EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

AND THE

RITE OF ORDINATION

TO THE

SACRED ORDER OF DEACONS

5 SEPTEMBER 2022

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Pasig City, Metro Manila
2

Fo r
those who have served well as deacons
obtain for themselves a high standing and a great
confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:13
 THE INTRODUCTORY RITES 3
When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Bishop and the faithful, standing,
sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross, while the Bishop, facing the people,
says:

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The people reply:

Amen.

Then the Bishop, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:

Peace be with you.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

The Bishop invites the faithful, saying:

Brethren, we are gathered today in God’s temple

as one community that rejoices for the gift of vocation
as we ordain our brother for the service to the Church
and to God’s people.
And so, to begin our celebration,
let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves
to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together:

I confess to almighty God

and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
4
And, striking their breast, they say: 5

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

Then they continue:

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The absolution by the Bishop follows:

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

The people reply:

Amen.

KYRIE

The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just
occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.

℣: Lord, have mercy.

℟: Lord, have mercy.

℣: Christ, have mercy.

℟: Christ, have mercy.

℣: Lord, have mercy.

℟: Lord, have mercy.
6 Then, the Bishop, with hands joined, says:

Let us pray.

And all pray in silence with the Bishop for a while.

Then the Bishop, with hands extended, says the Collect prayer.

O God, who have commanded us

to listen to your beloved Son,
be pleased, we pray,
to nourish us inwardly by your word,
that, with spiritual sight made pure,
we may rejoice to behold your glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

At the end of which the people acclaim:

Amen.
 LITURGY OF THE WORD 7
FIRST READING Genesis 12, 1-4a

A reading from the Book of Genesis

T heLORD said to Abram:

“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.

“I will make of you a great nation,

and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you.”

Abram went as the LORD directed him.

To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims:

The word of the Lord.

All reply:

Thanks be to God.
8 RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

℟: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Upright is the word of the LORD,

and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

℟: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

℟: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Our soul waits for the LORD,

who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

℟: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

SECOND READING 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 9

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy

B eloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,

not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.

To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims:

The word of the Lord.

All reply:

Thanks be to God.
10 VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL cf. Mt 17:5

℟: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!

From the shining cloud the Father’s voice was heard:
This is my beloved Son, hear him.
℟: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!

Meanwhile, if incense is used, the Bishop puts some into the thurible. After this,
the Deacon who is to proclaim the Gospel, bowing profoundly before the Bishop,
asks for the blessing, saying in a low voice:

Your blessing, Father.

The Bishop says in a low voice:

M ay the Lord be in your heart and on your lips,

that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, ✠ and of the Holy Spirit.

The Deacon signs himself with the Sign of the Cross and replies:

Amen.

If, however, a Deacon is not present, the Bishop, bowing before the altar, says
quietly:

C leanse my heart and my lips, almighty God,

that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.
GOSPEL Matthew 17:1-9 11

℣: The Lord be with you.

℟: And with your spirit.

℣: ✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

℟: Glory to you, O Lord.

J esus took Peter, James, and John his brother,

and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,

Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Bishop, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

12 All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The deacon brings the Book of the Gospels to the Bishop. The Bishop kisses the
book and blesses the people with it.
 RITE OF ORDINATION 13
ELECTION OF THE CANDIDATES

All present, except those to be ordained will be seated as the Rite of Ordination
begins.

Deacon:

Let those to be ordained Deacon come forward:

Sem. Drei Soriano

The candidate whose name is called replies:

Present.

Assigned Priest:

Most Reverend Father,

holy mother Church asks you to ordain this man,
our brother, to the office of deacon.

The Bishop:

Do you find him to be worthy?

Assigned Priest:

After inquiry among the Christian people

and upon the recommendation of those responsible,
I testify that he has been found worthy.
14 The Bishop:

Relying on the help of the Lord God

and our Savior Jesus Christ,
we choose this man, our brother,
for the Order of the Diaconate.

All reply:

Thanks be to God.

HOMILY

All is seated as the Bishop delivers the homily.

PROMISE OF THE ELECT FOR THE DIACONATE

The candidate stands in front of the Bishop as the latter questions him in these
words:

D earson,
before you enter the Order of the Diaconate,
you must declare before the people your intention
to undertake this office.

Do you resolve
to be consecrated for the Church’s ministry
by the laying on of my hands
and the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Candidate:

I do.
The Bishop: 15

Do you resolve to discharge the office of Deacon

with humble charity
in order to assist the priestly Order
and to benefit the Christian people?

Candidate:

I do.

The Bishop:

Do you resolve to hold fast to the mystery of faith

with a clear conscience, as the Apostle urges,
and to proclaim this faith in word
and deed according to the Gospel
and the Church’s tradition?

Candidate:

I do.

VOW OF CELIBACY

The Bishop:

Do you resolve to keep for ever this commitment

as a sign of your dedication to Christ the Lord
for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven,
in the service of God and man?

Candidate:

I do.
16 The Bishop:

Do you resolve to maintain and deepen the spirit of prayer

that is proper to your way of life and,
in keeping with this spirit and what is required of you,
to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours
with and for the People of God and indeed for the whole world?

Candidate:

I do.

The Bishop:

Do you resolve to conform your way of life

always to the example of Christ,
of whose Body and Blood you are ministers at the altar?

Candidate:

I do, with the help of God.

The candidate approaches the Bishop, kneeling before him.

The Bishop:

Do you promise respect and obedience to me,

and to my successors?

Candidate:

I do.

The Bishop:

May God who has begun the good work in you

bring it to fulfilment.

The kneeling candidate returns.

LITANY OF SAINTS 17
All will stand.

The Bishop rises, putting aside his miter and says with hands joined:

My dear people,
let us pray that God the all-powerful Father
will mercifully pour out the grace of his blessing on this,
his servant, whom in his kindness he raises
to the Holy Order of the Diaconate.

Deacon:

Please all kneel.

The candidate prostrates himself as the Litany is sung.

When the Litany is concluded, the Bishop alone rises. He faces the candidate and
with hands joined, says:

L ord God, mercifully hear our prayers

and graciously accompany with your help
what we undertake by virtue of our office.
Sanctify by your blessing this man we present,
for in our judgment we believe him worthy
to exercise sacred ministries.
Through Christ our Lord.

All reply:

Amen.

Deacon:

Please all stand.

18 LAYING ON OF HANDS

The Bishop lays his hands upon the head of the candidate in silence. After, all
concelebrating bishops and deacons lay their hands upon the head of the
candidate in the same manner.

PRAYER OF ORDINATION

The Bishop stands, putting aside his miter, and extending his hands over the
candidate and begins the prayer of ordination.

D raw near, we pray, almighty God,

giver of every grace,
who apportion every order and assign every office;
who remain unchanged, but make all things new.
In your eternal providence,
you make provision for every age,
as you order all creation
through him who is your word,
your power, and your wisdom,
Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

You grant that the Church, his Body,

adorned with manifold heavenly graces,
drawn together in the diversity of its members,
and united by a wondrous bond through the Holy Spirit,
should grow and spread forth
to build up a new temple
and, as once you chose the sons of Levi
to minister in the former tabernacle,
so now you establish three ranks of ministers
in their sacred offices to serve in your name.

And so, in the first days of your Church,

through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
your Son’s Apostles appointed seven men of good repute
to assist them in the daily ministry,
that they might devote themselves more fully
to prayer and preaching of the word.
 By prayer and the laying on of hands 19
they entrusted to these chosen men the ministry of serving at table.

We beseech you, Lord:

look with favor on this servant of yours
who will minister at your holy altar
and whom we now humbly dedicate to the office of Deacon.

Send forth upon him, Lord, we pray,

the Holy Spirit,
that he may be strengthened
by the gift of your sevenfold grace
for the faithful carrying out
of the work of the ministry.

May there abound in him every Gospel virtue:

unfeigned love,
concern for the sick and poor,
unassuming authority,
the purity of innocence,
and the observance of spiritual discipline.

May your commandments shine forth in his conduct,

so that by the example of his way of life
he may inspire the imitation of your holy people.

In offering the witness of a clear conscience,

may he remain strong and steadfast in Christ,
so that by imitating on earth your Son,
who came not to be served but to serve,
he may be found worthy to reign in heaven with him.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

All reply:

Amen.
20 Deacon:

Please be seated.

After the prayer is concluded, the Bishop receives his miter and is seated. The
new Deacon now wears the diaconal vestments.

HANDING ON OF THE BOOK OF GOSPELS

The newly-ordained Deacon approaches the Bishop and kneels before him. The
Bishop presents the Book of the Gospels as he says:

R eceivethe Gospel of Christ,

whose herald you have become.
Believe what you read,
teach what you believe,
and practice what you teach.

The Deacon returns.

KISS OF PEACE

The Bishop offers to the newly ordained Deacon the Kiss of Peace. It is fitting
that all concelebrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons also offer the Kiss of Peace
to the newly-ordained.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
 God from God, Light from Light, 21
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

At the words that follow up to and including and became man, all bow.

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
22 LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
The Bishop, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it
slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:

B lessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life.

Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.

If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, the Bishop may speak these words
aloud; at the end, the people may acclaim:

Blessed be God forever.

The Deacon, or the Bishop, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying
quietly:

By the mystery of this water and wine

may we come to share in the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

The Bishop then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with
both hands, saying in a low voice:

B lessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

for through your goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.

Then he places the chalice on the corporal.

If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, the Bishop may speak these words 23
aloud; at the end, the people may acclaim:

Blessed be God forever.

After this, the Bishop, bowing profoundly, says quietly:

With humble spirit and contrite heart

may we be accepted by you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice in your sight this day
be pleasing to you, Lord God.

If appropriate, he also incenses the offerings, the cross, and the altar. A Deacon
or other minister then incenses the Bishop and the people.

Then the Bishop, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying
quietly:

Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

Standing at the middle of the altar, facing the people, extending and then joining
his hands, he says:

Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters),

that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.

The people rise and reply:

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands

for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good
and the good of all his holy Church.
24 PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Then the Bishop, with hands extended, says:

M ay this sacrifice, O Lord, we pray,

cleanse us of our faults
and sanctify your faithful in body and mind
for the celebration of the paschal festivities.
Through Christ our Lord.

At the end of which the people acclaim:

Amen.

PREFACE:
The Transfiguration of the Lord.

℣: The Lord be with you.

℟: And with your spirit.

℣: Lift up your hearts.

℟: We lift them up to the Lord.

℣: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

℟: It is right and just.

Itis truly right and just,

our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.

For after he had told the disciples of his coming Death,

on the holy mountain he manifested to them his glory,
to show, even by the testimony of the law and the prophets,
that the Passion leads to the glory of the Resurrection.
 And so, with the Powers of heaven, 25
we worship you constantly on earth,
and before your majesty
without end we acclaim:

SANCTUS

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.
26 EUCHARISTIC PRAYER III

The Bishop, with hands extended, says:

Celebrant alone

Y ouare indeed Holy, O Lord,

and all you have created
rightly gives you praise,
for through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ,
by the power and working of the Holy Spirit,
you give life to all things and make them holy,
and you never cease to gather a people to yourself,
so that from the rising of the sun to its setting
a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name.

He joins his hands and, holding them extended over the offerings, says:

Celebrant with concelebrants

T herefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you:

by the same Spirit graciously make holy
these gifts we have brought to you for consecration,

He joins his hands and makes the Sign of the Cross once over the bread and the
chalice together, saying:

that they may become the Body and ✠ Blood

of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ,

He joins his hands.

at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.

In the formulas that follow, the words of the Lord should be pronounced clearly 27
and distinctly, as the nature of these words requires.

For on the night he was betrayed

He takes the bread and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

he himself took bread,

and, giving you thanks, he said the blessing,
broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:

He bows slightly.

T AKETHIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,

FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

He shows the consecrated host to the people, places it again on the paten, and
genuflects in adoration.

After this, he continues:

In a similar way, when supper was ended,

He takes the chalice and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

he took the chalice,

and, giving you thanks, he said the blessing,
and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:
28 He bows slightly.

T AKETHIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,

FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

He shows the chalice to the people, places it on the corporal, and genuflects in
adoration.

Then he says:

The mystery of faith.

And the people continue, acclaiming:

We proclaim your Death, O Lord,

and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.

Then the Bishop, with hands extended, says:

T herefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial

of the saving Passion of your Son,
his wondrous Resurrection
and Ascension into heaven,
and as we look forward to his second coming,
we offer you in thanksgiving
this holy and living sacrifice.
Look, we pray, upon the oblation of your Church 29
and, recognizing the sacrificial Victim by whose death
you willed to reconcile us to yourself,
grant that we, who are nourished
by the Body and Blood of your Son
and filled with his Holy Spirit,
may become one body, one spirit in Christ.

One Concelebrant

May he make of us
an eternal offering to you,
so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect,
especially with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs
and with all the Saints,
on whose constant intercession in your presence
we rely for unfailing help.

One Concelebrant

May this Sacrifice of our reconciliation,

we pray, O Lord,
advance the peace and salvation of all the world.
Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity
your pilgrim Church on earth,
with your servant Francis our Pope and E our Bishop,
Theodore our Bishop on this platform,
the Order of Bishops,
this your servant,
who has been ordained today as a minister for the Church,
all the clergy,
and the entire people you have gained for your own.
30 Listen graciously to the prayers of this family,
whom you have summoned before you:
in your compassion, O merciful Father,
gather to yourself all your children
scattered throughout the world.

One Concelebrant

† To our departed brothers and sisters

and to all who were pleasing to you
at their passing from this life,
give kind admittance to your kingdom.
There we hope to enjoy for ever the fullness of your glory

He joins his hands.

through Christ our Lord,

through whom you bestow on the world all that is good. †

He takes the chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both, he says:

T HROUGH HIM, AND WITH HIM, AND IN HIM,

O GOD, ALMIGHTY FATHER,
IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ALL GLORY AND HONOR IS YOURS,
FOR EVER AND EVER.

The people acclaim:

Amen.
COMMUNION RITE 31
After the chalice and paten have been set down, the Bishop, with hands joined,
says:

At the Savior’s command

and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:

He extends his hands and, together with the people, continues:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

With hands extended, the Bishop continues alone:

D eliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He joins his hands.

32 The people conclude the prayer, acclaiming:

For the kingdom,

the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Then the Bishop, with hands extended, says aloud:

L ord Jesus Christ,

who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.

He joins his hands.

who live and reign for ever and ever.

The people reply:

Amen.

The Bishop, turned towards the people, extending and then joining his hands,
adds:

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

Then, if appropriate, the Deacon, or the Bishop, adds:

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

And all offer one another a sign, in keeping with local customs, that expresses 33
peace, communion, and charity. The Bishop gives the sign of peace to a Deacon or
minister.

Then he takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small piece in the
chalice, saying quietly:

May this mingling of the Body and Blood

of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Meanwhile the following is sung or said:

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.

The invocation may even be repeated several times if the fraction is prolonged.
Only the final time, however, is grant us peace said.
34 Then the Bishop, with hands joined, says quietly:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,

who, by the will of the Father
and the work of the Holy Spirit,
through your Death gave life to the world,
free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from every evil;
keep me always faithful to your commandments,
and never let me be parted from you.

or:

May the receiving of your Body and Blood,

Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgment and condemnation,
but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body
and a healing remedy.

The Bishop genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the
paten or above the chalice, while facing the people, says aloud:

B ehold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

And together with the people he adds once:

Lord, I am not worthy

that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
The Bishop, facing the altar, says quietly: 35

May the Body of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life.

And he reverently consumes the Body of Christ.

Then he takes the chalice and says quietly:

May the Blood of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life.

And he reverently consumes the Blood of Christ.

After this, he takes the paten or ciborium and approaches the communicants. The
Bishop raises a host slightly and shows it to each of the communicants, saying:

The Body of Christ.

The communicant replies:

Amen.

And receives Holy Communion.

While the Bishop is receiving the Body of Christ, the Communion Chant begins.
36 When the distribution of Communion is over, a Deacon or an acolyte purifies the
paten over the chalice and also the chalice itself.

While he carries out the purification, he says quietly:

What has passed our lips as food, O Lord,

may we possess in purity of heart,
that what has been given to us in time
may be our healing for eternity.

Then the Bishop may return to the chair. If appropriate, a sacred silence may be
observed for a while, or a psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be
sung.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION 37
Then, standing at the altar or at the chair and facing the people, with hands
joined, the Bishop says:

Let us pray.

All pray in silence with the Bishop for a while, unless silence has just been
observed. Then the Bishop, with hands extended, says:

As we receive these glorious mysteries,

we make thanksgiving to you, O Lord,
for allowing us while still on earth
to be partakers even now of the things of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.

At the end of which the people acclaim:

Amen.
38 THE CONCLUDING RITES
If they are necessary, any brief announcements to the people follow here.

Then the dismissal takes place. The Bishop receives the miter and, extending his
hands, says:

℣: The Lord be with you.

℟: And with your spirit.

The Deacon or, in his absence, the Bishop himself, says the invitation:

Bow down for the blessing.

The Bishop, with hands extended over the newly ordained Deacon and the
people, says:

℣: May God, who has called you to the service of others in his Church,
give you great zeal for all,
especially the afflicted and the poor.

℟: Amen.

℣: May he, who has entrusted you with preaching the Gospel of Christ,
help you, as you live according to his word,
to be its sincere and fervent witness.

℟: Amen.

℣: May he, who has appointed you a steward of his mysteries,

make you an imitator of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and a minister of unity and peace in the world.

℟: Amen.
Then the Bishop receives the pastoral staff, if he uses it, and says: 39

And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here,
the Father, ✠ and the Son, ✠ and the Holy ✠ Spirit.

℟: Amen.

Then the Deacon, or the celebrant himself, with hands joined and facing the
people, says:

Go in peace,
Glorifying the Lord by your life.

The people reply:

Thanks be to God.

Then the Bishop venerates the altar as usual with a kiss, as at the beginning.
After making a profound bow with the ministers, he withdraws.