Liturgy - Presentation of Bibles

PRESENTATION OF BIBLES AND OF THE CREED

Welcome Hymn:

Explanation of the ceremony to follow.

All candidates to come and stand in front of bottom step facing people.

Signing of the Candidates with the Cross

Fr. Tony:
Christ has called you to be his friends. Always remember him and be faithful to him.

Now I will mark your forehead with the sign of the cross. It is the sign of Christians; let it remind you always of Christ and how much he loves you.

(Signing with the cross is done in silence.)
Priest may invite parents to also come and trace a cross on their child’s forehead.

Now I will mark your hands with the sign of the cross. It is a sign to touch others with the gentleness of Christ.
(Fr. Tony marks crosses on candidates’ hands)

Now I place you all entirely under the sign of Christ’s cross in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: live with Jesus now and forever.
Amen.

Now you can take your places and listen to the Lord as he speaks to us and joins us in prayer.

Penitential Rite:

Opening Prayer: (of the Day)

First Reading: Romans 10:8-13
"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we preach), for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
For the scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him.
For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
This is the Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 19: 7-9
Response: Lord you have the Words of everlasting life.
The teachings of the LORD are perfect. They renew the soul. The testimony of the LORD is dependable. It makes gullible people wise. (R)
The instructions of the LORD are correct. They make the heart rejoice. The command of the LORD is radiant. It makes the eyes shine. (R)
The fear of the LORD is pure. It endures forever. The decisions of the LORD are true. They are completely fair.(R)

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia
God loved the world so much that he gave us his only Son, that all who believe in him might have eternal life.
Alleluia

Gospel: John 12:44-50
Then Jesus said loudly, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me. Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark. If anyone hears my words and doesn't follow them, I don't condemn them. I didn't come to condemn the world but to save the world. Those who reject me by not accepting what I say have a judge appointed for them. The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day. I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it. I know that what he commands is eternal life. Whatever I say is what the Father told me to say."
This is the Gospel of the Lord

Homily

Blessing and Presentation of the Bibles

After the homily, catechist calls the candidates forward by name. They come into the sanctuary.

Catechist then presents the candidates with these words:
Father Tony, brothers and sisters in Christ, we wish to present to you the members of the first year confirmation group who will today be presented with their bibles.

Fr. Tony then addresses the parents and candidates

We welcome you here today. We express the joy of the church and this parish community that these candidates, being presented are being prepared for the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation and so become full members of the church.

We remind parents to be aware of their responsibility to give good Christian example and to help, support and encourage their children on their journey to confirmation.

My young people, God calls you to prepare yourselves for the fullness of the gift of the Holy Spirit in your confirmation. You have begun to respond to God’s invitation and now you present yourselves to prepare for confirmation as followers of Christ and as adult members of the church. From now on, you are called to walk more carefully in the light of Christ and to trust more firmly in His wisdom.

Fr. Tony blesses the bibles as follows: -

God our creator, your will is that all people should come to the knowledge of the truth about you as Creator, about Jesus, your son, our Saviour and about the Holy Spirit as sanctifier and giver of all true wisdom. In your wonderful love, you have made it possible to come to your truth through your word revealed to us in the pages of the bible and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, your word made flesh. We thank you that you have entrusted your Word to your church to hand on to all people who seek peace, truth, justice and eternal life.
We ask you to +bless these bibles which we hand on to our youth, to help them along the path of following Jesus by praying and reflecting on your holy word.
Bless too these young people who will receive the word of God today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN

Fr. Tony hands the bibles to the candidates.

Presentation of Creed
Each will be presented with a copy of the Nicene Creed by Fr. Tony.

Fr. Tony:
My dear Friends, listen carefully to the words of that faith by which you will be justified. The words are few, but the mysteries they contain are great. Receive them with a sincere heart and be faithful to them.

Proclamation of Faith
(all proclaim faith together)
I Believe in one God……


Intercessions
Fr. Tony:
Let us pray for these children, your sons and daughters, your companions and friends, as they draw nearer to God.

Children:
V May we steadily increase our desire to live with Jesus. Lord hear us.

V May we find true happiness by belonging to this church. Lord hear us.

V May we be given strength as we prepare to receive the Holy Spirit and its gifts. Lord hear us.

V May we be preserved from the temptation of discouragement and fear. Lord hear us.

V May we out of our own free will desire to attend Mass regularly. Lord hear us.

V May we desire to receive the Jesus in the Eucharist so that he may transform us into the people he wants us to be. Lord hear us.

V May we make the effort to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation often so that we may come to know God’s healing and peace. Lord hear us

Fr. Tony
Lord, you have filled these children with the desire to become perfect Christians. As they grow in wisdom and knowledge, respond to their hopes and answer their prayers.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Liturgy of the Eucharist to continue as normal.