A. Introduction
I.
To the Holy Mass
Dear
Sisters and Brothers in Christ, good morning!
Welcome
to Saint Dominic’s Parish Church for the Sunday Holy Mass celebration.
This
first Sunday after Christmas the Church urges Christians to turn their hearts
and minds to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the best model for
all Christian families.
From
the creation of humanity, God blessed marriage, the union in mutual self-giving
and undivided love, between a man and a woman, making it the ever solid
foundation for human family life.
The
family is, therefore, the natural and beneficial environment for the human
person to fully and perfectly develop.
Son
of God and God Himself, Jesus was born, raised and grew up in a human family to
become like us in all aspects, except sin, as taught by Saint Paul in his
Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 4, verse 15, and to advance in wisdom, and age
and favor before God and man, as reported in the Gospel according to Luke,
Chapter 2, verse 52.
We
pray in this Holy Mass for Christian families to be fashioned after the Holy
Family where husbands and wives, parents and children can learn from Jesus,
Mary and Joseph how to fulfill their respective roles in the building of authentic
Christian families the center, the heart and the soul of which should doubtless
be Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Kindly
all stand for the entrance hymn.
II.
To the Readings
a) First
Reading: Sir 3:2-6.23-14
The Book of
Sirach gives clear instructions on the important and indispensable roles of
fathers and mothers in family life. God
surely blesses those children who love and obey their parents.
b) Second
Reading: Col 3:12-21
In his Letter
to the Colossians, Saint Paul amazingly teaches members in a Christian family
how to perform their duties based on their faith in Christ, putting the Words
of His Good News into practice.
B. Hymns
for Holy Mass
a) Entrance:
ES #48: “Angels We Have Heard on High”
b) Responsorial
Psalm: EM pages 55-56
c) Response
to Universal Prayer: “May Jesus, Mary and Joseph bless our
families!”
d) Offertory:
ES #219” “Christify”
e) Communion:
ES #56: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
f) Recessional:
ES #60: “Hang Bê-lem”
The Holy Spirit Choir
