https://us06web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 559 800 4888
Passcode: 5q79ew
Welcome and Greeting: Suzanne
Welcome to Mary, Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community where all are invited to celebrate Eucharist. Please have bread and wine at your table as you join in our sacred meal.
Our theme is the words of Jesus “She gave her all.” Like the poor widow, Mother Cabrini, and those ordained on the Tiber, we are called to give our all.
GATHERING SONG: We Come to Your Feast by Michael Joncas
COMMUNITY RECONCILIATION RITE
Bridget Mary: Let us pause now to pray with one another for forgiveness for the times we failed to give our all in service to our sisters and brothers in need.
(Pause for silent reflection)
Community Raises hands in gesture of mutual forgiveness
BMM and all: I am sorry, Please forgive me, I love you and I thank you.
https://youtu.be/dgn_8q1UWwk?si=NHFFcs_nH_0_vp0D
OPENING PRAYER: Suzanne
Holy One, you call us to give our all with generous hearts. Like the poor widow who gave her all, and Mother Cabrini who - with a community of dedicated nuns- fostered the well-being of impoverished Italian immigrants and changed their lives forever, may we blaze a trail of transforming love that will create a spiritual home for everyone.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Reader: Susie: First Reading: 1 Kings 17:10-16-
When Elijah arrived at Zarephath, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked “Could you bring me a little water in a jar for me to drink?” As she was going to get the water, he called out “And please bring me a piece of bread.”
As YHWH lives, she replied, “I don’t have any bread, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my child. We will eat it and then we will die.”
Elijah said to her. “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do what you said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your child.
She went away and did what Elijah told her to do. And there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. The jar of food was not used up and the jug of water did not run dry in keeping with the word of God spoken by Elijah.
These are the inspired words of Elijah and we respond to them by saying: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm: Come be beside us by Jan Phillips
https://youtu.be/Tdv_AEec7kI
Second Reading: Susie
Who is Frances Cabrini?
The youngest of thirteen children, Frances Cabrini was born on July 15, 1850 in a small village called S’ant Angelo Lodigiano near the city of Milan, Italy. She grew up enthralled by the stories of missionaries and made up her mind to join a religious order. Because of her frail health, she was not permitted to join the Daughters of the Sacred Heart who had been her teachers and under whose guidance she obtained her teaching certificate.
However, in 1880, with seven young women, Frances founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was as resourceful as she was prayerful, finding people who would donate what she needed in money, time, labor and support. She and her sisters wanted to be missionaries in China; she visited Rome to obtain an audience with Pope Leo XIII. The Pope told Frances to go “not to the East, but to the West” to New York rather than to China as she had expected. She was to help the thousands of Italian immigrants already in the United States.
In 1889, New York seemed to be filled with chaos and poverty, and into this new world stepped Mother Frances Cabrini and her sister companions. Cabrini organized catechism and education classes for the Italian immigrants and provided for the needs of the many orphans. She established schools and orphanages despite tremendous odds.
Soon, requests for her to open schools came to Frances Cabrini from all over the world. She traveled to Europe, Central and South America and throughout the United States. She made 23 trans-Atlantic crossings and established 67 institutions: schools, hospitals and orphanages.
Her activity was relentless until her death. On December 22, 1917, in Chicago, she died. In 1946, she was canonized a saint by Pope Pius XII in recognition of her holiness and service to mankind and was named Patroness of Immigrants in 1950.
Today the Missionary Sisters, their lay collaborators and volunteers work as teachers, nurses, social workers, administrators and members of institutional boards of trustees. They can be found on six continents and 15 countries throughout the world – wherever there is a need.
These are the inspired words of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and we respond to them by saying Thanks be to God.
Alleluia Taize, Video by Bridget Mary with photos of Ordination on the Tiber
https://youtu.be/fA8pEaMHnn4
Presider: Suzanne
GOSPEL: Mark 12:38-44
Jesus said; “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”
Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins – as measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others, gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford, she gave her all.”
These are the inspired words in the gospel of Mark and we respond to them by saying: Thanks be to God.
Homily Starter: Bridget Mary:
Like the poor widow who gave last penny, like Mother Cabrini, who gave her all to poor Italian immigrants, like the newly ordained on the Tiber's prophetic witness for gender equality in ordained ministries in the Church, we are called to give our all in loving service of others.
In this time of post election challenges, we are called to live in love and be love in our world- following Jesus inclusive love for those who are most marginalized and threatened.
Let us plunge into infinite love , let it embrace ever cell of our bodies and let us hold one another in the embrace of love and be part of the world’s healing- one thought and one word at a time!
Cabrini Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaMlUazXvyY
Community Sharing: What does it mean to give our all at this time in the political and ecclesial challenges we face?
Reader: Jane
Statement of Faith:
All: We believe in God, the creator and lover of all.
We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who shows us that the overflowing presence of the One beyond all comprehension dwells within us and is nearer to us then we are to ourselves.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, who empowers us with spiritual gifts for loving service and compassionate action.
We believe in the great homecoming reunion of all God's people in a joyful gathering of God's holy people in the communion of saints. Amen
(Statement of Faith by Bridget Mary)
Prayer Leader Susie: Prayers of the Community:
As we prepare for the sacred meal, we pray for the needs of the people of God in our community and around the world. "I bring to the Table." Our Response to each prayer is Amen
MMOJ Book of Intentions
Please share your spontaneous prayers.
Presider: We give thanks for all whom we held in the circle of grace and will continue to pray for and serve. Amen.
L.ITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of The Gifts
Bridget Mary: Blessed are you, God of all Life. Through your goodness we offer these gifts: bread, wine, our lives and the lives of those we love.
ALL: Blessed be God Forever.
Eucharistic Prayer
Prayer Leader: Jane
God dwells within you.
ALL: Susie
And also within you.
Prayer Leader: Jane
Lift up your hearts.
ALL: Susie
We lift them up in the Christ Presence everywhere.
Prayer Leader: Jane:
Let us give thanks to the Holy One.
Prayer Leader: Susie
With the saints we give God thanks and praise.
Prayer Leader: Jane
We thank you, Holy One, for Mother Cabrini the saintly women and men who accompany us on our journey. With your angels and saints, we sing your praise for all who continue to live as the Christ presence in our world.
https://youtu.be/orKBBIj5LZA?si=iQFRyVBr3qplUZxl
Presider: Suzanne
We thank you for the courage and fidelity of Mother Cabrini and for the holy women and men of every age, race, and culture. We especially thank you for our dear ones in our MMOJ Community of saints who have passed into your loving embrace.
(Pause for silent reflection)
Presider: Bridget Mary
We thank you, Nurturing God, for Jesus, who accompanies us on our journey into the depths of God's infinite love for us, and who inspires us and energizes us to live with courage, vision and wisdom in our world today
(Community extends hands in blessing toward bread and wine and pray with me)
Bridget Mary and All:
Come Holy Spirit deepen your Presence within us and in these gifts of bread and wine.
(Pause)
On the night before he died, Jesus gathered at the table with his friends, he spoke the blessing, broke the bread and shared it with them saying:
Take and eat. This is my body, my very self.
Whenever you remember me like this
I am among you.
(pause)
Suzanne and All:
(lifts the cup as community prays the following:)
Jesus then raised a cup of blessing, spoke the grace saying:
Take and drink of the covenant
Made new again through my life in you.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you.
(pause)
Suzanne and All:
As we share this bread and cup, we proclaim Christ dies, Christ rises and Christ comes again and again.
Prayer Leader: Jane
Holy One, Your creativity flows through our beings. Your joy fills us and Your empowerment bubbles up inside us as we celebrate your presence always within us and within all our saints.
For you are the Love that dwells in our depths, the Wisdom of the Ages that speaks within us and through us, and the Divine Passion that makes us all one.
(Community members hold their plates and cups during Doxolog)y
Presider: Bridget Mary
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, gracious God.
The Great Amen. Linda Lee Miller
https://youtu.be/0sDDgwZlijc?si=sxoaV_RjinjGC9AB&t=3
COMMUNION RITE
Presider: Suzanne
The Prayer of Jesus:
Bridget Mary: Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
All: O Holy One, you are within, around, and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come, your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all we need.
You remind us of our limits, and we let go.
You support us in your power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us,
And the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen
(Adapted, Miriam Therese Winter, MMS)
Presider: Suzanne -Sign of Peace:
Please extend a sign of peace to one another: Namaste, Namaste!
Presider: Bridget Mary-Litany for the Breaking of Bread
Please join in the prayer for the breaking of the bread:
All:
O God of Courage, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will live justly.
O God of Compassion, You call us to be Your presence in the world. We will love tenderly.
O God of Truth, You call us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in your presence.
(Presiders hold up bread and wine)
This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each other. All are welcome to the Feast. Eat and drink and delight in Christ's Presence everywhere.
Communion Meditation: I'll be Always Loving You by Tricia Watts:
https://youtu.be/6_NlHR5Uzes?si=GVVGrLXWMMvq-XYz
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Presider: Suzanne
Creator Spirit, you move through the circle of grace connecting the living and the dead, a sacred community of kinship and support. We give thanks for Mother Cabrini and the Cloud of Witnesses who have gone before us, leaving behind s rich treasury of faith and service. We hold in our hearts today our beloved, family, friends and members of MMOJ community and all our saints whom we miss and will always love.
ALL: Amen.
Presider: Bridget Mary
Prayers of Gratitude, Introductions, Announcements
CONCLUDING RITE
Blessing:
Presider: Suzanne
(Please extend your hands in mutual blessing)
The Holy One dwells within you and illuminates our world through all our saints.
May the God of Sarah and Abraham bless us.
May the God of Jesus and Mary Magdalene bless us.
May the God of the poor widow ,Mother Cabrini and all our MMOJ Saints bless us and may we always celebrate our oneness in the communion of the saints. Amen
DISMISSAL
Presider: Bridget Mary:
Go in peace, let the celebration continue!
Bridget Mary and ALL: Thanks be to God.
CONCLUDING HYMN
When the Saints Go Marching In (Linda Lee and Jack Meehan and band in Tullamore, Eire.
https://youtu.be/xvIHW-UbtgA?si=b_4x3SlT3wxp1wbj
Mary Mother of Jesus Website:
If you would like to add your intention to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to Joan Meehan: joanmeehan551@aol.com
