Blest Are We

Is that a fact?: On Sundays and holy days, diocesan bishops and pastors are required to offer a "Mass for the People." This Mass is said for the intentions of the people under their care. Check your parish bulletin to find the Mass for parishioners.

Extend the activities for each concept presented in Blest Are We with the following Ideas.


		• Discuss with the young people the different types of personal prayer with which they are comfortable. • Encourage participants to create a personal prayer to express their concerns at this time. • It has been said, "Prayer changes us, not God." Discuss the reality of that statement. Consider together how this helps explain prayers that appear to go unanswered, or ones in which God denies a request.


		• What liturgies have been celebrated in you parish within the last month? If there have been special celebrations of sacraments, ask participants if they were in attendance and what was most meaningful to them. Have participants list all the liturgical events that have happened recently in your parish and the importance of each to them. • How do regular liturgical celebrations, such as the Mass, benefit parishioners? If possible, plan a time to worship together at Mass as a group. Perhaps some participants could take on roles such as serving, lectoring, or singing. Share a meal together following the liturgy. • Perhaps your group would be willing to help plan a special Mass celebration that relates to the liturgical calendar or special current events. If so, work with them and your parish liturgy committee to bring it about.


		• Referring to the highlighted phrases of the Lord’s Prayer in their texts, ask the young people to write their own descriptive phrase to follow each of them. Have them relate the prayer to their own lives at this particular time. For example, what "daily bread" is someone now in need of? Who needs to be forgiven or who needs to forgive? • Participants can create poems or dialogues to express the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer. Then discuss the insights into the prayer that were brought about through these creations.