Celebration

NOTES ON THE RITE

 “As the primary assistants of priests, deacons are called
in a special way to lead Sunday assemblies in the absence of a

of the Word &

priest. Since the deacon has been ordained for the nurture and
increase of the people of God, it belongs to him to lead the
prayers, to proclaim the gospel, to preach the homily, and to
give communion” (Directory, Vatican 1988, no 29).

Communion 
Introductory Rites
The deacon may use the presider’s chair or another
chair in the sanctuary.
WHEN THE LEADER IS A DEACON  The Opening Prayer is the Collect from the Missal.
Liturgy of the Word
 The Liturgy of the Word is taken from the Lectionary
of the day.
Outline of the Rite  A homily is always given by the deacon on Sundays.
A homily is also recommended on weekdays.
INTRODUCTORY RITES Proclamation of Praise
Gathering Song*  The proclamation of praise takes the form of a prayer,
Liturgical Greeting litany, song, psalm or canticle, each involving the people’s
Introductory Remarks participation. It should celebrate the saving work of God as
Opening Rite revealed in the Scriptures rather than focus on the Eucharist
Opening Prayer which is not being celebrated.
 The deacon should not stand at the altar, nor should
LITURGY OF THE WORD the blessed Sacrament be placed on the altar at this point.
Procession of the Word of God* Acclamations from the Eucharistic Prayer should not be used.
First Reading The Communion Rite
Responsorial Psalm
 Simply and with dignity, the deacon or a communion
Second Reading* minister brings the blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle to
Gospel Acclamation the altar. Candles which accompany the minister are placed
Gospel on the altar.
Homily  The deacon stands alone at the altar facing the
Profession of Faith* assembly to introduce the Lord’s Prayer.
General Intercessions
 The Deliver us, Lord… is not said, but the people add
the doxology For the kingdom…
Proclamation of Praise
Sign of Peace  The bread is never broken and the Lamb of God is
never used.
COMMUNION RITE  After the Lord’s Prayer, the deacon genuflects, holds
Lord’s Prayer up a host, and says the invitation to communion.
Invitation to Communion  Communion is given to the people in the usual way,
Communion though only in the form of bread.
Prayer after Communion  Not all communion hymns will be appropriate – they
should not suggest that the Eucharist has been celebrated.
CONCLUDING RITE  Standing at the altar or at another place, the deacon
Announcements* says the Prayer after Communion. Many of the Prayers after
Collection* Communion in the Missal will not be appropriate since they
Blessing presume that the Eucharist has been celebrated.
Dismissal Concluding Rite
 This takes place as usual.
* Omit these elements on a weekday
 INTRODUCTORY RITES

Gathering Song*

Liturgical Greeting
The deacon goes to the chair.
Deacon: In the name of the  Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Deacon: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Or:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Or:
The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

Introductory Remarks
Deacon: Since no priest is available today, we cannot celebrate the Eucharist together.
Nevertheless, we have gathered to be nourished by God’s word and to share holy
Communion.

Opening Rite
EITHER
Litany of Praise
Deacon: Our Saviour is rich in mercy and kindness. Let us give praise to Christ our Lord.
Deacon: Jesus, Word of God, you came to reveal God’s love to us. Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Jesus, risen from the dead, you bring us to new life. Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ have mercy.
Deacon: Jesus, Sun of Justice, you bring together the scattered flock of God. Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.

OR
Penitential Rite
Deacon: Gathered together in Christ, let us ask forgiveness with confidence,
for God is full of gentleness and compassion.
After a brief silence, all pray together.
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,
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.
Deacon: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen

OR
Sung ‘Lord, have mercy’ or ‘Kyrie’.
Deacon: Gathered together in Christ, let us sing of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Opening Prayer
Deacon: Let us pray
After a pause for silent prayer, the Collect of the day from the Roman Missal is said.
All: Amen.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Procession of the Word of God*

The Lectionary is carried to the ambo in procession while an appropriate acclamation is sung by all.
On reaching the ambo, the minister holds up the Lectionary for all to see and places it on the lectern.
Deacon: May the word of God always be heard in this place, as it unfolds the mystery of
Christ before us and achieves our salvation within the church.

Readings are taken from the Lectionary of the day

First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading*
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
The deacon, bowing before the altar, says quietly:
Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.
Deacon: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Deacon: A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
After the Gospel;
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Profession of Faith*
Deacon: In union with the whole Church, let us profess our faith.
All: I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
 and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed may also be used.

General Intercessions

Proclamation of Praise

EITHER
Gloria
All may say or sing the Gloria. However this option is not used during Advent and Lent.
All: Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

OR
Song of Praise
Sing a hymn or antiphon that is well-known by the community.

OR
The Song of Mary
Sing or recite the Magnificat.

OR
Prayer: ‘Father, We Give You Thanks’
All may recite this prayer from The Didache
All: Father, we give you thanks, who planted
your holy name within our hearts.
Knowledge and faith and life immortal
Jesus your Son to us imparts.
Lord, you have made all for your pleasure,
and given us food for all our days
giving in Christ the bread eternal;
yours is the power, be yours the praise.
Watch o’er your church, O Lord, in mercy,
save it from evil, guard it still,
perfect it in your love, unite it,
cleansed and conformed unto your will.
As grain, once scattered on the hillsides,
was in the broken bread made one,
so may your world-wide Church be gathered
into your kingdom by your Son.

Sign of Peace
Deacon: Let us seal our prayer with a gesture of unity and reconciliation
as we offer one another a sign of peace.
The sign of peace is exchanged in the usual manner.

COMMUNION RITE
The deacon or a communion minister now brings the blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle to the altar
accompanied by two candles which are placed on the altar.

Lord’s Prayer
The deacon faces the people at the altar, and says
Deacon: At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
All: 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.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion
The deacon genuflects, takes a host, raises it slightly and says:
Deacon: 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.
 Communion
The distribution of holy Communion takes place in the usual way.
A period of silence is observed after communion.

Prayer after Communion

Deacon: Let us pray.
God of blessings,
we have been fed at this table with the bread of heaven.
Give us this food always,
that it may strengthen your love in our hearts
and inspire us to serve you in our brothers and sisters.
Grant this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
All: Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

Announcements*

Collection*

Blessing
Deacon: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Deacon: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son,  and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

Dismissal
Deacon: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
Or:
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
Or:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
Or:
Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God.

The structure of this rite and its headings are taken from Pastoral Handbook for the Dioceses of Australia
(2004) prepared by the National Liturgical Commission for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
Copies of this book may be ordered from THE LITURGICAL COMMISSION, GPO Box 282, Brisbane 4001.
Phone 07 3336 9444. E-mail orders@litcom.net.au. Online www.litcom.net.au.
This document has been compiled as a service to deacons by The Liturgical Commission, Brisbane. © 2011.
The texts for the deacon and the people’s responses are taken from the new translation of The Roman Missal.
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in
the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.