Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
10-11

Aim
To say goodbye to the top Year in a primary school
To celebrate their time at a primary school
To appreciate the sadness of leaving
To look forward to their next school

Faith Group
Catholic
Christian

Resources
Hosts, wine, water, candles, chalice, ciborium, cloths, altar frontal showing self-portraits of the children and adults who are leaving
Large sheets of paper showing the Psalm and Bidding Prayers responses

Time of Year
July
End of the school year

Other Details
The theme of this Mass is 'Goodbye'

This is written as a Mass for a Catholic school, but could be adapted for other services
It could be held during the school day with the whole school present or in the evening for the leavers and their parents, followed by refreshments

The children could write their own Bidding Prayers, or use the ones below

This Mass is dedicated to the memory of a child who died with her family in the Lockerbie air disaster.
She wrote the fourth Bidding Prayer a few months before her death.

Script
HYMN: "One more step along the road I go"

PRIEST - FIRST PRAYER
God our Father, we are going to say goodbye to some of our friends today.
Help us to remember them always - and keep them always in your love.
We make our prayer through Jesus your Son, who lives for ever with you.

CHILD - FIRST READING (Romans 12: 1-3)
Saint Paul wrote a letter to the Romans. He told them to do their best for God.
We should always do our best for God, whatever that best is.

"We are members of God's family, and I ask you to remember two things: Keep God's kindness always in your minds; and give yourselves - heart and soul - to him.
Don't try to do what everybody else does. Keep an open mind and you'll be a very different person. In this way you'll be able to find out what God wants you to do and be - what is worthwhile and right and grown-up.
I know about God's love and I say this to you: Don't go about with high and mighty ideas about your own importance.
Think honestly about yourselves, remembering what your trust in God has taught you about God's love for you."
This is the word of the Lord...

CHILD - RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Ps. 138: 1-11)
The response is - You are always with us, Lord.
1. You know me Lord, so very well.
You know when I get up.
You know when I go back to sleep.
You know each thing I do.
Response ...

2. You know what I am going to say before I even speak!
You are always close to me.
You are wonderful, 0 Lord!
Response ...

3. If I climbed the highest hill,
You would be there with me.
If I swam beneath the waves
You would still be there.
Response ...

4. Even in the dark at night
You would be next to me.
Yes, even then I could not hide.
You would still be there.
Response ...

CHILD - ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia,
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.
Alleluia.

PRIEST - GOSPEL (John 14: 27)
Jesus is helping his friends to be brave as they say goodbye to him.

"When we leave one another, we say, "Peace be with you." But my goodbye is no casual goodbye. Peace is my parting gift to you - my own peace which nobody else can give you. So do not be upset, instead, be brave."
This is the Gospel of the Lord...

CHILDREN - PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL (BIDDING PRAYERS)
1. We give thanks for the six years we have had here at (name) school. We pray that we will have a good and happy time at our new schools.
Lord in your goodness... (hear our prayer)

2. We thank God for looking after us in this school and pray that he will look after us in our new schools. We pray that we will fit into our new schools quickly and easily.
Lord in your goodness... (hear our prayer)

3. We pray that the children who are coming into this school next year will settle in quickly and have a happy time.
Lord in your goodness... (hear our prayer)

4. We pray for all the children who haven't had a chance to go to school, to learn about sports, music, maths, religion etc. We pray that they may know about God, even though they can't go to school. Thank you for schools.
Lord in your goodness... (hear our prayer)

5. We pray that we may be more helpful in our homes and not grumble when our plans are upset. We pray that, during the summer holidays, we will make our parents feel glad that we are on holiday and not glad when we go back to school.
Lord in your goodness... (hear our prayer)

6. We pray for (adults' names) who are also leaving our school and beginning new stages in their lives.
Lord in your goodness... (hear our prayer)

7. Mary knew what it was like to say goodbye to a loved one. We ask her to help carry our prayers to heaven.
Hail Mary...

OFFERTORY HYMN: "All that I am" by Sebastian Temple (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 23)

PRIEST - SECOND PRAYER
God our Father, with these gifts of bread and wine, accept us wholly - all that we are and all that we do. But we cannot offer these gifts if there are any bad feelings in our hearts. Please fill us with your peace. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives for ever with you.

PRIEST - EUCHARISTIC PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

SUNG SIGN OF PEACE - HYMN: "Shalom, my friend" by Steven Jones (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 639)

PRIEST - THIRD PRAYER
God our Father, we are going now, but we do not have to say goodbye to you; you are always with us. May we leave here today, with hope and joy, to face the future. We make our prayer through Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you for ever.

HYMN: "Give me joy in my heart" (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 190)