A Province-Wide Simultaneous Mass
This year’s Catholic Board Council of the Ontario Student Trustees Association (OSTAAECO) has decided to set as their main project for the year, the organization of province-wide
Masses across Ontario. This endeavour has been envisioned to include having every high school
across the province hold a Mass in their schools on the day of May 7th2014, during OCSTA’s
Catholic Education Week.
This project has been named “Strengthening Students through the Church” and we, as
the Catholic Board Council, believe the fruits of this will be exactly that. The symbolism of
holding this unified Mass as one Catholic congregation, on the same day, will show the strength
of Catholic education in our province. It will demonstrate to our Catholic students an important
message of pride and, hopefully, due to this large-scale evangelization event, give young people
the courage to return to their faith.
To ensure unity among the celebrations across the province, the Catholic Board Council
has put together the overall outline for the Mass. These components of the Mass were put
together by Catholic student trustees from across Ontario. These student trustees, whose role
it is to represent the voice of students, have selected the pieces they believe will have the
greatest impact on their peers. The Mass outline can be found on the following pages.
The outline of the May 7 Mass demonstrates a uniformity that will show the strength
and unity of Catholic students across the province. However, outside of what is included in the
package, it will be left to the creativity of the individual schools to add to this outline for Mass.
The spirit of Catholicism welcomes the creative input that includes the community identity of
its Catholicism.
We, the Catholic Board Council, thank you for your continued support of the power of
the Catholic student voice. This project has the potential to be the largest and most impactful
endeavour undertaken by Catholic students across the province and we appreciate your cooperation. If any questions remain do not hesitate to contact us. We hope you are pleased with
our selections and we wish you well in your planning.
Walking forward in faith,
Madeline Ellepola
President
cbc.president@osta-aeco.org
Michael Pallotto
Vice President
cbc.vp@osta-aeco.org
Ontario Student Trustees’ Association • l'Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l'Ontario
Telephone: (289)237-5248 • @cbc_ontario• http://osta-aeco.org
Introductory Rites
Processional Hymn- Given that the Mass will be celebrated during Easter Season, the
Gathering Hymn should be a festive Easter hymn.
Greeting (including Bishop’s Message)
Penitential Act
Collect(see page 386 in the Roman Missal)
Liturgy of the Word
(see Weekday Lectionary, no. 275, page 531, with addition of the Second Reading)
First Reading: A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 8:1b-8
(It may be appropriate to omit the text in parenthesis.)
On the day that Stephen was killed, a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all
except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men
buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering
house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to
the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to
what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, (for unclean spirits, crying with loud
shrieks, came out of many who were possessed;) and many others who were paralysed or lame were
cured. So there was great joy in that city.
Responsorial Psalm-Psalm 66 as well as another well-known Easter responsorial seasonal
psalm: Psalm 118.
Second Reading:Philippians 4:4-9
(Chosen specifically by our Student Trustees to celebrate Catholic Education Week)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which
Ontario Student Trustees’ Association • l'Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l'Ontario
Telephone: (289)237-5248 • @cbc_ontario• http://osta-aeco.org
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally,
beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever
is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy
of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me and the God of peace will be with you.
Gospel-John 6.35-40
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and
whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet
do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to
me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the
will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of
all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that
all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last
day."
Homily- The student trustees resonated with the following aspects of the Gospel passage:
Feeding the crowd/Jesus is the bread of life; never hungry, never thirsty. (v.35)
Anyone who approaches Christ will never be driven away. (v. 37)
Service: Christ does the will of the Father (v. 38)
The strength of Jesus and his promise of eternal life are given to us. (v. 39)
We are made strong through our belief in Jesus and his promise (faith, belief,
and trust).
Prayer of the FaithfulPriest’s Introduction: Dear brothers and sisters, filled with Paschal joy and confident in the
promise of Christ’s faithfulness, let us place our needs before God.
For the Church: that it always be a living witness of the goodness of God. United in faith, we
pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the freedom to worship God in our country: that we never take this gift for granted. United
in faith, we pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
Ontario Student Trustees’ Association • l'Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l'Ontario
Telephone: (289)237-5248 • @cbc_ontario• http://osta-aeco.org
For those who struggle with mental, physical, and emotional pain: that they may find healing
and consolation in Christ Jesus. United in faith, we pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For students across the province of Ontario: that our united celebration of Mass this day may
strengthen the values and beliefs we share in common with our brothers and sisters .United in
faith, we pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For today’s youth: that we may be guided to learn and grow in our journey of faith. United in
faith, we pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For Catholic Education: that it continue to be a faithful and constant reminder of God’s deep
love for us. United in faith, we pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
(The final intention is to be decided by the schools.)
Priest’s Prayer: God, our Father, look upon your people gathered here in the name of your
Crucified and Risen Son. Hear and answer our prayer so that, strengthened by the Holy Spirit,
we may more fervently serve you. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts
Offertory Hymn-the Offertory procession may express the strength given to us by Christ by
singing a hymn, such as “Be Not Afraid”, “Deep Within”, and “You are Mine.”
Ontario Student Trustees’ Association • l'Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l'Ontario
Telephone: (289)237-5248 • @cbc_ontario• http://osta-aeco.org
Eucharist Prayer- Preface III of Easter: “Christ Living and Always Interceding for Us”
(page 538 of the Roman Missal)
Holy, holy, holy
(sung with Mass setting most known by the students)
Memorial Acclamation (sung with Mass setting most known by the students)
Amen
(sung with Mass setting most known by the students)
The Communion Rite
Lord’s Prayer
Sign of Peace
Breaking of Bread
Lamb of God
(sung with Mass setting most known by the students)
Communion Hymn- the Communion Procession may express the strength given to us by
Christ, such as “Be Not Afraid”, “Deep Within”, “You are Mine” and “I am the Bread of Life”
Concluding Rites
Blessing
Closing Hymn- “On Eagle’s Wing” (as chosen by the Catholic Board Council)
Ontario Student Trustees’ Association • l'Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de l'Ontario
Telephone: (289)237-5248 • @cbc_ontario• http://osta-aeco.org