SUNDAY PREP

CATHOLIC WOMEN PREACHJEFF CAVINSBISHOP GOLKAKNOW BEFORE YOU GOONE MINUTE HOMILYPRIESTS FOR LIFESOCIETY OUR LADY OF TRINITYWORD ON THE WORD

↩️ ↪️ Catholic Women Preach

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5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Catholic Women Preach video series.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): Gracious God, you are the Holy One who makes all things new. As we reflect on the mission of Paul and Barnabas and the tender words of your Son, we ask for the grace to stay the course of discipleship and to love one another as you have loved us.

Petitions:

For the Church: That she may be a community of healing, mercy, and inclusion; a people who do not sugarcoat the reality of hardship but persevere in telling the sacred story of Jesus.
For the World: That the vision of the New Jerusalem—where every tear is wiped away and suffering is transformed—may inspire leaders to work for a world defined by tolerance, forgiveness, and peace.
For Special Needs: For those wrestling with resistance in their own hearts or facing outward danger, that they may feel the confident trust that God dwells with them and accompanies them in every season.
For the Local Assembly: That we may "live into the virtues" of Christ; that like the models of faith in our own lives, we may reach out to those on the margins and welcome all with open arms and generous hearts.

Closing Prayer (Presider): Lord Jesus, you gave us a new commandment to love one another as your own last will and testament. Help us to embody your redemptive love so that the world may know we belong to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.ed for us in abundance. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Jeff Cavins

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5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Sundays with Ascension video series "Encountering the Word."

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): Gracious Father, through your Son Jesus, you have revealed your heart and your face to all of us. As we seek to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we bring our prayers before you with the trust of beloved children.

Petitions:

For the Church: That she may be a faithful witness to the Truth established by Christ; that despite human imperfections, the life of the Church may always point clearly to the one who founded her.
For the World: That in the midst of a diversity of faiths and philosophies, all people may encounter the love of the Father through the actions of those who follow the Way of Jesus.
For Special Needs: For those who ask, "What is God really like?" and for those struggling to trust an unknown Father, that they may find their answers in the person of Jesus and the compassion of His followers.
For the Local Assembly: That our daily lives—the way we love our families, treat our neighbors, and carry out our work—may become a message that reveals the Son and the Father to a world "dying to know" who God is.

Closing Prayer (Presider): Heavenly Father, you sent Jesus to show us point-blank what you are like. May we, through our "greater works" and simple acts of love, continue that revelation in our own time. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.hrist our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Bishop James Golka

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5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Diocese of Colorado Springs video series.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): Brothers and sisters, as we gather on this fifth Sunday of Easter, we are called to be living stones in God’s spiritual edifice. Let us offer our prayers to the Father, asking for the grace to surrender our lives to His divine purpose.

Petitions:

For the Church: That all the baptized may embrace their identity as a "royal priesthood," setting aside their lives for God’s purposes and offering spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to Him.
For the World: That nations and their leaders may move away from the mindset of a "privileged elite" and instead seek the common good, recognizing that all people are created for a divine purpose.
For Special Needs: For those currently undergoing the "cutting and carving" of life’s trials, that they may have the strength to let God bend them into the shape where they are most needed.
For the Local Assembly: That our families and marriages may become holy places where time and space are intentionally set aside for God, allowing His holiness to enter our homes.

Closing Prayer (Presider): Lord God, you are the Potter and we are the clay. Grant us the courage to not merely "give up," but to "give over" everything to you, so that Christ may truly live in us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.oice of your Son, we may always be gathered into the one Sheepfold where life is abundant. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Know Before You Go

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the fifth Sunday of Easter, Jesus reminds us that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let us turn to the Father, through the Son, and offer our prayers for the needs of the Church and the world.

Petitions:

For the Church: That all members of the Church may embrace their identity as a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation," announcing the praises of God through both word and action.
For the World: That leaders and citizens alike may recognize the "widows" and the neglected in our own time, ensuring that the daily distribution of resources reaches those most in need.
For Special Needs: For those who feel exhausted or discouraged, that they may find reassurance in Christ’s promise to do "even greater works" through the power of the Holy Spirit.
For the Local Assembly: That our community may be built into a spiritual house, where our prayer in the temple is always married to our service on the street.

Closing Prayer (Presider): God of hope, you have called us to make a difference in your world. Hear these prayers and strengthen us to follow Jesus, our Way, so that we may manifest your love to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great.

↩️ ↪️ 1-Minute Homily

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5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and THE JESUIT POST.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts that are often troubled by the judgments of the world. Trusting that Jesus has prepared a place for us, we present our petitions with confidence.

Petitions:

For the Church: That she may always be a sanctuary for those the world rejects, reminding every soul that they are a precious cornerstone in God’s kingdom.
For the World: That the voices of condemnation, shame, and exclusion may be silenced by the Gospel of unconditional love and forgiveness.
For Special Needs: For those struggling with feelings of inadequacy or the weight of past mistakes, that they may trust in the peace of Christ and the place he has prepared for them.
For the Local Assembly: That we may stop rejecting the parts of ourselves we are ashamed of and instead offer our whole selves to be transformed by the Father’s grace.

Closing Prayer (Presider): Loving God, what the world rejects, you love. Grant us the faith to see ourselves as you see us, and the courage to live in the truth of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Priests for Life

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5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and PRIESTS FOR LIFE.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): Almighty God, you are the Author of Life. As a people ransomed by the precious blood of your Son, we ask you to hear our prayers as we strive to build a Culture of Life.

Petitions:

For the Church: That we may truly become the "People of Life," drawing nourishment from Christ, the one true tree, to bear fruit in a world hungry for hope.
For the World: That the "works of the devil"—lies and murder—may be defeated by the Truth of the Gospel and the sanctity of every human life from conception to natural death.
For Special Needs: For those caught in the darkness of the "culture of death," that they may be interiorly renewed by the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life.
For the Local Assembly: That we may act according to our baptismal calling, identifying with Jesus as "the Way" by defending the vulnerable and witnessing to the dignity of the person.

Closing Prayer (Presider): Father, you have transformed us through the Gospel of Life. Help us to remain branches united to the Vine, that we may protect the gift of life in all its forms. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ SOLT Liturgy Prep

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Society of Our Lady video series "Liturgy Prep."

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): The Risen Lord stands in our midst and says, "Peace be with you." Let us cast our fears upon him and pray for the needs of our troubled world.

Petitions:

For the Church: That the gift of Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist may be the source of our unity and the foundation of our resurrected life.
For the World: For all those facing the "virus of sin" and the crises of rebellion or unrest, that they may find the road to happiness and peace that only Christ can provide.
For Special Needs: For those whose hearts are troubled by fear or anxiety, that they may keep their vision on Christ and feel the comforting presence of Mary, our Queen of Peace.
For the Local Assembly: That we may not let our hearts be troubled by the things of this world, but instead find peace in the Holy Spirit and the truth Jesus revealed.

Closing Prayer (Presider): Lord Jesus, you are the Way to the Father. May your peace, which the world cannot give, guard our hearts and minds today and always. Amen.ur listening lead to love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ The Word on the Word

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

5th Sunday of Easter (A)

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and EWTN video series "The Word on the Word."

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Prayer (Presider): God our Father, you have given us Christ as our Cornerstone to support and guide every aspect of our lives. We bring our prayers to you, knowing we are chosen and precious in your sight.

Petitions:

For the Church: That she may always remain faithful to the height, angles, and stability provided by her Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.
For the World: For those who find Christ to be a "stumbling block," that their hearts may be opened to the beauty and truth of the Gospel.
For Special Needs: For the outcasts and those who feel forgotten, that they may find comfort in the knowledge that they are chosen by God and precious to Him.
For the Local Assembly: That we may take this week to evaluate our lives, ensuring that all our activities and ambitions connect back to the foundation of Christ.

Closing Prayer (Presider): Faithful God, you have built us into a living remembrance of your Son. Help us to build our lives on the rock of His love, so that we may never be shaken. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.of rebirth. Grant us the courage to turn back to you with all our hearts, that we may live as witnesses to the Resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

LITURGY PLANNING

Liturgy Notes

5th Sunday of Easter (A)

5th Sunday of Easter (A)

Living Our Baptismal Priesthood

by Fr. Lawrence Mick

The first reading recounts the establishment of the office of deacons in the early churchThough their function in those times is less clear historically than this passage would suggest (deacons in Acts do much more than serving at table), the incident reveals several points worth our reflection.

Notice, first, that this is a process of compromise to heal a division in the church. The Gentiles were calling for more attention from the Twelve. The Twelve wanted to focus on preaching the word of God. The solution was to create a different ministry to tend to the distribution of food.
Second, this teaches us that the church can create new offices to fulfill the real needs of the community of faith. We are not forever locked into the past; the Spirit can guide us today as in the past.
Third, the ministry of serving the community is a diverse one. For too long, Catholics thought that all ministry belonged to the priest (presbyter). We had forgotten the plurality of ministries that existed in the early church. Pope Francis’ call to study the question of women deacons today is a first step to further rethink the diaconate.

Our second reading broadens our view even further by reminding us that all the baptized share in the priesthood of Christ

“Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

We are still a long way from fully recovering that truth in our assemblies. I suspect that many Catholics still see the Mass as the action of the priest rather than an action of the whole assembly over which the priest presides.

Unpacking the meaning of baptism (i.e. mystagogy) includes deepening an awareness of the priestly mission of the baptized. Not only are all the baptized called to offer the eucharistic sacrifice, but they are also called to offer the sacrifice of their lives every day in service of the Lord. We are baptized to carry on the mission of the church; baptism is not just for our personal benefit but for the sake of the kingdom of God.

Preachers and planners might focus today on the various ways that the priesthood of Christ is exercised in the world, both through ordained ministries and through the priesthood of the faithful.

Compose petitions that pray for each form of ministry in the church. Pray for the strength to fulfill the ministries entrusted to each member of the assembly. Pray for those served by the various ministries. Pray for vocations to priesthood and diaconate, but also pray for full acceptance of the mission by all the baptized.

Fr. Lawrence Mick was a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, columnist, workshop leader on parish renewal and the author of many books on the liturgy. He is a long-time contributor to Celebration and other national publications.

5th Sunday of Easter (A)