Submitted by
M. Norris

Age Group
5-11

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

Faith Group
Catholic
Christian

Resources
Hosts, wine, water, candles, chalice, ciborium, cloths, altar frontal showing children holding hands
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 'Friends are a gift'

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

Each Year group contributes to a different part of the Mass
(Year 5 prepares the hall and clears away afterwards)

Script
HYMN: sung to the school by the Infants "Magic Penny" or "Friends are like Flowers"

PRIEST - INTRODUCTION
God, our Father, our school year is nearly finished and for some of us a part of our school life is also coming to an end. We have come together to celebrate all the good and happy things that have happened to us this year and during our time at (name) school. We think about the friends that we have made. A faithful friend is one of the best gifts that God has given us. We thank God for the happiness we can have with them.

PRIEST - FIRST PRAYER
God our Father, we thank you for our friends. Help us to be true friends to each other and to love one another like real friends. We make our prayer through Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

CHILDREN (Year 3) - SORRY PRAYERS
Children write and read about three prayers saying sorry for things that are done wrong at home and at school.

CHILD (Year 2) - FIRST READING Phil 3:8, 10
Staint Paul is telling us, in this reading, that Jesus is a great friend to have, especially when we feel sorry for ourselves, or sad. We can be sure that Jesus will always understand our troubles and that he will be a real friend to us.

"Dear friends,
Nothing could be better than knowing Jesus!
I would give up everything, just to stay friends with him.

Remember how much he suffered and don't forget that we can always share our troubles with him when things go wrong."

This is the Word of the Lord...

PSALM - HYMN: "Yahweh, I know you are near" by Daniel Schutte (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 816)

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION - (Year 2)
Alleluia, alleluia.
I want you to be my friends and be happy with me.
Alleluia.

PRIEST - GOSPEL READING Jn. 15:15-17
St John is telling us in this reading that Jesus wants us to be his friends. He doesn't want us just to work for him.

One day Jesus said:
"I don't want you just to work for me and do as you're told.
I want you to be my friends and be happy with me.
But remember, you did not choose me, I chose you to be my friends and I want you to be friends with each other."

This is the Gospel of the Lord...

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL - (BIDDING PRAYERS)
PRIEST
God our Father, you are the special frend of little children.
You said to your friends, 'Don't stop the children from coming to me. Bring them back.
Put your arms around us now and bless us as we pray.

CHILDREN (Year 6) - read Bidding Prayers they have written themselves, on the theme of friends

HYMN: "Father I Place into Your Hands" verses 1 and 2 by J. Hewer (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 159)

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS (Year 4)
Children present these gifts to the Priest, as part of the Offertory Procession.
1. We bring a friendship bracelet.
Faithful friends give them to each other.
We offer Jesus our friendship.

2. We bring a happy face, to show that when we break up,
we can become friends again.
We offer Jesus our happiness.

3. We bring some pictures of our friends.
Pictures help us to remember our friends.
We offer Jesus our memories.

4. We bring a tie.
it is a symbol of how we all belong together.
We offer Jesus our whole school.

5. We bring our love with the bread, the wine and the water.

HYMN: "Father I Place into Your Hands" verses 3and 4 by J. Hewer (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 159)

PRIEST - SECOND PRAYER
God our Father, we your fliends, bring to you now ourselves and all our friends. Bless us all and put your loving arms around us. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen

COMMUNION HYMNS:
"0, Sacrament most Holy" (Hymns Old and New number 745)

"Centre of My Life" by Paul Inwood (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 543)

PRIEST - THIRD PRAYER
God our Father, you have given us Jesus our friend, in this Holy Communion. Help us to be his friends forever and ever. We make this prayer through Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: "The Love I Have for You" by Carey Landry (Hymns Old and New number 536)