Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
5-11

Aim
To celebrate the end of a school year
To look forward to the summer holidays

Faith Group
Catholic
Christian

Resources
Hosts, wine, water, candles, chalice, ciborium, cloths, altar frontal showing a scene from the Gospel or a modern holiday scene
Large sheet of paper showing the Bidding Prayers response

Time of Year
July
End of the school year

Other Details
The theme of this Mass is Holidays

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

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

Script
HYMN: "This is the day" (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 731)

PRIEST - BEFORE MASS
Today our theme is holidays. This is something we are all thinking about at this time of year. When the weather gets hot - and we have been working hard for a long time - we look forward to a break. Sometimes, we say that we cannot wait to "get away from it all". That is good, because having a rest, or a holiday, is all part of God's plan for us. When God created the world, he worked hard for six days, then he rested. We also need a rest - time to grow strong again, so that we can live and work and play properly.

HYMN: "Lord have mercy - American Eucharist" (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 41)

PRIEST - FIRST PRAYER
Father, we thank you for this school year; for the things we have learned and for the friends we have made. Help us to enjoy our holiday, and to bring your love to those we shall meet. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHILD - FIRST READING (1 Kings)
The First Reading is from the First Book of Kings. It tells us that if we stop and rest, we will hear God speaking to us. But if we are noisy and busy, we sometimes don't notice God speaking to us.

"Once there was a man called Elijah. He had an argument with the King.
The King was angry, so Elijah had to run away. He went into the desert and walked for a whole day.
Then, he sat down under a bush and said, "Please let me die, Lord! I've had enough!".
Then, he fell asleep. When he woke up, he had something to eat and drink. He felt a lot better. He walked to Mount Sinai and spent the night in a cave.
Then, God told him to listen.
First, the wind blew. It blew so strongly that big rocks came crashing down, smashing to pieces in the valley below.
But Elijah couldn't hear the voice of God.
Then the mountain began to shake with an earthquake.
But Elijah still couldn't hear God.
Then a fire broke out on the mountainside. The flames leaped up into the sky with a loud crackle.
But Elijah still couldn't hear God.
Then suddenly, everything became very still. Elijah heard the sound of a gentle breeze. He shut his eyes.
At last, he could hear the sound of the voice of God."
This is the Word of the Lord...

HYMN: (For the Psalm) "Spirit of God, as strong as the wind"

PRIEST - GOSPEL (Mark)
Jesus knew that having a rest was important. His Apostles worked hard and Jesus made sure that they rested as well.

"Jesus went around all the villages near Nazareth. He told everyone the Good News from God. Then he called the "Twelve" together and sent them out in twos, so they could do the same.
When they came back, they wanted to tell Jesus about the things they had said and done.
But Jesus said, "You haven't even had time to eat. Let's go away to a quiet place by ourselves - and have a rest.
This is the Gospel of the Lord...

CHILDREN - PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL (Bidding Prayers)
1. The response is ... Hear our prayer.
Sometimes we are too busy. We act as though work is the only important thing in our lives. We feel guilty about stopping and resting. Let us ask God to help us use the next six weeks well.
Lord in your mercy... (Hear our prayer.)

2. May we also remember that wherever we go on holiday, in England or abroad, God is still with us. We ask him to look after us and keep us safe.
Lord in your mercy... (Hear our prayer.)

3. We think of the beautiful things God has created, for us to enjoy on holiday: seasides, sand, sea, rivers, lakes, mountains, cliffs, hills, grass. May we look after the places we visit this year.
Lord in your mercy... (Hear our prayer.)

4. We remember that holidays are supposed to be happy, restful times for all the family. May we try hard this year, to help our parents have good holidays too.
Lord in your mercy... (Hear our prayer.)

5. We ask Mary to help carry our prayers to heaven, as we say
Hail Mary...

PRIEST - SECOND PRAYER
Father, as your Spirit changes this bread and wine into your Son's body and blood, may he fill our hearts with thanks for all you have done for us this year, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN: "Holy, holy, holy - American Eucharist" (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 41)

PRIEST - EUCHARISTIC PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

HYMN: "Lamb of God - American Eucharist" (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 41)

PRIEST - THIRD PRAYER
Loving Father, we thank you for the closeness of your Son, to us, in this Mass. We want to be with him always - when we work and when we rest, when we are at school and on holiday. May we use some of our holiday to get to know you better, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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