Both of these Mass settings are intergenerational and well known, so will cater to the range of people present at Christmas services.
Suggested psalm collections
Catholic Worship Book 1
Gather Australia
Gather (3rd Edition)
Marist Music Free Digital Download—DD (Marist Music)
Praise the Lord My Soul (Connolly)—DD (Willow Publishing, Australia)
Psallite: Sacred Song for Liturgy and Life—DD (Liturgical Press, Collegeville)
Psalms for All Time (Paul Mason)—DD (Liturgical Song, Australia)
Psalms for Feasts and Seasons (Willcock)—SC (Collins Dove)
Psalms for the Church’s Year (Heagney)—SC (Liturgical Song, Australia)
Psalms for the Sundays of Year A (O’Brien)—SC (self-published in Brighton, SA)
Responsorial Psalms: Year A (Smith)—SC (Willow Publishing, Australia)
Sing the Responsorial Psalms (McKenna)—SC (Willow Publishing, Australia)
The Lyric Psalter: Year A (Alonso/Haugen)—SC (GIA Publishing, Chicago)
Suggested Gospel acclamations
Advent Alleluia—CWBII 42
Celtic Alleluia—AOV1 13, CWBII 48, GA 141
Hallel Alleluia—CWBII 49
Mass of Light Alleluia—CWBII 50
Mawby Alleluia—CWBII 51
Taizé Alleluia—CWBII 53
Use the verse appropriate to the day. It is useful to use one Gospel acclamation consistently throughout the season.
Resources
As One Voice 1, 2, and The Next Generation—AOV1, AOV2, AOVNG
Catholic Worship Book and Catholic Worship Book II—CWB, CWBII
Gather (3rd edition)—G
Gather Australia—GA
Psalms for Feasts and Seasons—PFS
Digital download—DD
Selected collection—SC
Advent Mass settings
In the season of Advent, it is appropriate to use a Mass setting that is well known to the singing assembly but different from the one used in Ordinary Time. Advent is a season of quiet but joyful hope, expectation and penitence: the music is not as exuberant as the music used in the Christmas season. The Mass setting chosen should be used throughout the Advent season. It is preferable to have carol services and nativity plays after 16 December, if possible, to preserve the character of Advent.
In Advent the use of the organ and other musical instruments should be marked by a moderation suited to the character of this time of year, without expressing in anticipation the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §313
Please note that there is no Gloria sung in Advent.
Some suggested settings are:
Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Connolly)—CWBII 23a, c, d, e
Mass of St Francis (Taylor)—CWBII 22a, c, e, g, h
Missa Emmanuel (Proulx)—DD (GIA)
Missa Emmanuel helps parishes to find the ‘sound’ of Advent through the familiar Advent hymn ‘O come, O come Emmanuel’, which also underpins this Mass setting.
Suggested psalm collections
Catholic Worship Book 1
Gather Australia
Gather (3rd Edition)
Marist Music Free Digital Download—DD (Marist Music)
Praise the Lord My Soul (Connolly)—DD (Willow Publishing, Australia)
Psallite: Sacred Song for Liturgy and Life—DD (Liturgical Press, Collegeville)
Psalms for All Time (Paul Mason)—DD (Liturgical Song, Australia)
Psalms for Feasts and Seasons (Willcock)—SC (Collins Dove)
Psalms for the Church’s Year (Heagney)—SC (Liturgical Song, Australia)
Psalms for the Sundays of Year A (O’Brien)—SC (self-published in Brighton, SA)
Responsorial Psalms: Year A (Smith)—SC (Willow Publishing, Australia)
Sing the Responsorial Psalms (McKenna)—SC (Willow Publishing, Australia)
The Lyric Psalter: Year A (Alonso/Haugen)—SC (GIA Publishing, Chicago)
Suggested Gospel acclamations
Advent Alleluia—CWBII 42
Celtic Alleluia—AOV1 13, CWBII 48, GA 141
Hallel Alleluia—CWBII 49
Mass of Light Alleluia—CWBII 50
Mawby Alleluia—CWBII 51
Taizé Alleluia—CWBII 53
Use the verse appropriate to the day. It is useful to use one Gospel acclamation consistently throughout the season.
Every day, across the world, many of our brothers and sisters are unjustly persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and Aid to the Church in Need are working in partnership to mark Red Wednesday throughout all parishes, schools and communities in our Archdiocese.
You are invited to join the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and participate in Red Wednesday, a day dedicated to praying for, and standing in solidarity with, Christians who face increasing violence, torture and often death for their peacefully held faith in Jesus Christ.
Red Wednesday is an initiative of the papal charity Aid to the Church in Need, dedicated to providing material and spiritual support to the persecuted Church.
Two-thirds of the world’s population live in countries where there are serious violations of religious freedom. We hear more stories of people bearing witness to their faith in horrific circumstances. Many of those families have found refuge and a new home in our city and surrounds.
By joining this international campaign, we can express something of being one Body of Christ, committing ourselves to being God’s hope-bearers and peacemakers in our world.
All are welcome to St Patrick’s Cathedral for a Prayer Vigil with Exposition:
Wednesday 23 November 2022 at 7.30pm St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Cathedral Place, East Melbourne
Joining many other cathedrals and churches around the world, St Patrick's Cathedral will be floodlit in red on this night.
Parish resources
Parishes are invited to celebrate their usual Mass on this day or hold another event for the intentions of persecuted Christians. You could even invite parishioners to wear red clothing.
Further information and resources, including a prayer card and suggested intercessions for the prayer of the faithful, can be downloaded below.
The Church around the world has entered the Continental Stage for the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. Groups around the country are praying with and responding to the Document for the Continental Stage, which was published recently. You can download prayer resources, including for use in liturgies, read the document and access the submission portal here.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has also released three documents to support the parishes' ongoing participation in the Synod of Bishops journey:
prayer petitions to be used in coming weeks. The suggestion is to use one prayer from the selection each week
a bulletin notice about the Continental Stage of the Synod of Bishops, with some new details and a link to various resources
the Synod of Bishops logo with 2024 (rather than 2023) as the end date for the Synod. If you have used the old logo in various places, then this can be used to update the previous one.
2 Maccabees 7:1–2, 9–14 ‘The King of the world will raise us up to live for ever.’
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 16(17):1, 5–6, 8, 15 R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Second reading
2 Thessalonians 2:16–3:5 May the Lord strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.
Gospel acclamation
Revelation 1:5a, 6b Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead; glory and kingship be his for ever and ever.
Gospel
Luke 20:27–38 He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.
Images from the Word
Died childless
Children of this world
God of the living
King of the world
The Lord is faithful
Liturgical notes
It is fitting that there be a cantor or a choir director to lead and sustain the people’s singing. When in fact there is no choir, it is up to the cantor to lead the different chants, with the people taking part.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §104
Every member of the assembly is expected to have music on his or her lips. Music helps members lift their hearts to praise God and express their oneness in a unified voice. It is not the choir and cantor’s role to take over the assembly’s participation; rather, through their gifts of voice and music, their role is to foster the full participation of the faithful. The Catholic Worship Book II provides many resources to help us become a singing community.
‘The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose, near restful waters he leads me.’
Some Sadducees—those who say that there is no resurrection—approached Jesus and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’
Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’
(Luke 20:27–38)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
The rule about a man marrying the childless widow of his brother is known as the ‘Levirate Law’, and it is specified in Deuteronomy 25:5–10. This law was designed to protect the woman, who, as a childless widow, had no social status and no one to provide for her needs.
The Sadducees mostly lived near the temple precinct in Jerusalem, and they came from a relatively small number of wealthy and influential families. The temple high priest and chief priests often came from Sadducee families. Furthermore, the Sadducees often controlled the necessary temple trade.
The Sadducees were a priestly group of conservative Jews who followed the written law of the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Bible. Resurrection of the dead is not mentioned in these books, so they rejected this belief. Their stance contradicts that of the Pharisees, who also adhered to the oral law and writings, but who did believe in resurrection of the dead.
November is the month in which the Church specially remembers those who have died.
Exploring the Word
Now that Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem and his ministry is centred at the temple, he encounters the Sadducees, who dominate temple worship. In this text, the Sadducees ask a question not to elicit Jesus’ teaching on the topic but rather to ridicule Jesus and disconcert him. However, Jesus turns the tide and provides two answers to their question. First, he highlights that they have completely misunderstood the meaning of resurrection. The transformation of life brought by death is incomprehensible to the Sadducees because they are not open to the power of God. Second, he highlights that even though Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have died, Moses is conscious that they have remained alive in a sense because Yahweh continues to be their God—a God of the living. Death is not the end of the story, and Christian faith is marked by a joy and hope that ultimately resting in God will bring. This is the destiny of all humankind.
Explore the continuity between life as we know it now and life after death.
How do the catechumens understand ‘life after death’?
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
How do you understand the concept of resurrection of the dead at this point in your journey?
What emotions do you feel when you consider your own death?
Although death is not an easy subject to discuss, you might like to share some memories of the death of a loved one. Celebrate the good memories of such people and the positive side of their lives. What gave you solace during such times of loss?
If catechumens come from different cultures, you could ask them to discuss some of the rituals and beliefs associated with death or funerals in their cultures.
Visit the graves of your loved ones during the month of November, and pray for friends and relatives who have passed away.
Memorise and pray this prayer for the dead often this week, as you remember your own loved ones: Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord. May perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
Sharing the tradition
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
The Creed that is recited at Mass each week affirms that ‘we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come'. Believing in the resurrection of the dead has been an essential element of the Christian faith since its beginnings (CCC, §991)—and it has always engendered some degree of incomprehension and opposition (§996). Although many people generally accept that life continues after death in a spiritual sense, the most difficult part of the concept to understand is the resurrection of the body. Catholics believe that ‘in death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and the soul goes to meet God’; however, through his divine power, God ‘will definitively grant incorruptible life to our bodies by reuniting them with our souls’ (§997) at the end times.
Explore the relevant section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that focuses on our understanding of Christian death and resurrection (§§988–1014).
You could study the funeral rite and note the signs of hope and celebration in the ritual. How does this help us understand death?
Symbols and images
Traditionally, black has been the colour associated with mourning; however, since the Second Vatican Council, white vestments are worn at the celebration of a funeral. This colour change emphasises the connection between the joy that all believers feel for Jesus’ resurrection and their hope that they, too, will share this resurrection.
Living the Word
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
If possible, you could invite the catechumens to attend a funeral in your own community, or to one in a neighbouring parish. Discuss how the life of the person is celebrated and how Christian hope is emphasised.
You could invite members of the group to light a candle or taper in memory of their loved ones. These could be placed around a cross. Pray for those who are suffering or facing death. Pray for each other as you journey towards eternal life. A suitable song could be Lord, to Whom Shall We Go (GA 189). Conclude with the simple prayer of blessing in the RCIA at §97A.
Presider
The Lord is faithful and will guard us from the evil one. We ask God to receive our prayers and answer them with justice and mercy.
Reader
We pray for Pope Francis and all the bishops and priests of our Church who proclaim the Gospel of life. May their positive affirmation of the dignity of each person reassure us that we are all welcome in God’s house.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray in support of all people who are being persecuted or rejected because of their faith. May they be strengthened in their resolve and stand firm in their beliefs, comforted by the words Jesus has given them.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We remember the women and men who have given their lives for our freedom. We pray for the members of our armed forces, that their efforts at this time will contribute to world peace.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our faith community. May we all grow in appreciation of the hope of eternal life and of life to the full, as Jesus promised.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for …
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are ill in our parish and for all who have asked for our prayers. We pray for those who have died recently and for those whose anniversaries we recall. May they be uplifted to a full life with Christ.
Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.
Presider
We are confident, God of mercy, that you will continue encouraging and strengthening our hearts through grace. We pray that you will hear our prayers, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Entrance
Christ, be our light—AOV2 3, CWBII 540, G 590, GA 404
Christ is here (Walker)—GA 351, DD (OCP)
Come to set us free—AOV1 39, CWBII 233, GA 277
For all the saints—CWB 679, CWBII 439, G 884, GA 551
Keep in mind—AOV1 180, CWB 730, CWBII 530, G 646
Song for Human Rights—AOV2 135, CWBII 606
Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Ordinary Time)
Psalm 16 (17): Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full (Isele)—CWB 444
Common Psalm 117 (118): Let us rejoice (Haugen)—G 81, GA 71
Common Psalm 117 (118): This is the day (Willcock)—CWB 289a, GA 70, PFS 26
Common Psalm 121 (122): Let us go rejoicing (Willcock)—CWBII 536, GA 72, PFS 60
Gospel acclamation
Revelations 1:5a, 6b
Alleluia, Alleluia! Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead; glory and kingship be his for ever and ever. Alleluia!
Procession of the gifts/offertory
Be with me, Lord (Haugen)—CWB 627, CWBII 286, G 65, GA 53
Glory in the cross (Schutte)—G 501, DD (OCP)
Your love is finer than life (Haugen)—CWBII 567, G 58, GA 43, DD (GIA)
Communion
Be not afraid (Dufford)—AOV1 114, CWBII 653, G 683, GA 449
God of peace—AOV2 138, CWBII 546, GA 553
I am the bread of life (Kaczmarek)—AOVNG 72
I am the bread of life (Toolan)—AOV1 49, CWB 718, CWBII 508, G 945, GA 204
I heard the voice of Jesus say—AOV1 54, CWBII 512, G 724, GA 468
On eagle’s wings—AOV1 153, CWBII 654, G 691, GA 452
Shelter me, O God—AOV1 140, G 717, GA 230
Shepherd me, O God—AOV1 33, CWBII 597, G 35, GA 24
Take and eat (Joncas)—CWBII 608, G 950, GA 198
This body will be given for you—CWB 839, GA 387
Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)
I know that my Redeemer lives (Soper)—AOV2 34, CWBII 145, DD (OCP)
I know that my Redeemer lives! (DUKE STREET)—G 527
I know that my Redeemer lives (WINCHESTER NEW)—CWBII 144
Sending forth
In faith and hope and love—CWB 722, CWBII 520, GA 442
Now thank we all our God—AOV1 189, CWB 755, CWBII 561, G 636, GA 425
O Christ the great foundation—CWBII 565, GA 483
O God, our help in ages past—AOV1 175, CWB 767, CWBII 568, G 688, GA 459
Sing a new song unto the Lord—AOV1 80, CWBII 598, GA 414
Strong and constant—AOV1 110, CWB 812, CWBII 515
The Church of Christ, in every age—CWB 818, CWBII 613
The Church’s one foundation—CWB 819, CWBII 614, GA 484
First reading
Wisdom 11:22–12:2 You are merciful to all, because you love all that exists.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 144(145):1–2, 8–11, 13b–14 R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Second reading
2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2 The name of Christ will be glorified in you, and you in him.
Gospel acclamation
John 3:16 God loved the world so much, he gave us his only Son, that all who believe in him might have eternal life.
Gospel
Luke 19:1–10 Salvation comes to the house of Zacchaeus.
Images from the Word
A wealthy man
Too short
Today
Lover of life
Pray continually
Liturgical notes
The People of God, gathered for Mass, has a coherent and hierarchical structure, which finds its expression in the variety of ministries and the variety of actions according to the different parts of the celebration. The general ordering of the sacred building must be such that in some way it conveys the image of the gathered assembly and allows the appropriate ordering of all the participants, as well as facilitating them in the proper carrying out of their function.
The faithful and the choir should have a place that facilitates their active participation.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §294
A sacred building that is used for the eucharistic celebration must be designed to encourage active participation from all ministers involved in the celebration. The space must create an immediate impression of a gathered assembly that is ready to participate. It is not a space for spectators, but one that facilitates active involvement.
‘You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.’
Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’
(Luke 19:1–10)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
The name Zacchaeus means ‘pure’; however, the actions of this wealthy tax collector belied such a name and earned him the title of ‘sinner’.
Jesus addresses Zacchaeus as ‘son of Abraham’, a title usually reserved for those who are holy or pious. Jesus is clearly indicating that Zacchaeus is as good as anyone else.
Jericho lies in the Jordan Valley, just 6 miles north of the Dead Sea, and it has a milder climate than the surrounding barren hills. Herod built a lavish winter palace there.
Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is almost complete. Jericho is the last town he will pass through before he begins his steep ascent to Jerusalem.
Exploring the Word
This text should be compared to the one before it, which includes the story of a rich official who was a righteous man (Luke 18:18–23); however, this story is not included in the Lectionary readings for this year. In that text, although Jesus challenges the rich man to sell all he has and distribute the proceeds to the poor, the rich man cannot give up his wealth. Here, Zacchaeus—also a rich man, but considered a sinner—spontaneously offers to give half his wealth away and make generous restitution to those he has cheated. Jesus’ response to Zacchaeus starkly contrasts his response to the rich man. In his undignified climbing of the tree, Zacchaeus is prepared to make himself look ridiculous to know Jesus. He has humbled himself in the eyes of the crowd, just as the tax collector humbled himself in the temple in last week’s gospel. Jesus not only tells parables but also lives them in reality. He has searched for the lost, and his encounters have led to conversion and salvation.
Have you ever experienced an element of personal embarrassment because you decided to approach Jesus through the catechumenate?
How could a sense of God accepting you prompt change in your life?
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
Are you anxious to discover Jesus?
How far would you go to discover Jesus?
How do you welcome Jesus joyfully?
Recall an experience in which you were overlooked or felt left out. Alternatively, share an experience in which you were singled out or chosen for something special.
Identify someone you don’t know well but with whom you are acquainted. Try to move past superficial appearances and discover what sort of person he or she really is. Change your relationship with them.
At each Eucharist, we pray: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
Pray this often this week.
Sharing the tradition
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
Zacchaeus is labelled a sinner, but he repents from his sin and is offered salvation. The Church teaches that the ‘original sin’ of Adam and Eve in the garden was a choice for themselves and against God (CCC, §398), and that their selfish choice has had implications for all humankind (§402). Self-centeredness marks the lives of all human beings to a greater or lesser extent.
You could explore the notion of ‘sinful humanity’ further. It is important to note that sin is not simply a personal choice, and that it can also have a communal or social dimension.
Where are the effects of human selfishness evident in our world?
With repentance comes God’s forgiveness and the restoration of our relationship with him. Within the Church, this forgiveness and restoration is offered through the sacrament of reconciliation.
Where do you experience forgiveness and restoration?
You could introduce the sacrament of reconciliation, if you have not already done so.
Zacchaeus goes out of his way to encounter Jesus—which is the equivalent of presenting yourself for the sacrament of reconciliation. Zacchaeus also acknowledges his sin and offers to make amends—which is the equivalent of confession and penance (see CCC, §§1422–1470).
Consider the structure and prayers of the Rite of Reconciliation and use them as a basis for discussion and questions.
Symbols and images
Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus prompted him to reassess how he lived in the world and how he related to those around him. He repented from his past wrongs, made restitution and entered into a new way of being. His journey is the same one to which baptism into the Church calls all believers
Living the Word
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
How does your community make public demonstrations of faith? For example, does it perform a Way of the Cross through the streets at Easter, a nativity play or a celebration of a feast? Discuss how the wider secular community may perceive such public religious actions. How can catechumens become involved in these activities?
Use the open Scriptures as a focus for prayer. Pray for forgiveness of past transgressions. Pray for each other as you seek Jesus. A suitable song could be Return to God (GA 304). Conclude with the prayer of exorcism in the RCIA at §94K, which speaks of coming to salvation.
