Liturgical Information
The Fifth Sunday of Easter (A)

Themes & Motives: ministry, service, diaconate, chosen people, faith in action

Introit:
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds; he has revealed to the nations his saving power, alleluia. (Psalm 98:1-2)

Opening Prayer:
God our Father,
look upon us with love.
You redeem us and make us your children in Christ.
Give us true freedom
and bring us to the inheritance you promised.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7 [Select seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit. /v.3]
• Psalm 33:1-2 / 4-5 / 18-19 [R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. /v.22]
• I Peter 2:4-9 [You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. /v.9]
• Gospel Verse: Jn 14:6 [I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.]
• John 14:1-12 [I am the way, and the truth, and the life. /v.6]

Offertory Antiphon: **
Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth, sing praise to the glory of his name. Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me, alleluia. [Psalm 66:1b,2a,16]
     Verses of  Psalm 47  can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer over the Gifts:
Lord God,
by this holy exchange of gifts
you share with us your divine life.
Grant that everything we do
May be directed by the knowledge of your truth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Preface of Easter IV: [The restoration of the universe through the Paschal Mystery]
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season,
when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.

In him a new age has dawned,
the long reign of sin has ended,
a broken world has been renewed,
and man is once again made whole.

The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

  Holy, holy, holy Lord...

Communion Antiphon:
I am the vine and you are the branches, says the Lord; he who lives in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, alleluia. (John 15:5)

Prayer after Communion:
Merciful Father,
may these mysteries give us new purpose
and bring us to a new life in you.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer over the People:
Lord,
help your people to seek you with all their hearts
and to deserve what you promise.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is cited in Latin (Jubilate Deo) in the Graduale Romanum.
The English is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.

The English translation of the Introit, Opening Prayer, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Gifts, Preface, Communion Antiphon, Prayer after Communion, and Prayer over the People from The Roman Missal, Copyright 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the First Reading, Second Reading and Gospel are taken from the New American Standard Bible ® © Copyright 1973 The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.