MEMORIAL OF BLESSED JOSEPH CALASANZ, SAZ APARIIO AND 93 COMPANIONS

SDB-FIN PROVINCIAL COMMUNITY DAY 2012

September 22, 2012

When all the participants have been ushered to their seats and when the presider, concelebrating priests, and other ministers have put on their vestments, the commentator will read the comment for the Holy Eucharist.

MASS INTRODUCTION
Commentator:

Dear brothers (and sisters) in Christ, we are gathered here this morning to celebrate the Holy Mass in honor of the Spanish martyrs of the Salesian Family: Blessed Joseph Calasanz, Saz Apariio and 93 Companions. On 18 July 1936 the civil war broke out in Spain, accompanied at times by religious persecution. Laity, religious and priests were imprisoned and killed for their religious faith; among these 95 members of the Salesian Family: 39 priests, 22 clerics, 24 brothers, 2 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, 4 Salesians Cooperators, 3 Salesian aspirants and one lay helper. All of them gave their lives for their faith in Christ between July 1936 and April 1938. They died giving an example of fidelity to their Christian faith and their Salesian vocation, trusting in God and forgiving their killers. Let us pray in the Eucharistic celebration for all of us, Salesians, prenovices and aspirants of the Philippine North Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco. That as we gather as one provincial community around our provincial superior, Father Eli Cruz, SDB, we may truly be Don Bosco and live Don Bosco in our times, edified by the example of our holy Salesian martyrs.
Short pause.

Let us all stand with joyful hearts sing the entrance hymn.

ENTRANCE HYMN
SIGN OF THE CROSS Fr Eli: In the name of the Father...
All: Amen.

GREETING Fr Eli: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
After the greeting the Fr Eli may address the assembly.

PENITENTIAL RITE Fr Eli: Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

PENITENTIAL HYMN
Fr Eli: May the almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

COLLECT Fr Eli: Let us pray.

Short pause.

Almighty and eternal God, who gave to the priests and martyrs Blessed Joseph [Calasanz] and Henry [Siz], and their companions martyrs the grace to share in the passion of Christ, come to the aid of our weakness; and as they did not hesitate to die for you, grant also to us that we may live courageously in confessing your name. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Commentator: Please be seated as we listen to the word of God.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING
1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

The Resurrection of the Body

Brothers and sisters: Someone may say, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?" You fool! What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible. It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one. So, too, it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living being,"the last Adam a life-giving spirit. But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. The Word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Ps 56:10c-12, 13-14

R. (14) I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living. Now I know that God is with me. In God, in whose promise I glory, in God I trust without fear; what can flesh do against me? R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you; your thank offerings I will fulfill. For you have rescued me from death, my feet, too, from stumbling; that I may walk before God in the light of the living. R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
Commentator: Please rise to acclaim the holy gospel.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL
Lk 8:4-15

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke.

The parable of the Sower

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold." After saying this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, "Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand. "This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance." The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentator: Please be seated.

HOMILY PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL Fr Eli: Today our community rejoices at the gift of these our blessed martyrs of the Salesian Family in Spain, let us cry out to him in prayer
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER. 1. For Gods holy Church: that, made bright by the witness of evangelical life of these your holy martyrs, Blessed Joseph, Henry and companions, she may shine ever more before Christ and men of goodwill, we pray to the Lord. 2. For Fr. Eli Cruz, our provincial and all our Superiors: that they may be a sign of the love of Christ who serves, and promote in the community entrusted to them a true spirit of being family, we pray to the Lord. 3. For all of us Salesians who have dedicated ourselves decisively to the divine service: that the Spirit of the Lord may give us continual growth in pastoral charity that will lead us to seek souls and serve God alone, we pray to the Lord. 4. For all those who celebrate the silver and golden jubilee of their religious profession: that in the faithful dedication of their lives they may continue to experience the joy of being an eloquent sign of the future kingdom, we pray to the Lord. 5. For the young, to whom the Salesian mission is principally and primarily addressed: that they may find in the Church and in society the response to their expectations, and efficacious help for growth in their human and Christian identity, we pray to the Lord. 6. For the young called to follow Christ especially in the Salesian vocation: that the Lord may guide them to discover their call, strengthen their determination and bring it to fulfillment in their lives of service of the Church and the Salesian Society, we pray to the Lord. 7. For all the departed Salesians: that their generous service may be rewarded with joy and full communion in our Fathers home in heaven, we pray to the Lord.
Commentator:

In the silence of our hearts, let us now pray for our personal intentions, (pause.) Let us pray to the Lord.

Fr Eli:

Father, hear the prayers of your people and renew in us the resolve to follow you intently with zeal and pastoral love guided by the example of your blessed martyrs who offered their lives believing in Christ the Lord who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.

All:

Commentator:

Please be seated.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

OFFERTORY SONG
PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR AND GIFTS Fr Eli: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
All: Fr Eli: Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God for ever.

All:

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Commentator:

Fr Eli: All: Fr Eli:

Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

Please all stand.

may

be

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Receive, holy Father, in commemoration of the holy Martyrs, and grant that we, your servants, may be found steadfast in confessing your name. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

All:

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Fr Eli: The Lord be with you.

All: And with your spirit. Fr Eli: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord. Fr Eli: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right and just.

PREFACE
HOLY MARTYRS I Fr Eli:

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For the blood of your blessed Martyrs Joseph and companions, poured out like Christ's to glorify your name, shows forth your marvelous works, by which in our weakness you perfect your power and on the feeble bestow strength to bear you witness, through Christ our Lord. And so, with the Powers of heaven, we worship you constantly on earth, and before your majesty without end we acclaim:

HOLY
Commentator: Please all kneel.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II
CELEBRANT ALONE

Fr Eli:

You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness.

CELEBRANT WITH CONCELEBRANTS

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
Fr Eli:

The mystery of faith.

Please all stand.

Commentator:

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION
CELEBRANT WITH CONCELEBRANTS

Fr Eli:

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.
ONE CONCELEBRANT

Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Benedict our Pope and Luis Antonio our Bishop and all the clergy.
ONE CONCELEBRANT

Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy: welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ.
CELEBRANT WITH CONCELEBRANTS

Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.

GRAND AMEN
COMMUNION RITE
Fr Eli:

At the Saviors command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say: 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,

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as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Fr Eli:

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

All: Fr Eli:

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.

All:

Fr Eli: The Peace of the Lord be with you always. All: And with your spirit. Fr Eli or Deacon: Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

LAMB OF GOD
Fr Eli:

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

All:

COMMUNION SONGS
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Commentator:

Please all stand.

Fr Eli:

Let us pray.
Short pause.

O God, who in your holy Martyrs have wonderfully made known the mystery of the Cross, graciously grant that, drawing strength from this sacrifice, we may cling faithfully to Christ and labor in the Church for the salvation of all.

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Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

AWARDING OF PLAQUES TO SILVER JUBILARIANS

Commentator: Please be seated. We will now have the awarding of plaques to those who

are celebrating their silver and golden jubilee of religious profession. Silver Jubilarians: Fr. Florante Afable, SDB Fr. Eduardo Hila, SDB Not present: Fr. Jose Marie Bacucang, SDB Fr. Jerome Mario Dublois, SDB Fr. Fernando Fajardo, SDB Fr. Eduardo Hila, SDB Fr. Albert Lenon, SDB Golder Jubilarian: Fr. Demetrio Carmona, SDB

CONCLUDING RITES
Commentator: Please all stand for the final blessing.

Fr Eli: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit.

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE Fr Eli/Deacon: Bow down for the blessing.
Fr Eli:

Short pause.

May the Christian people exult, O Lord, at the glorification of the illustrious members of your Sons Body, and may they gain a share in the eternal lot of the Saints on whose feast day they reaffirm their devotion to you, rejoicing with them for ever in your glory. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

All:

And may the blessing of the almighty God, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.
All: Amen.

DISMISSAL

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Fr Eli/Deacon: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

FINAL HYMN