Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
8-14

Aim
To celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Faith Group
Catholic
Christian

Resources
Hosts, wine, water, candles, chalice, ciborium, cloths, altar frontal showing one large fish in the sky and lots of small fish in the sea (using the Christian fish symbol)
The Psalm and Bidding Prayers responses can be written on large sheets of paper and held up at the right time

Time of Year
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul - June 29th

Other Details
This is written as a Mass for a Catholic school, but could be adapted for other services

Script
ENTRANCE HYMN: "Follow Me, Follow Me" by Michael Cockett (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 175)

PRIEST - FIRST PRAYER
God our Father, you call all kinds of people to belong to your Church - and each one shows a little of your love and power.
We want to work with you and for you, like Peter and Paul.
Help us to be what you want us to be.
We make our prayer through Jesus your Son, who lives and reigns ...

CHILD - FIRST READING: (mimed by children)
This reading is from the Acts of the Apostles

Making threats of death against the disciples of the Lord, Saul journeyed to Damascus.
If he found any Christians there, he would capture them and bring them to Jerusalem.

As he was travelling, there suddenly shone around him a great light from heaven. He fell to the ground, blinded. As he lay there, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

And he said, "Who are you, Lord?"
And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you persecute."

Three days later, Saul's sight returned. He changed his name to Paul and spent the rest of his life spreading the Good News about Jesus.
This is the Word of the Lord...

CHILD - RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (read by Saul/Paul)
The Response is - Lord, you are my light.

I. I love you, my Lord,
for you have made me strong.
Response...

2. I thank you, my Lord,
for you have heard my prayer.
Response...

3. I praise you, my Lord,
You have been like a light before my eyes.
Response...

4. I worship you, my Lord.
You have made my darkness into light.
Response...

CHILD - GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: (read by God)
Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the Light of the World, says the Lord.
Anyone who follows me, will have the light of life.
Alleluia.

PRIEST - GOSPEL: (Matthew 16: l3 -18)
Peter did not always say the right thing - but this time he said exactly the right thing. Listen carefully.

One day, when Jesus was praying with his disciples, he asked them this question, "Who do the people say I am?"

The disciples replied, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But you", Jesus said, "who do you say I am?".
Then Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus was pleased. "Simon, Son of Jonah, you are a happy man. It was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. So now I say to you - YOU ARE PETER AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH."

This is the Gospel of the Lord ....

CHILDREN - PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL: (Bidding Prayers)
1. Peter, the first Pope, began the task of building God's Church here on earth. We pray for (John Paul) our Pope, (Cormac) our Bishop and all our priests who are continuing this work today. Be a light to them - and help them as they lead us to you.
Lord in your mercy ... (hear our prayer.)

2. We pray for missionaries, like Paul, who spread God's message of love in far-away countries.
Lord in your mercy ... (hear our prayer.)

3. The Lord made Peter and Paul strong - and gave them the courage to make a new start.
Please help us to be strong enough to forget the things which have gone wrong in the past and to try harder in the future.
Lord in your mercy ... (hear our prayer.)

4. Please help us to be strong, kind and loving.
Lord in your mercy ... (hear our prayer.)

5. Please help us to be strong enough to forgive.
Lord in your mercy ... (hear our prayer.)

6. Please help us to he strong enough to believe in you.
Please make our faith as steady as a rock.
Lord in your mercy ... (hear our prayer.)

7. Now let us ask Mary our mother to pray for us.
Hail Mary ...

OFFERTORY HYMN: "In bread we bring you, Lord" by Kevin Nichols (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 302)
During the hymn, along with the bread and wine, take up: a rock, a torch and a fish.

PRIEST - SECOND PRAYER
Good Father, with these gifts we offer ourselves to you.
You made the weak man, Simon, into your strong leader, Peter.
You made the fighter Saul into the missionary Paul.
You can make us into people who live truly for you and in you.
We ask you to do this through Jesus your Son, who lives and reigns...

AFTER COMMUNION HYMN: "Be still" by David Evans (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 72)

PRIEST - THIRD PRAYER
God our Father, we have come as close to Jesus in this Mass, as Peter and Paul ever were.
Help us to work with Him and for Him with a love and energy like theirs.
We're going out now to try.
We ask for your help, through Jesus your Son, who lives ...

FINAL HYMN: "Walk in the Light" by Damian Lundy (Hymns Old and New number 547)