Submitted by
S. Daly

Age Group
8-14

Aim
To celebrate the Feast of All saints

Faith Group
Catholic
Christian

Resources
Hosts, wine, water, candles, chalice, ciborium, cloths, altar frontal showing scenes from the Gospel
Large sheets of paper showing the Psalm and Bidding Prayers responses

Time of Year
The Feast of All Saints - November 1st

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

The saints mentioned in th Bidding Prayers could be replaced by saints relevant to your school, for example House saints or local church/area saints

Script
HYMN: "Happy the Man" by Sebastian Temple (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 242)

PRIEST: Idea for introductory talk, or homily
Today we are thinking about the people who are in heaven - people we know who have died, grandparents, aunts, uncles and lots of people we don't know too.
They are 'saints'. This word means 'belonging to God'.
A long time ago, if you were a Christian and trying to be like Jesus you were called a saint.
The saints were all great people. They were great for God. We can be like them.
We do belong to God and we do want to be like Jesus.
So this Mass is about us, as well as all the people in heaven.

PRIEST: Idea for Penitential Rite
Before we begin, let us think about the things we do which stop us being like saints.
We may have spoilt the love in our family at home, or the family in school, by being selfish and greedy, by grabbing the best for ourselves and so on.
Let us say we are sorry for these things. (Pause and then 'I confess'...)

PRIEST: First Prayer
Father, today we remember the holy men and women of every age.
Some are famous and well known to us.
Most are known only to you. Thank you for making our world a better place through so many good people, and teach us to follow their example, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHILD: First Reading (Ecclus.31:8-11)
This reading is from the Old Testament, from a book of wise sayings, the Book of Ecclesiasticus.
It says that people who do good will never be forgotten.

"Happy are those who were without sin and who were not led astray by wanting gold or riches. They are the ones whose lives we admire.
They could have sinned, but they did not sin; they could have done wrong, but they did no wrong. The good that they did will never be forgotten. The whole church will speak of how kind and generous they were.
This is the word of the Lord...

CHILD: Responsorial Psalm
The response is: We are his people, we belong to him.
1. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Response...

2. Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Response...

3. Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Response...

4. Indeed, how good is the Lord,
Eternal his merciful love;
He is faithful from age to age.
Response...

CHILD: Verse before the Gospel
Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the pure in heart;
for they shall see God.
Alleluia

PRIEST: Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12)
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them.

How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
This is the Gospel of the Lord...

Prayers of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers)
PRIEST: Now we are going to think about what being a saint means and pray that God will help us.

CHILD 1: The response is ... hear our prayer.
We pray for the saints and martyrs of the Church, living faithfully and dying courageously, for the glory of God.
Lord in your goodness...

CHILD 2: We think of Saints Thomas More, John Fisher and Alban, who remained faithful to you and were martyred. Lord God, may we have the strength never to deny you.
Lord in your goodness ...

CHILD 3: We think of Saint Bede, a great writer, historian and mathematician.
May we always do our best at school.
Lord in your goodness ...

CHILD 4: We think of Saint Aidan, who taught people about God. May we show people we are Christians, by the way we behave.
Lord in your goodness ...

CHILD 5: We think of people we know, who have died and are happy in Heaven.
May we try to be saints like them.
Lord in your goodness ...

CHILD 6: When we look around this room, we remember that we all belong to God. May we be kinder to each other.
Lord in your goodness ...

CHILD 7: We now ask Mary, the Queen of all saints, to pray for us. She always remembered that she belonged to God. Hail Mary ...

PRIEST: Second Prayer
May this bread wine be a sign that we want to belong to you. May we give ourselves to you in all that we do. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PRIEST: Eucharistic Prayer for Children

COMMUNION HYMN: "Do not be afraid" by G. Markland (Celebration Hymnal for Everyone number 147)

PRIEST: Third Prayer
May the Bread of Life which we have shared make us so like Jesus Christ that we will be ready to be your saints. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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