WUCWO DAY OF PRAYER, MAY 13TH 2014, PREPARED BY THE AFRICAN REGION

 

THEME: TRUTH IN ACTION-SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

(Eph 4:15)

OPENING HYMN:

A TRUTH IN MY INWARD BEING (CH. 64 6t464645) OR ANY SUITABLE HYMN

1. Truth in my inward being,

wisdom in my secret heart,

O Lord that’s what you desire. (2x)

Willing spirit, Holy Spirit, Willing Spirit,

This is our sacrifice.

2.We offer our minds and hearts,

To you O God at this table

O Lord, that’s what you desire.

3.We bring our gifts to you Lord,

In form of bread and wine

O Lord that’s what you desire.

4.Bless them and change them O Lord

Into your body and blood

O Lord, that’s what you desire.

5.All glory be to the Father,

And to the Son and the Spirit

O Lord, that’s what you desire.

 

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER:

We gather united as Catholic women around the world praying on this WUCWO DAY OF PRAYER - 13th May- together. Our focus these years is on love in action. Today we offer our prayers that we might receive the grace to advocate and work effectively to end hatred and violence in our world. We pray that our efforts will lead us and the rest of mankind to practice and show more love and concern for one another. May our families and work places be filled with the spirit of love, harmony, understanding and truth. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.

OPENING REMARKS:

The WUCWO women of Africa greet you all in the name of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

WUCWO day of prayer is celebrated in Africa with a lot of joy and thanksgiving to God because it is the only day of the year when WUCWO members the world over together with their families and friends are united in prayer with a common intention. We thank God for giving us the opportunity to prepare the prayer for this year, 13th May 2014.

The WUCWO Priority for 2014 is “Truth in Action”, hence the choice of the THEME.

We need truth in the world today more than ever before. Truth breeds justice and justice begets peace. Jesus Christ is our master and he identifies himself with truth. We see this in John 14:6 when he says “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ” If we say we believe in Jesus Christ then we must strive for knowledge of the truth and act upon it. We must not be people with corrupt minds and counterfeit Faith who oppose the truth, for opposing the truth is opposing Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:7-9).

One of the rewards of faith is wisdom which is based on truth referred to as divine wisdom. We should surrender ourselves totally to the Holy Spirit and live life in the Spirit and truth.

Truth in Action requires that we should be true to ourselves and love ourselves for what we are, the image of God, and see the same image in all we meet in the family, church, society and even in your enemy.

Proverbs 23:23 says: “Buy truth and do not sell it, buy wisdom, instructions and understanding.” Beloved sisters, brothers and friends of WUCWO, as we gather today in prayer and the sacrifice of the Mass, let us be present with open minds, listening ears and eager hearts to receive God’s words. Let us be people of light by our deeds: “For all who do evil, hate the light and do not come to the light so that their deeds may not exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” John 3:20-21

Remember that the truth shall always set you free.

MASS

VOLTIVE MASS OF OUR LADY (TODAY IS ALSO THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA)

Entrance:            Marian Hymn – Procession with Placards on truth

E.g. The truth will set you free

       I am the way the truth and the life

       Let us practice truth

       Let us act truth

       Truth means fidelity

       Truth is divine wisdom

Lord Have Mercy:

Gloria:

Opening Prayer: O God who chose the Mother of your Son to be our Mother also, grant us that, persevering in truth, penance and prayer for the salvation of the world, we may further more effectively each day the reign of Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

First Reading:   Acts 5:1-11

The fraud of Ananias and Sapphira – (Could be dramatized by letting people read different parts)

• Ananias
• Sapphira
• Peter
• The crowd

There was another man, however, called Ananias. He and his wife, Sapphira, agreed to sell a property; but with his wife’s connivance he kept back part of the proceeds, and brought the rest and presented it to the apostles. ‘Ananias’, Peter said ‘how can Satan have so possessed you that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the money from the land? While you still owned the land, wasn’t it yours to keep, and after you had sold it wasn’t the money yours to do with as you liked? What put this scheme into your mind? It is not to men that you have lied, but to God.’ When he heard this Ananias fell down dead. This made a profound impression on everyone present. The younger men got up, wrapped the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had taken place. Peter challenged her, ‘Tell me, was this the price you sold the land for?’ ‘Yes,’ she said ‘that was the price.’ Peter then said, ‘So you and your husband have agreed to put the Spirit of the Land to the test! What made you do it? You hear those footsteps? They have just been to bury your husband; they will carry you out, too.’ Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in they found she was dead, and they carried her out and buried her by the side of her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Second Reading:             2 Tim 4:1-5

Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience – but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching. The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The Gospel:                      John 18:37-38

‘Yes I am a King. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—ito bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”  Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

HOMILY

The Creed:

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Celebrant:          Lord Jesus, you commissioned us to love one another as you have loved us. We offer our prayers to God Almighty confident in his loving attention.

1. Reader: We pray for the church and her leaders especially Pope Francis that Christ who is the truth should grant them divine wisdom to lead in justice and truth. So that they could be shining examples to the world. We pray to the Lord, Lord hear us.

Response:          Lord, graciously hear us.

2. Reader:               We pray for the courage to love in truth all mankind without discrimination of race, nation, colour, religion and in every human being that we meet. We pray to the Lord, Lord hear us.

Response           Lord, graciously hear us.

3. Reader:               We pray for governments all over the world, that they will listen to the voices of the people and make laws and policies which promote social justice and peace. We pray to the Lord, Lord hear us.

Response           Lord, graciously hear us.

4. Reader:               We pray for our families and homes. Lord, there is still a lot of violence and fighting in a lot of our homes. There is also the lack of truth and lies telling. Teach us how to be truthful in all that we say think and do and to love, cherish and respect each member of our families and homes. Lord hear us.

Response           Lord, graciously hear us.

5. Reader:               We pray for all victims of hatred, wars, trafficking, rape and all forms of violence. Lord, many of our nations are at war with each other. Very often it is mostly the innocent people who suffer most. Help us know how to solve our problems and differences through dialogue instead of the gun.  We pray to the Lord, Lord hear us.

Response           Lord, graciously hear us.

6. Reader:               We pray for our youths and children. Lord many of our children and young ones have taken to scamming over the internet, lie telling, stealing, drug abuse and sexual immorality. Lord, we pray for all of them today. Liberate them from these vices. We pray to the Lord, Lord hear us.

Response           Lord, graciously hear us.

7. Reader:               Let us pray for Catholic women all over the world. Lord, we pray that all Catholic Women, lay and consecrated, will have the strength, courage and ability to stand up for the truth in all circumstances.

We pray to the Lord, Lord hear us.

Response           Lord, graciously hear us.

8. Reader:               Let us pray for the forthcoming General Assembly of WUCWO which will be held  in Fatima, Portugal from October the 22nd - 27th October 2014 under the theme: Women of WUCWO, Sowers of Hope “I commission you to go out and bear fruit.”(Jn. 15:16). We pray that the leaders of WUCWO will be filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to continue to lead Catholic women and other women of the world in truth and in love. May the Assembly be a success and a source of inspiration to all who will attend. We pray to the Lord, Lord hear us.

Response           Lord, graciously hear us.

9. Reader:  May our Mother Mary intercede for us as we sing:

“Oh come to the throne of Grace”

O come to the throne of grace;

O come to the heart most pure

To Mary, our hope of life,

In whom salvation is sure

O Lady of Fatima hail

Immaculate mother of Grace

O pray for us helps us today,

Thou hope of the human race

Celebrant: Lord Jesus, how happy we would be if we could do all we have prayed for.   Give us the power and courage to love you more, in your church and in one another in truth and love, now and forever and ever. Amen

OFFERTORY-song: CH 53 or any other suitable song

Prayer over the gifts

Lord, we offer you our gifts fruits of our labour and sweat. Be pleased Oh Lord; and accept them and bless us. Give employment to those who are unemployed. Make those who have jobs be committed to what they have to do. May we labour in order to enhance true love and peace among all the peoples of the world. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen

Sanctus, Sanctus (Holy Holy)

The Our Father… (recited or sung holding hands to form a chain round the church)

Sign of peace

Song (Peace is flowing like a river…)

Peace is flowing like a river,

Flowing out of you and me,

Flowing out into the desert,

Setting all the captives free.

Love……………

Joy……………….

Life……………….

Truth………………

LAMB OF GOD

COMMUNION Song: CH 76 (Latin: Adoro te Devote), CH 70, CH 93 etc.

CONCLUDING PRAYER:               

Prayer to Mary, Queen of Peace, Patroness of WUCWO

O Loving God, your Son, Jesus Christ, came into this world to do your will and leave us His love. Through the intercession and example of our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of love, grant us the wisdom and humility to reflect that love to the world. Inspire our thoughts, words and actions to bear witness to your presence in our hearts. May your Holy Spirit fill us with every grace and blessing so that we may pursue what leads to love for all humanity. Amen.

FINAL BLESSING

Exit Song (The Spirit of God Is Moving) or any other suitable song

                           The spirit of God is moving,

                           Is moving around the world 2x

Chorus

I di waka, I di waka go round the world (2x ) (Pidgin English).

END OF MASS

After the Mass this sketch could be done or any other suitable sketch to bring out the importance that truth will always prevail.

SKETCH ON TRUTH AND PEACE

Bih and Epose were two good friends. They grew tomatoes side-by-side in a field. Their farms produced good fruits. Before harvest time, Bih noticed that someone was harvesting her tomatoes in the night. She could not understand what was happening that her tomatoes were being harvested and those of Epose were not.

Nyiango who knew Bih and Epose as great friends and was not happy to see this friendship growing so well decided to bring hatred between them. She arranged that these tomatoes be harvested so that she can accuse Epose for being the one.

Nyiango tells Bih that Epose is the one harvesting her tomatoes and this is proved by the fact that her own tomatoes are intact. Bih became very angry with Epose and that jeopardized their friendship. Nyiango was happy.

Finally, Nyiango realized what she has done; helped by Fri and using a traditional method went to Bih with a peace plant and ask for pardon. In that way, Bih and Epose’s friendship was restored and Nyiango became their friend as well. 

End of ceremony with WUCWO Anthem

Hymn to Mary, Queen of Peace

(Sung to the tune of Amazing Grace)

Most gracious Mary, Queen of Peace

Embrace us with you love;

May our desirer sincerely be

To praise our God above.

Implore for us the spirit’s gifts

To follow in your way;

Let wisdom and humility

Guide all we do and say.

In confidence we witness Christ

Whose truth has set us free

May we pursue what leads to peace

For all humanity.