CATHOLIC DIOCESE of PORT PIRIE
Upon visiting family who are preparing their child for first reconciliation please encourage parents to prepare place for prayer by placing a cross, bible and candle in the centre.
If possible read the propose passage from their Bible.
Someone in the family to read the Bible story aloud (preferably from the family Bible).
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
REFLECTION
Someone in the family to read aloud.
When Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes today he is able to feed a very large number of people. Jesus may very well have saved all these people’s lives because there wasn’t much food available where they were. When we receive Holy Communion, Jesus feeds our spiritual hunger. And just like the bread you eat, if we go without it, it makes us very hungry. The spiritual life we have with God is kept alive by keeping in touch with God especially through Holy Communion.
REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
Faith Friend asks reflective questions.
PRAYER INTENTIONS
Each family member shares one thing they’re thankful for or a prayer intention.
SING together: Psalm 116
Our Blessing Cup is a Communion
CLOSING PRAYER
Let us pray together.
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, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Jesus, you feed us when we are hungry for the bread of life. As we look forward to Holy Communion may we recognise the goodness it brings. Amen
Faith Friends share current parish events and give parish bulletin to family.
To conclude prayer time, make a sign of the cross with words below:
May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
REFLECTION
Someone in the family to read aloud.
It may sound strange to hear that Jesus is saying that the bread and wine he offers is his body and blood. But we believe it is his real presence and in this way, Jesus is giving us his life. That is why when we come up for Holy Communion the priest says, “The Body of Christ,” and we say “Amen”, which means “I believe”. Holy Communion is a miracle we experience every time we come to Mass, and Jesus comes to us in a very real way by becoming part of us when we receive Holy Communion.
REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
Faith Friend asks reflective questions.
PRAYER INTENTIONS
Each family member shares one thing they’re thankful for or a prayer intention.
SING together: Psalm 19
Your Words are Spirt and Life
CLOSING PRAYER
Let us pray together.
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, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Jesus my life, may we appreciate the significance of your real presence in Holy Communion. It was by offering your life that we may have life everlasting. Amen
Faith Friends share current parish events and give parish bulletin to family.
To conclude prayer time, make a sign of the cross with words below:
May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
Someone in the family to read the Bible story aloud (preferably from the family Bible).
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
REFLECTION
Someone in the family to read aloud.
The Last Supper in the Bible story celebrates the first Mass. Jesus, when he gathered with his disciples, was celebrating a special annual religious feast. Every time we come together on Sunday Mass, we hear the words Jesus said and as God’s family we grow in friendship with each other and with Jesus. On Sunday Mass we gather around the table which is called the Altar and we share our life with Jesus and receive the Bread of Life – Holy Communion.
REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
Family member asks reflective questions.
Now, all members of the family together could prepare their own family prayer (glory, thanks, sorry, request).
PRAYER INTENTIONS
Each family member shares one thing they’re thankful for or a prayer intention.
Let us pray together.
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, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Loving God,
We thank you for the times we come together to celebrate with family and friends. Help us, when we gather in your name and as a part of your family, to become closer to you as we share in each celebration of the Eucharist. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Faith Friends share current parish events and give parish bulletin to family.
To conclude prayer time, make a sign of the cross with words below:
May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
© The scriptural quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Co Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
The English translation of the Psalm Responses and Gospel Verses, and the Lenten Gospel Acclamations, and the Titles, Summaries, and Conclusion of the Readings, from the Lectionary for Mass © 1997, 1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.
The images used in this document are from © Liturgy Help Creative Ministries Resources Pty Ltd.
Music: Taize Community, Public Domain Gospel Readings: Thanks to the staff and students in our Riverland Catholic schools for the recordings of the gospel readings.