FIRST READING:

Acts 1: 1-11 "Why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus has been taken into heaven."

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:

Ps. 47 "God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord."

or

"Alleluia"

SECOND READING:

Eph. 1: 17-23 "He made Jesus to sit at his right hand in heaven."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:

Mt. 28: 16-20 "Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world."

GOSPEL:

Lk. 24: 46-53 "As he blessed them, he was taken up to heaven."

FOCUS: "Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world."

scriptural topics: glory, majesty, fulfillment, promise of Holy Spirit, baptism & mission.

REFLECTION: "The Son of God saves us continually, constantly, as he has throughout all times, and will for all eternity. Because He loves us." Annonymous

"Not only should we ourselves in accordance with God's will pray unceasingly in the name of Jesus Christ, but we are bound to reveal it and teach it to others, to everyone in general, religious and secular, learned and simple, men and women and children, and to inspire them all with zeal for prayer without ceasing."

St. Gregory of Thessalonica

"Our Lord doesn't need to make use of books or teachers in the instruction of souls; isn't he himself the Teacher of all Teachers, conveying knowledge with never a word spoken? For myself, I never heard the sound of his voice, but I know that he dwells within me all the time, guiding me and inspiring me whenever I do or say anything. A light, of which I'd caught no glimmer before, comes to me at the very moment when it's needed."

St. Therese of Lisieux

"From experience in the spiritual life, it can fairly be concluded that he who has zeal to pray needs no teaching how to perfect himself in prayer. Patiently continued, the effort of prayer itself will lead us to prayer's very summit.

But what are weak and indolent people to do, and especially those who before they have understood the pure nature of prayer, have become hardened by outward routine, and cooled by their formal reading of the appointed prayers? As a refuge and source of strength they can still use the technique for practising the Jesus Prayer. And is it not chiefly for them that this technique was invented, so as to graft true inner prayer into their hearts."

Theophane the Recluse

APPLYING THE READINGS TO THE LITURGY: Explore the connection between the message of Jesus and the Eucharist. Through the Holy Spirit, grace empowers us to go forth and proclaim the Good News.

Introduce the breaking of the bread by saying this is the bread that gives us the strength to be a witness to the truth and teach others.

Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling with Holy Water.

Sample General Intercessions:

Introduction:My brothers and sisters, we are gathered to celebrate the mystery of Christ-Among-Us. Because of this presence, God always hears the prayers of the faithful:

¥ May we joyfully proclaim and live our faith in Christ always;

¥ Let us give thanks for God's gifts to us. Through his gifts, peace and well-being shall prevail in this world, and shall lead us to salvation in the world to come;

¥ For the strength of our families, community, and the whole world, may we learn to see Christ in all the poor and suffering people of this world.

Preface: Ascension

Solemn Blessing for the Ascension

Faith Formation

The ascension of Jesus to heaven lifts us to fill his role on earth. Now we are elevated and enabled to do God's work. We are not mere spectators. We are Christ's hands and his instruments of salvation for the whole world. We love one another as he loved us.

Song suggestions (see next page) :

Center of My Life

Yes, I Shall Arise

Hail Thee, Festival Day

Children's Liturgy

of the Word

Jesus said he had to leave us, yet he would be with us till the end of time. How is this possible? He is with us in the form of the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter and helper. In this way we are connected to God now and always.

After Jesus went to Heaven, the disciples were standing around looking up at the sky in amazement. Some angels appeared to them and told them to get on with what Jesus had told them to do. And that's what we have to do, too. (What did Jesus tell us to do?)

Song suggestions (see next page):

Sing to the Lord

Dwelling Place

Crown Him With Many Crowns

GATHERING SONG:

At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing

ACH, BB/MI, CBW III, CVH, GC, JS,

RS, WP

All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name ACH,

BB/MI, CVH, GPCOMP, PMB, WCH,

WP

All the Ends of the Earth (Dufford)

BB/MI, GP, GPCOMP

Alleluia, Give Thanks to the Risen Lord

(Fishel) ACH, BB/MI, CBW III, CVH,

PMB, WCH, WP

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus BB/MI, CBW III,

CVH, GPCOMP, PMB, WCH, WOV

Called by God's Holy People (Chepponis)

G-3618

Come to Me and Live (O'Brien) G- 4515

Christ Is Here (Walker) OCP 9790, JS

Crown Him with Many Crowns BB/MI,

CBW III, CVH, GPCOMP, PMB, WCH,

WOV, WP

Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise BB/MI,

CBW II, CVH, JS, WOV

Hail Thee, Festival Day! CBW III, CVH

GC, JS, PMB, RS

Hope of the World WP

I Will Be with You GTR

In Praise of His Name (O'Connor)

BB/MI, GP, GTR, JS

Lord, You Give The Great Commission

BB/MI, GC, RS, WP

O Sons and Daughters CVH, CBW III,

PMB, RJ, WOV, WP

Praise Him as He Mounts the Skies

CBW III, CVH, WP

Priestly People (Deiss) PMB, WCH

Sing a New Song (Schutte) BB/MI,

CBWI II, GP, GPCOMP, GTR

Song to Jesus Christ (Huijbers) BB/MI,

GTR

The Church's One Foundation ACH,

BB/MI, CBW III, CVH, GPCOMP, PMB,

WCH, WP, WS

There's a Spirit in the Air PMB, WP

We Walk By Faith (Haugen) ACH,

BB/MI, CBW III, CVH, GC, GPCOMP,

GTR, RS, WCH, WP, WW

Yes, I Shall Arise BB/MI

Yes, I Shall Arise (Deiss) PMB, WCH

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:

PSALMS (Kreutz)

Eastertime Psalm (Chepponis) G-3907

God Mounts His Throne (Inwood) BB/MI,

GP2

Psalm 47 (Hughes) G-2029

Psalm 47: To You Great King (Walker)

9121 OCP

Psalm 47 (Palmer) G-4063

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS:

All That is Hidden (Farrell) BB/MI, GP2,

HM, JS

Alleluia, Alleluia (Buxtehude) 312-40668

Ascension (L. Hoiby) 312-40728

Break Out Shouting Joy (Lisicky) WS

Center of My Life (Inwood) BB/MI, GTR

Christ Be Our Light (Farrell) BB/MI, GP2,

JS, OCP

Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Sky

(Lovelace) AF-11-2484, CVH

Come Down, O Love Divine BB/MI,

CBW III, CVH, PMB, WOV, WP

Dwelling Place (Foley) BB, CBW II, GP,

GPCOMP

Ephphetha (Haugen) G-2787

Go Therefore and Make Disciples of All

Nations MSM 50-6200

Go to the World! (Jorhengen) G-4395

God Mounts His Throne 29 GTR, 1189 WS

I Arose (Kreutz) 2272 WS

I Will Be With You (Moore) G-2803

Jesus, the Lord (O'Connor) BB/MI, GP,

GPCOMP, GP2, HM, JS

Jesus, My All to Heaven Is Gone (Scott)

AF-11-10288

King of Glory (Powell) G-4771

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling BB/MI,

GPCOMP, CVH, WP

Now the Green Blade Rises CBW III,

CVH, GTR, JS, WP

The Ascension (C. Dello Joio) 312-40819

The Lord Ascended on High (Klammer)

G-2835

There Is Nothing Told (Willcock) BB/MI,

HM, JS

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy BB/

MI, CVH, WP

There Is a Balm in Gilead ACH,

CVH, GTR, WP

Unless a Grain of Wheat (Farrell) BB/MI,

GP2, HM, JS

Why Stand Staring (Huijbers) 8489 OCP

Witnesses (Nelson) AF-33-99-160

You Shall Be My People (Ward)

WCH, WW

COMMUNION:

Abba! Father! (Landry) BB/MI, GP, GP2,

GPCOMP, HM

Be Thou, My Vision 332-40920, CVH,

WOV

Christus Paradox (Sensmeier) G-4543

Christians, Let Us Love One Another BB/

MI, CBW III, HM

Draw Near and Take the Body 194 BB,

CVH, TM, WP, WW

Eat This Bread (Berthier) BB/MI, CBW

III, GC, GTR, GPCOMP, RS, WP, WW

Gather Us Together (Hurd) BB/MI

Gift of Finest Wheat (Kreutz) ACH,

BB/MI, CBW III, CVH, GP2

GPCOMP, PMB, WCH, WP

Gift of Love BB, GTR, TM

Here I Am, Lord (Ward) PMB,

WCH, 7576 WS

Hope of the World WP

I Am the Bread of Life (Toolan) ACH,

BB/MI, CBW III, GPCOMP,

GTR, WCH, WP

I Will Be the Vine (Lawton) G-4663

In the Breaking of the Bread (Hurd) BB/

MI, 340 GTR

In the Breaking of the Bread (Ward) 222

WCH

Laus Tibi Christe (Berthier) TAIZE II

Let Us Be One 676 PMB, 242 WCH

One Bread, One Body (Foley) ACH,

BB/MI, GP, GPCOMP, GTR,

WW, WCS

One Is (Cooney) G-3968

Now Glad of Heart (Lovelace) G-3153

Peace Be With You (Walker) OCP

Thanks Be to God (Mendelssohn) 392-

00653

That We May Be One (Moore) G-3311

The Great Commission MSM 50-6000

This Is My Body CBW III, WCH

To Be Your Bread (Haas) BB/MI, JS,

PMB

We Are Many Parts (Haugen) BB/MI,

GTR, GC, RS, WCH

We Who Were Once Dead (Haas) G-3504

SONG OF PRAISE:

Bright As Silver, Pure As Gold (Goebel-

Komala) G-4407

Glory to the Holy One (Marchionda)

PMB, 7942 WS

I Will Be With You (Moore) G-2803

Rejoice, the Lord Is King BB/MI,

CBWIII, CVH, WP

Sing Out Your Praise (Joncas) WCS, WS,

WW

We Are Many Parts (Haugen) BB/MI,

GTR, WCH

You Shall Be My Witnesses (Chepponis)

G-2543

CLOSING SONG:

All Shall Be Well (Foley) BB/MI,

GPCOMP, JS

At the Name of Jesus BB/MI, CBW III,

CVH, WCH, WP

Behold the Glory of God BB/MI

Christ Is Alive CBW III, CVH, GTR,

PMB, WP

Christ Is Arisen (M. Praetorius) 352-00169

Easter Alleluia (Haugen) GTR

Easter Solemn Dismissal (Chant) BB/MI

Forth in the Peace of Christ CBW III,

CVH, WP

Forth in Thy Name, O Lord CBW III,

WOV

Glory and Praise to Our God (Schutte)

BB/MI, GP, GPCOMP, GTR

Go Make of All Disciples CVH, WP

Go to the World! (Chepponis) G-5133

Great Is the Lord (J. Haydn) 332-09589

Great Is the Lord (Toolan) BB/MI,

CBW II

Let the Earth Rejoice and Sing PMB, RJ

May They Be One (Marchionda) WS

Now Thank We All Our God ACH,

BB/MI, CBW III, CVH, GP

WCH, WOV, WP

Praise to the Holy Trinity PMB, RJ

Sing of the Lord's Goodness (Sands)

BB/MI, GTR

Sing to the Lord (Dameans) BB/MI, GP,

GPCOMP

The Living God (Temple) CBW II, PMB,

WCH

The Father's Love (Lole) G-4179

This Glad Day (Palestrina) 332-40155

This Is the Day (Haugen) GTR, WCH

Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones BB/MI,

CVH, PMB, WP

We Feel Your Presence, Lord (Young) G-3106

We Remember, We Believe (Porter) G-4721

While The Earth Remains (Bell) G-5160