Parish resources for weekday prayer in the church during clergy assembly January 20-22, 2020
In the third week of January Bishop Denis will lead a Kildare and Leighlin diocesan assembly of priests and deacons in Athlone. This will mean that in many of the parishes of our diocese there will not be a priest available to celebrate weekday Mass. However, Bishop Denis is encouraging parishes to keep their normal schedule of weekday liturgy from January 20th to 22nd and for parishioners to continue to gather for prayer on those days when they normally celebrate Mass. As has been stated by both Bishop Denis and the Irish Bishop’s conference, the most suitable form of prayer when a priest is not available to preside at weekday Mass  Morning Prayer or a Celebration of the Word.
Furthermore, Bishop Denis is inviting people across the diocese to join in praying for the needs and the people of the diocese in union with our priests and deacons. Parishioners are invited to write their prayer intentions and leave them in the church. Families are invited to pray the diocesan prayer in the home during this week while the weekday assemblies of people are encouraged to bring the needs and people of the diocese to their prayer together.
To help support the above, on behalf of Faith Development Services and the Diocesan Commission for Liturgical Formation, I am happy to share with you the attached resources for use during these days. These resources can also be drawn upon on other days in the parish when a priest is not available for Mass.
The following table of contents gives you an indication of what is to be found within them.
Table of Contents
Page
Sunday Mass Suggestions:
Blessing of prayer leaders for the week…………………………………………….                          3
Invitation to write prayer intentions………………………………………………….                        4
Prayer of the Faithful texts……………………………………………………………….                         4
Praying of Diocesan Prayer……………………………………………………………….                         4
Sample bulletin notices…………………………………………………………………….                        5
Morning Prayer:
Outline of the format of Morning Prayer……………………………………………Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6
Accompanying notes………………………………………………………………………..                        7
Preparation Meeting Guide for Leaders of Morning Prayer………………….                       9
Words of Introduction for Each Day………………………………………………….. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11
Readings for Each Day………………………………………………………………………Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12
Intercessions for Each Day………………………………………………………………..                         13
Monday Morning Prayer: Prayer Text………………………………………………… Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14
Tuesday Morning Prayer: Prayer Text…………………………………………………Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 16
Wednesday Morning Prayer: Prayer Text……………………………………………Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 18
Celebration of the Word
Outline of the format of a Celebration of the Word………………………………Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 20
Accompanying notes………………………………………………………………………….                      21
Preparation Meeting Guide…………………………………………………………………Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 23
Monday Celebration of the Word: Leader Prayer Text…………………………..                      25
Tuesday Celebration of the Word: Leader Prayer Text…………………………..                      29
Wednesday Celebration of the Word: Leader Prayer Text………………………Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 33
Monday Celebration of the Word: People’s Prayer Text…………………………                      37
Tuesday Celebration of the Word: People’s Prayer Text…………………………                      39
Wednesday Celebration of the Word: People’s Prayer Text…………………..                      41
Gospel Reflections for use 20, 21 & 22 January 2020……………………….                      43
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