Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
8-14

Aim
To celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ)

Faith Group
Catholic
Christian

Resources
The Bidding Prayers response can be written on a large sheet of paper and held up at the right time
Bread, grapes for the Offertory procession
Hosts, wine, water, candles, chalice, ciborium, cloths, altar frontal showing a picture of bread and grapes or the Last Supper

Time of Year
The Feast of Corpus Christi - May or June depending on the date of Easter. Click on the 'Calendar' link below to find out the exact date.

Other Details
This is written as a Mass for a Catholic school, but could be adapted for other services
The children could mime the First Reading

Script
HYMN: "Love is his Word" by Luke Connaughton (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 399)

PRIEST - FIRST PRAYER
God our Father, we believe that when we celebrate Mass your Son gives himself to us. Help us to grow more worthy to meet him in the Eucharist and to be joined to him as parts of the one body that makes up your Church.
We make our prayer through Jesus our living Lord, who reigns with you for ever and ever. Amen.

CHILD - FIRST READING
A reading from Saint Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He is describing the Last Supper.

On the night when he was handed over to the Jewish leaders, Jesus had supper with his friends. During supper, he picked up the loaf of bread, said Grace over it and broke it into pieces.
"This is my body," he said. "I am giving myself up for you. Do this to remember me by."
When supper was over, he raised the cup in the same way.
"This cup," he said, "means my death. I am dying to bring all men to God.
Whenever you drink it, remember me."
This is the word of the Lord.

CHILD - ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
Alleluia!

PRIEST - GOSPEL Luke 9: 11-17
Jesus made the crowds welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.
It was late afternoon when the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the people away. They can go to the villages and farms nearby, to find food and lodging; for we are in a lonely place here."
He replied, "Give them something to eat yourselves."
But they said, "We only have five loaves and two fish."
There were about five thousand people.
Jesus said to the disciples, "Get them to sit down in groups of about fifty." They did this. Then Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them. Then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to give out to the crowd.
They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the remaining scraps were collected they filled twelve baskets.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL (BIDDING PRAYERS)
PRIEST
We need the Bread of Life so that we can be loving and kind like Jesus. Now we are going to pray, as he did for other people and what they need:

CHILDREN
1. We pray for farmers who work long hours to grow corn for our bread.
May they have the right weather - wet enough to grow the corn and dry enough to harvest it.
Lord in your mercy ... (Hear our prayer.)

2. We pray for bakers who get up early to bake our bread. May they continue to use their skill well.
Lord in your mercy ... (Hear our prayer.)

3. We pray for people who do not have enough bread to eat. May their hunger be satisfied.
Lord in your mercy ... (Hear our prayer.)

4. We pray for people who do not know that Jesus is the Bread of Life.
May they realise that Jesus came to save all mankind.
Lord in your mercy ... (Hear our prayer.)

5. Now we pray with Mary the bakerwoman. Hail Mary ...

OFFERTORY
Children will bring up the usual objects, plus a loaf of bread and some grapes, to go on the side table. Priest could refer to the bread and grapes as being basic food in the Holy Land in the time of Jesus.

OFFERTORY HYMN: "In bread we bring you Lord" by Kevin Nichols (Hymns Old and New number 243)

PRIEST - SECOND PRAYER
Good Father, we bring you gifts of bread and wine which your power will change into the Body and Blood of Christ. By that same power change our lives, so that we may grow more like your Son every day. We make our prayer through Jesus, who lives with you for ever and ever. Amen.

PRIEST - EUCHARISTIC PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

PRIEST - THIRD PRAYER
God our Father, we have been joined together in this Mass, sharing the Bread of Life. It will nourish us and make us strong and lively members of your Church. We will try with your help to respond to that challenge. We ask for that help through Jesus himself, who lives with you for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: "Feed us Now" by Peter Allen (Hymns Old and New number 138)