GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF                  

THE HOLY EUCHARIST FOR THE JESUS YOUTH JUBILEE LAUNCH

Introductory Prayer before the Holy Mass:

 We can make the first part a preparation for the Jubilee as well as for the Holy Mass. This session can include the invocation of the Holy Spirit, leading to a time of Jubilant Praise and Worship expressing praise and thanksgiving and glory to our Merciful God for his abundant blessings showered upon us over the last 25 years, a short reflection on the Jubilee in the context of Jesus Youth, followed by a short time of repentance for failures and shortcomings of individuals in the movement as well as the movement as a whole. The response of the community after each prayer can be "Lord, be merciful to your children".

Holy Mass

 Liturgy of the Word:

Suggested readings:

I. Classic reading for Jubilee - Lev. 25:8-22

II. From New Testament: Colossians 3:12-17 (call to renewal of life in the Jubilee Year)

III. Gospel:  Luke: 4:14-19 (A Messianic proclamation of the time of Jubilee; the acceptable year of the Lord, where all bondages are broken)

Prayers of Petition:

L:         O God of all goodness, we, your children in ‘Jesus Youth’, come to you with joy and thanks at the threshold of the Jubilee of our movement. Acknowledging the numerous blessings You have showered upon each one of us and on our movement, we bring our prayers to You.

 All:       Graciously hear us O, Lord.

 (Sample intentions are given below; can be adapted /changed/added according to need)

 1.               For our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, all bishops, priests and religious, that Christ, our Good Shepherd, may strengthen them as they guide, tend and feed the sheep entrusted to them.

Let us pray to the Lord.

 2.         For all Jesus Youth across the world that we may use this Jubilee year to open our minds and hearts more fully to follow the voice of Christ, our Lord and Master. Let us pray to the Lord.

3.         For all the Jesus Youth teams – regional (zonal), national & international, that the

Holy Spirit may inspire them to lead the movement with wisdom and prudence. Let us pray to the Lord.

 4.         For the pastors, elders, animators, supporters and benefactors of Jesus Youth, that they may continue to help and guide those in the Movement and that they  may be blessed as they carry out this essential work. Let us pray to the Lord.

 5.         For the sick, the suffering, the abused, abandoned and lonely, that Christ may bind their wounds, strengthen their spirits and refresh their souls. Let us pray to the Lord.

6.         For all the departed, especially all the departed Jesus Youth members, parents, siblings, friends, and others, that they may rest in God’s embrace. Let us pray to the Lord.

 7.         For all Jubilee projects like Intercession around the cross, one-month Mission

Commitment, Days of grace and the Outreach child support project, that these ventures may strengthen our zeal to be humble instruments of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

8.         For the renewal and strengthening of the movement through the Jubilee, and the mega Jubilee Conference. Let us pray to the Lord.

Post Holy Communion Prayer:

Priest:             Lord Jesus, hear our prayers and send forth your Holy Spirit on us during this time of preparation so that we might become a family that is reconciling and forgiving, faithful to you and to the Church, full of faith, hope and love,  just and seeking justice, alive and proactive to the needs of others especially the poor and the needy. Help us to live out our call to proclaim the Good News, so that all peoples may come to know you as the Lord and Savior. Make us ready ministers at service of the Church. We ask this in the mighty name of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen.

            (This can be followed by a time of free praise and thanksgiving. We propose to have a Jubilee Candle which will be lighted by the Priest – volunteers can light small candles from this and distribute them to all the people who may take back this candle to their homes and use it every day when they recite the Jubilee prayer.  All stand with lighted candles and recite the Jubilee Prayer together. )

Jubilee Prayer

(All together)

Abba Father,

We your children in the Jesus Youth movement praise and thank you in this Jubilee year for all the wonders of your love and mercy towards us. Guide and protect us as we journey through life.

Lord Jesus,

Help us to remain faithful to your Word and to the teachings of the Church, to grow in faith, hope and love, and to be present to the needs of others, as we live our call to proclaim the Good News, so that all peoples may come to know you as their Lord and Saviour.

O Holy Spirit,

Source and strength of our Christian life, grant us the grace to be docile to your voice and to share the fire within us.

We call upon you, O most Holy Trinity, with Mary, our Mother, and Saint Francis, our patron, to make this Jubilee a year of grace.

Refined in thy fire, Renewed by thy Spirit,

Radiant in thy holiness,

may we become a gift to the Church and the world.

Amen.

(In the context of a National gathering, the Co-ordinator can receive the Cross with the soil from all the countries from the Priest – which will journey to all the corners of the country where our movement is present and be brought back to Kerala, India for the Jubilee Conference in 2010).

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