Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
14 Sunday in Ordinary Times
Independence Day
July 4, 2026
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Liturgy Team: Mary Al Gognon, Steve Martaus, Stephen Winners, Seth Winners,
Beth Ponce, Jane Sieberry, Kathryn Shea
IT: Cheryl Brandi
Theme: Radical Jesus
Welcome and Gathering
Mary Al: Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an Inclusive Catholic Community where all are welcome. Today we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America; Independence Day. As we gather this afternoon, let us truly ask ourselves how we can celebrate all the goodness of our country and its people, and yet still call out all cruelty and injustice still at work in our world today.
This is an especially sacred time in our country, and our time together is sacred time, where we bring our collective loving energy and prayers to help heal ourselves, one another, and our hurting world. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Seth: Wherever you are,
Whoever you are,
Just as you are,
You are welcome at this table. (Integral Christianity by Paul Smith)
Let us begin our liturgy by expressing love through song.
Opening Song: We Will Rebuild
https://youtu.be/XL8MbnPA690?si=KmsMC8eI_IMR2yuG
Opening Prayer
Kathryn Shea: Loving and Generous Source of All That Is, You gather us today from many places and many journeys, yet you call us into one sacred circle of love.
Open our hearts to the mystery we celebrate this day:
that You are the Bread of Life, offered freely for the healing of the world; that in sharing one loaf and one cup, we are joined to one another and to all creation; and we are called to become Your presence in our world.
Bless this gathering. Bless our prayers and songs.
Bless our sharing of Word and Table.
Holy One, breathe your Spirit through us that we may become bread for the hungry, hope for the discouraged, peace for the troubled, and love for a world in need.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, our brother who calls us to abundant life.
Rite of Transformation
Stephen W:: We pause now to remember the times we have not born fruit in caring for self, others, and our planet Earth. Take a moment to recall one missed opportunity, one broken or damaged relationship. (Pause briefly and extend your hand over your heart)
Seth and ALL: I am sorry. Forgive me. I love you. Thank you.
Liturgy of the Word
Jane: First Reading: – Zechariah 9:9-10
Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior's bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
ALL: And we respond by saying, AMEN.0
Gospel Acclamation: Spirit of the Living God by Michael Crawford-video by MTStreck
https://youtu.be/xoJN0owUoWA
Steve M:: The Gospel according to Mathew 11:25-30
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Oh Holy One, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, God, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my God.
No one knows the Son except Yahweh,
and no one knows Yahweh except through the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer, Mathew, and we affirm them by saying: ALL: Amen
Homily Starter and Community Sharing
Communal Statement of Faith
Beth and ALL: Together let us profess our Faith for Radical Liberty and Justice.
We believe in God,
Holy Mystery and Source of Life,
Creator of all peoples and all creation,
whose image shines equally in women and men,
in every race, culture, nation, and generation.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
born of Mary, a courageous woman of faith,
who proclaimed good news to the poor,
freedom to the oppressed,
welcome to the marginalized,
and dignity to those denied their humanity.
He challenged unjust systems,
crossed boundaries of religion, class, and gender,
and revealed a God whose love excludes no one.
Through his life, death, and resurrection,
he showed us that love is stronger than fear,
justice stronger than oppression,
and hope stronger than despair.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
Sophia-Wisdom of God,
breathing through all creation,
speaking through prophets, visionaries, and peacemakers,
calling us toward compassion,
courage, and transformation.
We believe in the sacred worth of every person,
and that all are called to participate fully
in the life of the Church and the world.
We affirm the equal dignity of women and men,
and the gifts of all people,
regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age,
ability, orientation, or social condition.
We believe that faith requires action:
to feed the hungry,
shelter the homeless,
welcome the stranger,
heal the wounded,
protect the earth,
and work tirelessly for justice and peace.
We believe that liberty is a gift from God,
not a privilege for a few,
and that true freedom flourishes
when all people can live with dignity,
safety, and hope.
We believe that God's reign is among us
whenever barriers are broken,
whenever reconciliation replaces division,
whenever truth is spoken,
and whenever justice embraces mercy.
We commit ourselves
to building communities of radical hospitality,
prophetic witness,
and Gospel-centered justice.
With Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles,
with the saints known and unknown,
with our ancestors in faith,
and with all who seek truth and love,
we proclaim:
God's Spirit is alive among us.
Christ walks beside us.
Justice is our calling.
Love is our way.
Hope is our witness.
Amen.
Prayers of and for the Community
Jane:: We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table, saying, “I bring to the Table…”
Our response is: Holy One, we are grateful for your healing.
We pray for all who are suffering, lonely, and without faith or hope.
Response: Holy One, we are grateful for your healing.
We pray for all those living in the conditions of war and fear.
Response: Holy One, we are grateful for your healing.
We pray for all those suffering from natural disasters throughout our world, especially those from the recent earthquakes in Venezuela.
Response: Holy One, we are grateful for your healing.
We pray for the intentions in our MMOJ community prayer list. (Joan shares)
Response: Holy One, we are grateful for your healing.
And, for what else should we pray?
Response: Holy One, we are grateful for your healing.
Jane: Holy Mystery may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer and solidarity. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer
Mary Al: Gracious Wisdom, you embrace us with your extravagant affection in our times of both blessedness and weakness. Even though we have times of doubt, we know You are always with us…you living in us and we living in you. In this festive meal, your Spirit is poured out on each of us gathered in the circle of your friends and disciples, we also ask that your Spirit be spread to those of our community who are not with us today as we sing,
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here In This Place by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
Kathryn: We thank you for the gift of Jesus of Nazareth in history -- and the gift of Jesus in faith. On earth, his life burned with the vision of his mission on earth. Through the example of his life – his teachings and actions - he showed us not only how we should live, but also what was worth even dying for.
Mary Al: When his time on earth had come to an end, Jesus – aware of and accepting his destiny – gave us his life for the values that he deeply believed, lived and taught…his conviction that love is stronger than death. And then, in providing an example of this wisdom for all people in ages to come, he opened wide his arms…and died. And the spirit that lived in Jesus resurrected him to a new life, a promise made to all of us too who live the new story. Jesus is with us today and he will be through the end of time.
(With an outstretched arm, we pray the consecration together.
Kathryn: We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on the night before he died. He gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal. And it was at that supper that Jesus took bread, said the blessing and shared it with them saying: take this, all of you, and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant.
[short pause]
Mary Al: In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave it to his friends saying: take this, all of you, and drink it. This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant.
Kathryn: Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets spoke in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith.
Kathryn and All: Jesus has died. Christ is risen. The Divine Presence lives in us and through us in the world today.
Steve M: God, we know that you bless your church throughout the world. We, your people, ask for your grace that we may continually grow in our love and caring for Leo, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop and for everyone with whom we come in contact, especially those who live on the margins of church and society. They are all our brothers and sisters, members of your Blessed Family. We remember also all those, living and dead, who touched our lives and left their footprints on our hearts. We remember especially….(mention names here, if you would like to..)
Stephen W and All: We believe that the Spirit of God is at work in and among us and will do more than we could ever ask or imagine. We believe that it is through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Creator God, forever and ever.
COMMUNION RITE
The Prayer of Jesus
Beth: Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Beth and All:
Holy One beyond all names
Eternal Wellspring
May love rise again in us today
With food for every table
Shelter for every family
And reverence for every life.
Forgive us our failings in love
And free us from all falseness
That the light of our souls may shine
And the strength of our spirits endure
For Earth and all its people
This day, tonight, and forever.
Amen
-John Philip Newell
Sign of Peace:
Stephen W: Eternal wellspring of peace-
May we be drenched with the longing for peace
That we may give ourselves over
As the earth to the rain, to the dew,
Until peace overflows our lives
As living waters overflow the seas. (Marcia Falk)
Steve M: Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave you. My peace I give you.” Let us now extend a sign of peace to one another as we say,
Seth: “Namaste, Namaste, Namaste.”
Jane: Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
Jane and All: Holy One, You call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of healing and justice; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to be Your presence in the world; we will do so.
Kathryn: This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to Christ’s table.
Kathryn: Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
Communion Song:
Jesus Revolution: We Are One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT5rW6HF_K4&list=RDWT5rW6HF_K4&start_radio=1
Prayer After Communion
Mary Al: Loving and Holy God,
we thank You for feeding us at the table of life
with the Bread of Compassion and the Cup of Hope.
As we receive the Body of Christ,
may we become the Body of Christ —
broken open for a hurting world,
welcoming the forgotten,
lifting the weary,
and sharing love without measure.
May this sacred meal strengthen us
to walk in courage, mercy, and joy,
trusting that You are always with us.
We ask this in the spirit of Jesus,
who nourishes us with love everlasting.
Amen.
Kathryn: Closing Community Blessing: by Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan (with arms extended)
God of Boundless Love,
On this 250th anniversary of our nation, we pause with grateful hearts for all who dreamed of liberty, worked for justice, and sacrificed so future generations might live in freedom.
We give thanks for the rich tapestry of peoples, cultures, languages, and traditions that have shaped this land. We celebrate the countless ordinary heroes who have cared for neighbors, welcomed strangers, defended human dignity, healed the sick, taught the young, protected creation, and worked tirelessly for the common good.
At the same time, we remember with humility that our history is both inspiring and unfinished. We acknowledge the wounds carried by Indigenous peoples, the enduring legacy of slavery and racism, the pain of exclusion, violence, inequality, and every time we have failed to honor the sacred worth of one another.
May this anniversary not simply celebrate where we have been, but inspire who we are becoming.
Bless our nation with leaders whose hearts are guided by wisdom rather than fear, by compassion rather than division, and by justice rather than privilege.
Bless every family seeking security, every child longing for opportunity, every elder deserving dignity, every immigrant searching for welcome, every veteran yearning for peace, every person struggling with poverty, illness, loneliness, or despair.
May we remember that our greatest strength is found not in power, but in our willingness to care for one another as members of one human family.
Open our hearts to become bridge-builders instead of wall-builders, peacemakers instead of enemies, listeners instead of judges, healers instead of wounders.
May we cherish our beautiful Earth, protect its waters and forests, safeguard future generations, and live with reverence for all creation.
May our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and all communities of faith become beacons of hope where every person is welcomed, every voice is valued, and every table reflects your radical hospitality.
May the Spirit continue to stir within us the courage to create a nation where liberty embraces equality, justice walks hand in hand with mercy, and love is stronger than hatred.
As we begin the next chapter of our shared journey, may we become ever more fully the people you dream us to be—a nation where every child knows they are beloved, every neighbor belongs, and every life is treated as sacred.
And may Divine Love bless the United States of America with wisdom for the journey, courage for the challenges ahead, and joy in building together a more compassionate, inclusive, and peaceful future for all.
Amen.
Kathryn: Go in the peace of Christ. Let us bring God’s reign of peace and compassion to all those we meet. Let us be the Body of Christ in our World.
All: Thanks be to God.
Closing Song: God of Justice (We Must Go) by Tim Hughes HD
https://youtu.be/b3NelRb1LY4?si=zGOPma0IILIc89ZD
If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
If you would like to invite another person to attend our liturgy please refer them to
www.marymotherofJesus.net where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included there.
