most beautiful liturgies on it's calendar and believe it or not, most Catholics go through life without experiencing a Chrism Mass.

Every year bishop Pat consecrates oils that are to be used throughout the diocese. At this Mass, priests from all over the diocese gather with their bishop and the faithful to remember the day of their ordinations and also renew their commitment to ministry and service to the Church. At this Mass the bishop also asks the faithful to remember him and his brother bishops in their prayers, so that they may remain faithful to the office of the apostle which Christ has entrusted to them.

The Chrism Mass is usually celebrated on the morning of Holy Thursday but can also be transferred to another day during Lent. For the Catholic Diocese of Auckland - the Chrism Mass is always celebrated on the Monday after Palm Sunday every year. So if you haven't experienced the joy of the Chrism Mass, make sure to enter the date in your diary for next year.

The liturgy begins like any other Mass with the Entrance Procession and this year we had 7 Deacons, something like 30 plus Priests - both diocesan and religious and 3 Bishops. Celebrating was Bishop Patrick Dunn (Bishop of Auckland) assisted by Bishop Dennis Browne (Bishop Emeritus of Hamilton) and Bishop Stuart O'Connell (Bishop Emeritus of Rarotonga) all processing in to the hymn "Praise to the Lord the Almighty the King of Creation".

From the very beginning in the collect (opening prayer) through to the readings in the liturgy of the word, the word that stands out the most is "anointed" and "anoint" - which is what we use the oils for.

• Oil of the Sick
• Oil of Catechumens
• Oil of Sacred Chrism

We use the holy oils to "anoint" and those that gather to renew their commitments to ministry are also known as "anointed ones" - (well we are all anointed ones) Except priests and bishops are anointed with the oil of sacred chrism at their ordinations. Bishop Pat's homily focused on the verses from the book of the Prophet Isiah where he speaks of the "anointed ones" and pointed out in the gospel of Luke that same phrase of Isiah's referring to it as the "Mission Statement" for the Church.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The liturgy continued on to the liturgy of the Eucharist and again the word "anoint" continued to be the on going theme for the night as pointed out in the Preface of The Priesthood and the Ministry of Priests.

"For by anointing of the Holy Spirit you made your only Begotten Son
High Priest of the new and eternal covenant"

and during the Consecratory Prayer when the bishop and all concelebrating priests pray together:

"Pour out the gifts of your Holy Spirit on our brothers and sisters who will be anointed with it." & "Above all, Father we pray that through this sign of your anointing".

At the end of communion, representatives from each of the diocese's parishes and chaplaincies come forward to greet the bishop and collect the oils. So as you can see, the Chrism Mass is a big deal for the priests of the diocese as they come together to one - recall their ordinations and two - renew their commitment to serve the church and the ministry which has been appointed to them. For those who aren't ordained, the Chrism Mass is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to serve the Church and to faithfully serve our bishops and priests as they serve us.

Phot credit: Rochelle Dias - Auckland Catholic Youth Ministry Office.

For a full album of photos from Monday nights Chrism Mass head to the ACYM Facebook page.