Ben Calf Robe School’s
2006 EASTER MASS
and
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Celebration


Welcome: Mr. Richardson
We gather today, to rejoice in the celebration of Jesus rising from the dead into life everlasting. We give thanks for the promise that we too, will have everlasting life in God’s Kingdom, if we live in the LIGHT of God.

Today, we give thanks and praise for the many blessings we have received, and we look to the signs of new life that surround us, as springtime unfolds.

We gather as a family, to renew the promise each of us made to God (and to each other) to continue growing to be the best person we can be.

We pray that the Creator, Jesus and Mary our Mother in Heaven, will be proud of each and every one of us.

As well this morning, we are celebrating the feast day of ‘Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha” which was yesterday, Easter Monday. Blessed Kateri is one of the only ‘NATIVE’ saints, and we will be honouring her this morning, as we begin our new lives after Easter.

Please rise for our processional hymn…Sing New Songs of Joy



Processional Hymn: Sing New Songs of Joy


Penitential Rite:
I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and 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. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen


Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy.


First Reading: Mrs. Sayegh
1 Corinthians 15 (3-4)
I taught you what I have been taught myself. That is, that Jesus died for our sins, just like the scriptures said, and He was buried and He rose to life on the third day, just as the scriptures foretold.

This is the Word of Lord……………………………….Thanks be to God


Gospel Acclamation: Easter Alleluia


Gospel:
A reading from the holy gospel according to John 20:19-31
Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ

It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the authorities. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

When he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas who was called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord”. But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe”.

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have come to believe”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

This is the gospel of the Lord…………………………Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ


Homily: Father Jim


SYMBOLIC GESTURE: Presentation of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha was born of a Christian Algonquin mother and a Mohawk father in 1656 (350 years ago). When Blessed Kateria was 4 years old, her family got smallpox. Her parents and brother died of the smallpox sickness, but Kateri lived. BEven though she survived that terrible sickness that killed so many people, she did suffer from poor eyesight and her face was scarred from it.

Instead of getting married when she got older (as she was supposed to), Kateri opened her heart to God and was baptized on Easter Sunday in 1676 (when she was 20 years old).

The year after she was baptized, Kateri had to escape from her people in order to follow God. She went to a Mission to learn more about Jesus and His Blessed Mother. She went to mass every morning and night, she prayed a lot of the time, and she did acts of forgiveness.

At the age of 21, she had her First Holy Communion and 2 years later (1679) she became a Sister – devoting her life to Jesus and Mary saying the words “Jesus I love you”… 3 times.

On Holy Week of 1680 (when she was 24) she became very ill after being on a journey on a cold winter day. On April 17, after 3 p.m. she pronounced the words, “Jesus! Mary!”. Then the Lord came to get her. Her face became healed, rosy-colored and beautiful, within 15 minutes of her death. She had changed, and miracles began to happen immediately because of her.

In 1943 Pope Pius XII declared her “Venerable” and in 1980 Pope John Paul II beatified her a Saint, “Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha”

At this time, each of us will receive a blessed prayer card of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. When you receive it, you will answer in Kateri’s vow,

“Jesus I LOVE YOU”


Offertory Song: Forever I Will Sing


Procession of Faith: WE BELIEVE (song)

Prayers of the Faithful:
Response – CREATOR hear our prayers.

For those who have forgotten, or do not SEE the gifts of EASTER…we pray to the Creator

For our families, that we never forget how blessed we are to be a part of them…we pray to the Creator.

For our friends, that we always remember to show them how much they mean to us in our lives…we pray to the Creator.

For continuing to grow and change into being the best people we can be…we pray to the Creator

For everyone who needs healing, whether in body, mind or spirit…we pray to the Creator

For all the people who need the hope and love that Jesus brings… we pray to the Creator

For moving forward in our lives, forgiving the past and embracing the future that lies ahead for all of us… we pray to the Creator


HOLY, HOLY(sung)


Memorial Acclamation:(sung)
Christ has died, alleluia
Christ is risen, alleluia
Christ will come again,
Alleluia, alle-luia


Lord’s Prayer


Sign of Peace:
Let us now share the sign of Peace by joining in song…
My Peace I Leave/Lamb of God (sung)


Communion Hymn: Song of the Body of Christ


Closing Prayer:
Creator,
Come into our hearts, our school, our homes and our communities, and unlock the courage needed to serve you right to the end, in loving God our Father, Jesus his Son, and Mary our Mother in Heaven. Help us to love others as Jesus taught us. Help us to treat others as we want to be treated. Help us to care for Mother Earth and all the blessings we are so richly given.

May we always know the value of what we are given, and may we always remember to share what we have, and what we are…with others.
This we ask in your name…………………………..Amen


Closing Song: Alleluia Praise God