COMMENTATOR’S GUIDE

Diocesan Annual Celebration

Migrants’ and Seafarers’ Day
September 16, 2023

INTRODUCTORY RITE
Introduction by Commentator: Brothers and sisters in Christ good morning! We
celebrate today the Diocesan Migrants’ and Seafarers’
Day. Our mass presider is Rev. Father ____________.
Let us all stand and join the Choir in singing the entrance
hymn.
Entrance Antiphon/Entrance Hymn
Greeting:
Bishop: In the name of the Father….
All: Amen.
Bishop: The Lord be with you
All: And with your spirit
PENITENTIAL RITE
Bishop: Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
(Pause)
I Confess….

All: 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, (strike your
breast) through my fault, through my fault, through my most
grievous fault; 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.
Bishop: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and
bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
(Kyrie sung. If recited)
Bishop: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Bishop: Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Bishop: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.

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COLLECT
Bishop: Let us pray……………. one God forever and ever.
All: Amen.
---- --or-----
Roman Missal for various needs n. 32 for refugees and exiles
Bishop: O Lord, to whom no one is a stranger and from whose help
no one is ever distant, look with compassion on refugees and
exiles, on segregated persons and on lost children; restore
them, we pray, to a homeland, and give us a kind heart for
the needy and for strangers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.
Commentator: Please be seated.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: 1 COR 15:35-37, 42-49

Lector: A reading from the letter of Paul to the Corinthians…………..
THE Word of the Lord…
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm PS 56:10C-12, 13-14
Response: I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
Commentator: Please stand to honor the Holy Gospel.

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia (sung)
Verse if recited: Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous
heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Bishop: The Lord be with you.

All: And with your spirit.
Gospel Reading: LK 8:15
Bishop: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke…….
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
Bishop: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Commentator: Please be seated.

HOMILY

Prayers of the Faithful

Commentator: Please stand.

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Presider: Jesus says that the “word” which he came to bring is like seed, which God is
sowing continually. He scatters this seed everywhere, over the hearts of all
people. Let us pray that we may respond to his work by praying to the Father. In
every petition let us say:

LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER

1. That the Pope, Bishops, priests and deacons may remain good examples to God’s people
and become instruments of God to those displaced by conflict, religious persecution and
poverty. We pray.

2. That government leaders may always see the dignity of the human person and support
legislation that better protects especially the migrants and the vulnerable applicants for
work abroad. We pray.

3. That we may live out the gospel values that our teachers of faith: the Church leaders,
catechists and parents have taught us. We Pray.

4. That our OFWs: the land-based and the sea-based who are materially blessed may not
choke the Word of God in their lives by worldly ambitions and selfishness. We pray.

5. That the sacrifices of the migrants may be valued by their families left behind and that
they may live a life based on the gospel values. We pray.

6. That married migrants may remain faithful to their spouses and be strengthened by the
fidelity of God in their lives especially in trying times. We pray.

7. That the victims of human trafficking, unjustly imprisoned, maltreated, victims of unfair
labor practices may see the light and consolation from God through the support and
prayers of our Christian communities. We pray.

8. That those who have gone ahead of us may find eternal rest in the arms of the Father.
We pray.
9. In silence, let us pray for our own intentions……………………we pray.

Presider: Heavenly Father, help us to recognize the seed of your word at work in our lives.
May we never get distracted by the cares of this world but be active in your service
and produce an abundant harvest. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

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LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presentation of the Gifts

Commentator: Please stand. (or use of one or both hands in place of verbal instruction for the
congregation to RISE after WASHING OF THE HANDS as bishop starts to say “Pray
brethren…”)

Bishop: Pray, brethren…

All: 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.

Prayer Over the Offerings/Gifts

Bishop: ….through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
Preface
Bishop: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Bishop: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Bishop: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right and just.
Bishop: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always
and everywhere to give you thanks…………..and so, with all
the Angels, we praise you, as in joyful celebration we acclaim:
Sanctus (sung) Holy, holy, holy……
Commentator: (if there are no kneelers, let them remain standing)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memorial Acclamation (Sung)
--or-- if recited
All: when we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your
death, O Lord until you come again.
Doxology
Bishop: In memory of his death and resurrection … May we praise
you and give your glory………. ……….through Him and with
Him and in Him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is Yours forever and ever.
All: Amen (or sung)

COMMUNION RITE
Bishop: Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our
Savior gave us.
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All: Lord’s Prayer (sung)
Bishop: Deliver us, Lord…
All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and
for ever.
Bishop: Lord 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.
Who live and reign forever and ever.

All: Amen.
Bishop: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
Bishop: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Breaking of the Bread
All: 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.
(if there are no kneelers, let them remain standing)

Bishop: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins
of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of
the Lamb.

All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

After Holy Communion

Commentator: Please all stand.
Bishop: Let us pray. ___________________
_____________________________.
All: Amen.

Commentator: Let us now pray the Prayer for Migrant Families.

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 Family Prayer for Seafarers
Conclusion
Bishop: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

Bishop: May almighty God bless you, the Father, (+) and the Son the
Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Dismissal
Bishop: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
All: Thanks be to God.

Or:
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Or:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
Thanks be to God.

Or:
Go in peace.
Thanks be to God.