St Leo’s at Easter

we cannot gather as usual at the Easter Vigil with the new fire and the Easter Candle,
nor at the Easter Mass on Sunday morning,
but we can give thanks to God for the faith, hope and love we share,
our families and friends, the parish of which we are all a cherished part,
the friendships which supports us, the churches and faith communities around us,
and the trust that justice and goodness and the kingdom of God are near.

We pray especially for the world in this time of pandemic.

There will be many Masses services available on line and there will be a ’private’ Mass at 10.30 on Easter Sunday morning at St Leo’s.

If you join me in spirit here – or tune in to Mass anywhere – here are two prayers:

Lord Jesus, in holy communion we are united with you, and through you with each other.
Help us to become more like you in the love and compassion we show
to all who are part of our lives.
You are one with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen

and a longer one:

Loving Father, in listening to Mass or watching it on the media,
I know that I am not physically part of that community at worship.
But, spiritually  when they ask forgiveness for their faults and their sins, then I ask forgiveness for mine.
When they listen to the reading of your word, I too look for a deepening of my faith and understanding,
When the priest speaks after the Gospel  he is trying to share his own faith and understanding with me, and to support me in mine.
When he presents the bread and wine before the Eucharistic Prayer, it also represents what I have to offer you;
and when the people sing Holy Holy Holy
then I join with them in acknowledging your presence  with us and goodness to us.
When we offer you what you have bestowed on us, the Sacrifice of perfect reconciliation,
we  ask  you to accept us also, together with your Son,
and to endow us with his very Spirit,  who takes away everything that estranges us from one another.

When they recite the Lord’s Prayer, so do I.
When they ask the Lamb of God for mercy and peace,
then I too ask it for myself, for those I love, and for people everywhere with all their faults and mistakes.

When priest and people receive communion
then I too am united spiritually with you through the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation,
and with all who follow Jesus.
Let my experience of this Mass help me to be more fully at one with you
as is Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God for ever and ever. Amen.