ST.

JOSEPH’S ACADEMY
CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST
FIRST COMMUNION MASS

THEME: “JESUS: OUR BREAD OF LIFE”

INTRODUCTION:

Comm: A grace filled morning to our parents, teachers, friends, brothers and s
isters. Today is a significant event for the spiritual growth of our children wh
o prepared themselves together with St. Joseph’s Academy community, to receive f
or the first time in their life the “Body of Christ”. Starting today their souls
will be nourished by the food that comes from heaven. In a special way we will
celebrate as a community of Christ. Let us welcome our dear First Communicants.
(Entrance of 1st Communicants/ background music)
Child 1: Rejoice and praise the Lord (clap 3x)
All : Rejoice and praise the Lord (clap 3x)
Child 2: On this day, for the first time in our lives, we will receive Je
sus the bread of everlasting life. Like any bread that we need to grow healthy a
nd strong, the Bread of Life will make our faith and love for Jesus grow deeper.
Child 1: Glory to Jesus, the Bread of Life!
All : Glory to Jesus, the Bread of Life!
Child 1: Let us rejoice and be glad, for we will receive Him today! (clap
3x)
All : Let us rejoice and be glad! (clap 3x)
Comm: Let us all stand and sing our joyful hymn of praise.

OPENING HYMN:
“JOYFUL, JOYFUL”

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of Love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

GREETINGS:
Presider: (†)
The Lord opened the gates of heaven
and rained down manna for them to eat.
He gave them bread from heaven;
men ate the bread of angels.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God the Father
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All : And also with you.

PENITENTIAL RITE:
Presider: My dear children, coming together as God’s family,
with confidence let us ask the Father’s forgiveness,
for he is full of gentleness and compassion.
(pause for silence)
I confess…
All : to Almighty God
and to you my brothers and sister
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 the Blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

All : AMEN.

Presider: May almighty God have mercy on us,

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

Sing: Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy

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

OPENING PRAYER:
Presider: Let us pray
to the Lord who gives himself to the Eucharist,
that this sacrament may bring us salvation and peace.
(pause for silent prayer)
Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the Eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ,
one God, for ever and ever.

AMEN.
LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE:

(A family of a 1st communicant will light the third advent candle

while the commentator read the introit.)

Comm : This week we light the pink or rose candle of the advent wreath
which means joy. Remember that the purple candles stand for sorrow for we have n
ot loved enough the people who are in need. But now, we are joyful, because the
time for arrival of Jesus is almost here; almost, because we are still waiting f
or and preparing for Jesus’ coming. We hope to make Jesus to be a part of our li
ves, not just at Christmas but all year long. We can prepare ourselves for Jesus
through prayer and turning ourselves to love, hope, faith, justice and kindness
.

Rejoice in the Lord always;

again I say, rejoice!
The Lord is near.
Come let us worship him.

Family: God, thank you for filling our hearts with hope.
In the midst of our sadness, you give us a reason to be joyful.
You give us a light that darkness cannot overcome.
This week was spent in hope and joy
the joy of knowing that you, Lord,
are full of goodness and the joy of knowing
that you are always ready to forgive us.
We are happy that we can once more
have a chance to celebrate the birthday of Jesus.
And we ask you to bless these children
who will receive their first communion
that they may be always joyful in seeking you,
longing to accept you every time they will receive you
in the form of bread, believing and knowing that you,
O Lord, is our food of everlasting life. AMEN
LITURGY OF THE WORD:

Comm : Thru his Word, Christ is present with us today. Words that will
never change till the end of time; let us honor the living Word of God as we all
fervently listen to his Holy Word. Please be seated.

FIRST READING: JUDGES 13 : 2 – 7, 24 – 25

Lector: A Reading from the Book of Judges
There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites,
whose name was Manoah.
His wife was barren and had borne no children.
An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her,
“Though you are barren and have had no children,
yet you will conceive and bear a son.
Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink
and to eat nothing unclean.
As for the son you will conceive and bear,
no razor shall touch his head,
for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb.
It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel
from the power of the Philistines.”
The woman went and told her husband,
“A man of God came to me;
he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed.
I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
But he said to me,
‘You will be with child and will bear a son.
So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean.
For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb,
until the day of his death.’”
The woman bore a son and named him Samson.
The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him;
the Spirit of the LORD stirred him

The Word of the Lord

All : Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:

Comm : Please, all stand to honor the Holy Gospel

ALLELUIA: “SING ALLELUIA”

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia
Sing alleluia to the Lord.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia
Sing alleluia to the Lord.
GOSPEL READING:
Priest : The Lord be with you
All : And also with you
Priest : A Proclamation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John
All : Glory to you, O Lord!

GOSPEL : LUKE 1 : 5 – 25
In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving as priest
in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn the hearts of fathers toward children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
Then Zechariah said to the angel,
“How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
And the angel said to him in reply,
“I am Gabriel, who stand before God.
I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
But now you will be speechless and unable to talk
until the day these things take place,
because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah
and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,
and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.
He was gesturing to them but remained mute.
Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.
After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,
and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit
to take away my disgrace before others.”
The Gospel of the Lord.

All : Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Comm : Please be seated

HOMILY:
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES:

Comm : Brothers and sisters let us now join with these children in thei
r renewal of baptismal promises. My dear 1st Communicants please stand for your
renewal of baptismal promises.
(a child will light his/her candle coming from the “Paschal Cand
le” and will pass it to their schoolmates along the center isle) (Background Mus
ic)
Presider: Beloved children of God, before you receive the Holy Eucharist,
I ask you to renew the profession of faith that you made at baptism, or that you
r parents and godparents made in union with the whole Church.
Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises
?
Children: I do.
Presider: Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and
earth?
Children: Yes, I do believe.

Presider: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was
born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead
, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Children: Yes, I do believe.

Presider: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who came upon the apostles at Pentecost, in the Holy Catholic Church, the commun
ion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life e
verlasting?
Children: Yes, I do believe.

Presider: This is our faith.

This is the faith of the Church.
We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord..
All : AMEN.
(sprinkling the communicants w/ Holy Water)
SONG: “ISANG PANANAMPALATAYA”
*Isang pananampalataya, isang pagbibinyag
Isang Panginoon, angkinin nating lahat.

Habilin ni Hesus noong siya’y lumisan;

Kayo ay magkatipon sa pagmamahalan *

Ama, pakinggan Mo ang aming panalangin

Dalisay na pag-ibig, sa ami’y humapit *

Mga alagad ko pano makikilala?

Tapat nilang pag-ibig wala nang iba pa. *

Kaya nga, O Ama, sana’y Iyong hawian,

Ang aming mga puso ng mga alitan *

Tingni, Kanyang dugo sa ati’y iniligwak;

Ngayon ay sundan natin Kanyang mga yapak *

Presider: And may the Lord God bless you

and help you to become faithful
in all your promises now and forever.
All : AMEN

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL:

Presider: My brothers and sisters, Christ invites us to the supper in whic
h he gives his body and blood for the life of the world. Let us say to him:
“Christ, the bread of heaven, grant us everlasting life”
Reader: Christ, Son of the living God, you commanded that this thanksgiving meal
be done in memory of you, enrich your Church through the faithful celebration o
f these mysteries. Let us pray to the Lord.
Reader: Christ, the eternal priest of the Most High, you have commanded your pri
ests to offer your sacraments, may they help them to exemplify in their lives th
e meaning of the sacred mysteries which they celebrate. Let us pray to the Lord.
Reader: Christ, bread from heaven, you form one body out of all who partake of t
he one bread, refresh all who believe in you with harmony and peace. Let us pray
to the Lord.
Reader: Christ, through your bread you offered the remedy for the immortality an
d the pledge of future resurrection, restore health to the sick and living hope
to sinners. Let us pray to the Lord.
Reader: Christ, our king who is to come, you commanded that the mysteries which
proclaim your death be celebrated until your return, grant that all who die in y
ou may share in your resurrection. Let us pray to the Lord.

Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of
your suffering and death. May our worship in this sacrament of your body and blo
od help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingd
om where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and eve
r.
All : AMEN

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST:

Comm : Please remain standing. As we offer to the Lord the bread and wi
ne, fruits of the earth and work of human hands let us also offer our whole self
to His altar as we sing our offertory song.
OFFERTORY SONG:
TINAPAY NG BUHAY
Ikaw, Hesus, ang tinapay ng buhay
Binasbasan, hinati t inialay
Buhay na ganap ang sa ami y kaloob
at pagsasalong walang hanggan
Basbasan ang buhay naming handog
nawa y matulad sa pag-aalay Mo.
Buhay na laan nang lubos
sa mundong sa pag-ibig ay kapos
Marapatin sa kapwa maging tinapay
kagalakan sa nalulumbay
Katarungan sa naaapi
at kanlungan ng bayan Mong sawi
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS:
Comm : Please all stand.
Presider: Pray brethren, that our sacrifice
May be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All : May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise a
nd glory of His name for our good and the good of all His Church.

Presider: Let us pray,

Lord,
may the bread and cup we offer bring the Church
the unity and peace they signify.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
AMEN
PREFACE OF THE MASS:
Presider: The Lord be with you
All : And also with you
Presider: Lift up your hearts
All : We lift them up to the Lord
Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All : It is right to give Him thanks and praise
Presider: Father, all-powerful and ever living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He is the true and eternal priest
who established this unending sacrifice.
He offered himself as a victim for our deliverance
and taught us to make this offering in his memory.
As we eat his body which he gave for us,
we grow in strength.
As we drink his blood which he poured out for us,
we are washed clean.
Now with the angels and archangels,
and the whole company of heaven,
we sing the unending hymn of praise.

SANCTUS: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power, God of Might.

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest. (2x)

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II:

Presider: Lord, you are holy indeed,
The fountain of all holiness
(He joins hands and holding them outstretched over the offerings
, says:)
Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy,
So that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

CONSECRATION:
Presider: Before he was given up to death,
a death he freely accepted,
he took the bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his discip
les, and said:
“Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.”

When supper was ended, he took the cup.

Again he gave you thanks and praise,
Gave the cup to His disciples, and said:
“Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
It will be shed for you and for all
so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in memory of me.”
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

ANAMNESIS: Dying you destroyed our death,

Rising you restored our life,
Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Presider: In memory of his death and resurrection,

we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup.
We thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ
be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.

Concelebrant: Lord, remember your Church throughout the world;

make us grow in love,
together with Benedict our Pope,
Jesse our bishop, and all the clergy.

Concelebrant: Remember our brothers and sisters

who have gone to their rest
in the hope of rising again;
bring them and all the departed
into the light of your presence.
Have mercy on us all;
make us worthy to share eternal life
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with the apostles, and will all the saints
who have done your will throughout the ages.
May we praise you in union with them,
and give you glory
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Presider: Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
 all glory and honor is yours,
almighty Father,
for ever and ever.

GREAT AMEN: Amen… amen.. amen…

Presider: Jesus taught us to call God our Father,

And so we have the courage to say:

PATER NOSTER: Ama Namin

DOXOLOGY:
Presider: Deliver us Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin
and protect us from all anxiety
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our savior Jesus Christ.

All : For the Kingdom the power

and the glory are yours now and forever.

SIGN OF PEACE:
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
I leave you peace, my peace I give you.
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live forever and ever.
All : AMEN
Presider: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All : And also with you.
Presider: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
All : (Giving of peace)

AGNUS DEI: Sing: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of t
he world
Have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of t
he world
Grant us peace, grant us peace.

Presider: This is the Lamb of God

 who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are those who are called to his supper.

All : Lord, I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I
shall be healed.
(pause for silence)
Comm: Please be seated.

COMMUNION:
“I RECEIVE THE LIVING GOD”
Refrain: I receive the living God
And my heart is full of joy.
He has said I am the bread needed
Long to give you life
He who will partake of me
Need not ever fear to die
(Refrain)
He has said I am the way
And my father longs for you
So I will come to bring you home
To be one with Him anew.
(Refrain)
He has said I am the truth
If you follow close to me
You will know me in my heart
And my word shall make you free
(Refrain)
He has said I am the life
Far from whom nothing can grow
But received this living bread
And my spirit you shall know
(Refrain)

“JESUS, MY FRIEND”
He’s my friend,
A man yet a God
He is my friend, a servant yet a King.
He stays with me
Every moment of my days
Whose love a lamp to my feet,
A light unto my path.
Jesus, my friend,
You are afriend to me
In sadness, joy You stay
So close to me.
You poured Your love
And now I know You more,
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my friend.
You touched my heart
And taught me what is right,
Of all my friends,
You’re really dif’rent.
You shaped my heart
To love as you have loved;
Love bears all things,
Believes all things.

SOLEMN PROMISE OF THE FIRST COMMUNICANTS:

Presider : My dear children,
after you receive Jesus for the first time
it is only right for you to thank Him in your prayers
and to make a solemn promise to Jesus
that you will always seek him
every time you will go to mass with purity and love.
I ask now the 1st Communicants to stand
and to make a solemn promise to Jesus,
our bread of everlasting life.

1st Communicants:
The day of my first Holy Communion is the best of my life.
On this day I receive the Body of Christ
and I become a living tabernacle
among my family and friends of Jesus.
Jesus loves me so much that he gave his life for me.
I too want to offer my life for Jesus
and never offend him again with my sins.
On this solemn day I do promise
to observe the ten commandments of God,
which are for the good of my life and soul.
Especially I promise to participate to the Holy Mass every Sunda
y
and to receive Holy Communion with purity and love.

FIRST COMMUNICANTS’ THANKSGIVING PRAYER:

O Jesus, my Lord and my God!
I thank you for having come to me.
I now possess you.
You, my Savior, now present within my soul.
You are now most intimately united with me.
How can I thank you for your goodness?
How shall I repay you for what have done for me?
For me you have suffered,
for me you have died,
for me you have given yourself in Holy Communion.
Through you I will have eternal life
 I thank you from my heart, O Jesus!
I adore and praise you, O Jesus, present in my soul
and with heartfelt love I offer you a thousand welcomes.
O Sacrament Most Holy,
O Sacrament Divine,
all praise and thanksgiving
be every moment thine. AMEN.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION:

Presider: Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you give us your body and blood in the Eucharist
as a sign that even now we share your life.
May we come to possess it completely in the kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.
AMEN

CONCLUDING RITE:
Presider: The Lord be with you.
All : And also with you
Presider: Bow your heads to receive God’s blessings.
May the peace of God
which is beyond understanding
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God
and of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
All : AMEN

Presider: May almighty God bless you,

The Father, and Son, † and Holy Spirit.
All : AMEN

Presider: Let us go in peace to love and serve God in people.

All : Thanks be to God.
RECESSIONAL:
“JESUS PUT THE SONG IN MY HEART”
I tried to sing my song on my own,
But then I found out I was singing alone.
Then Jesus sang with me, we sang in harmony,
Now I’m singing his song,
Ooo I’m singing his song.
Jesus put the song in my heart, he turned my life around
He gave me a treasure, the heart of a servant.
Jesus put the song in my heart, he turned my life around
He gave me a treasure, the heart of a servant.
Jesus put the song in my heart, a joyful melody
That sings of His wonderful love.
He gave me His love, He sang me His song,
And He put his song in my heart yeah!
He gave me His love, He sang me His song,
And He put His song in my heart yeah!
I’m gonna live my life differently,
Serving the Lord and not serving me.
Helping to meet your need, following Jesus’ lead,
Ooo I’m singing His song, Yes, I’m singing His song.