The Prodigal Son    (Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32)

Narrator:   The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained.

Reader One:     ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

Narrator:   So he spoke this parable to them:

Reader Two:   ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father,

Younger Son: ‘Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.’

Narrator:  So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery. When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. The he came to his senses and said,

Younger Son:  ‘How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.’

Narrator:   So he left the place and went back to his father.While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said,

Younger Son:      ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

Narrator:       But the father said to his servants,

Father:      ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it: we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.’

Narrator:   And they began to celebrate.Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.

Servant: ‘Your brother has come and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.’

Narrator: He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father,

Older Brother: ‘Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.’

Narrator:    The father said,

Father:  ‘My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it is only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life, he was lost and is found.’

Prayers of the Faithful

1 We pray for the gift of Wisdom on our friends preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation

Lord Hear Us

2 We pray for the gift of Understanding on our friends preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation

Lord hear us

3 We pray for the gift of Right Judgement on our friends preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation

Lord Hear Us

4 We pray for the gift of Courage on our friends preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation

Lord Hear Us

5 We pray for the gift of Knowledge on our friends preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation

Lord Hear Us

6 We pray for the gift of Reverence on our friends preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation

Lord Hear Us

7 We pray for the gift of Wonder and Awe in God’s presence on our friends preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation

Lord Hear Us

Baptism & Confirmation

Profession of Faith

Do you Believe in:

    God, the Father

    Jesus Christ

    Holy Spirit

    In the Christian Community

Prayer over the people to be Confirmed

Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom & understanding, the spirit of right judgement & courage, the spirit of knowledge & reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

God our Father made you his children by water and the Holy Spirit. May he bless you and watch over you with his fatherly love.                                            

R/ Amen

Jesus Christ, the Son of God promised that the Spirit of Truth would be with his church for ever. May he bless you and give you courage in professing the true faith.

                                  R/ Amen

The Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples and set their hearts on fire with love. May he bless you, keep you one in faith and love, and bring you to the joy of God’s kingdom

                                  R/ Amen