MANY VOICES. ONE SPIRIT. Acknowledgement of Country: We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands across our diocese and acknowledge their Elders, past, present and emerging. In doing so, we acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a deep cultural, spiritual and historical connection to Country. We acknowledge that we too are one in land, one in spirit, one in faith united in God’s love. Introductory Dialogue: Student 1: This week is Catholic Education Week. Student 2: Really? I thought every week was Catholic Education week. What is Catholic

Education Week? Student 1: It is a week, that is celebrated by all Catholic schools Queensland in week 3 of term

3 every year. Catholic education strives to make a difference by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus.

Student 2: Is there a theme for Catholic Education Week? Student 1: Yes. The Theme is Many Voices One Spirit. Student 2: Many voices? There are plenty of voices in my class. Student 1: That’s right but not just in our class, in our school and all the Catholic Schools,

colleges and universities in Queensland. Student 2: And what unites us is the Spirit of Jesus. The one Spirit is present in every Catholic

school community from as far north as Thursday Island and as far south as Stanthorpe.

Student 1: As far east as Currumbin Waters and as far west as Mount Isa! Student 2: Did you know that in the five Catholic Diocese in Queensland there are 306 schools,

around 20 000 staff work in these schools and 149 000 students attend these schools?

Student 1: Wow! There really is a lot to celebrate isn’t there? Student 2: Well what are we waiting for? Let’s make the sign of the cross and begin. In the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. Student 1: Please join us in singing Ubuntu. Gathering Hymn: ‘Ubuntu’ - Andrew Chinn (People of Peace) Opening Prayer: Gracious God, through your son, Jesus, you show us how to live in harmony with others. Help us to be examples of acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness united by the Holy Spirit. We make our prayer through Christ, Our Lord. All: Amen.

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 (You may like to have students act out the Gospel) Parts: Jesus (Speaking) Crowd Simon Peter (Speaking) James John Narrator (Speaking)

Narrator: The Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s.

Jesus: Could you pull out a little from the shore?

Narrator: Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon…

Jesus: Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.

Simon: Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’

Narrator: And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying…

Simon: Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.

Narrator: He and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon…

Jesus: Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.

Narrator: Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

Narrator: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Breaking Open the Word: (You may like to interview an actor from the Gospel to break open the word. The following dialogue may be of assistance in doing this)

Parts: Newsreader 1 Newsreader 2 Reporter Eye Witness (ideally someone from the crowd during the acting out of the Gospel) Play news introduction music. News readers 1 & 2 are positioned at a desk. Newsreader 1: Welcome to (insert school) Catholic News. My name is… Newsreader 2: And my name is… Newsreader 1: Breaking News. Today there were eye witnesses to a most astonishing event.

(Reporter) is on the scene. We cross to them now. Reporter: Good morning. (Eye witness) was one of the people listening to Jesus. Can you

tell me about what happened at the Lake of Gennesaret? Eye Witness: Yes. Fishermen who had been out on the water all night and who had caught

nothing were told by Jesus to pay out their nets again and would you believe it, they hauled into their boat the best catch of the year!

Reporter: The fishermen must have had a great deal of faith and trust in Jesus to head back

out onto the water after already being out all night. Eye Witness: Yes, and that’s not all. Jesus said to not be afraid, and from now on they would

catch men. Reporter: Catch men? Eye Witness: Now I don’t think Jesus meant this literally, I think that these men are now going

to travel with Jesus, perhaps become disciples and teach others about the Kingdom of God.

Reporter: Well there you have it. What you have seen here today at the Lake of Gennesaret is a model of discipleship. Back to you at the desk.

Newsreader 2: I think a story like that calls for a prayer. Prayer of the Faithful: Let us pray to our God who answers when we call for help. For Pope Francis, our Bishops and all leaders of the Church [pause] that God will give them wisdom, compassion and courage to boldly follow Jesus. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer. For the nations of our world [pause] that the many voices be heard, and the one Spirit unite everyone to work together for justice and peace. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer. For all the students, staff and families in our Catholic kindergartens, schools and universities in Queensland [pause] that their enthusiasm and energy will be shown in welcoming all and helping those in need. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer. For all who were nominated to receive Catholic Education Week awards [pause] may the Spirit empower them to be models of love and joy, faith and learning. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer. For those who are sick or suffering [pause] may they and their loved ones receive comfort, strength and peace. Lord, hear us. Lord, hear our prayer.

O God, our help and our strength, hear our prayers, for you are the source of all our gifts. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Closing Prayer: Loving God, your Spirit is present in the many voices in our Queensland Catholic schools. May your Holy Spirit unite us in faith, hope and love during Catholic Education week and promote and uphold the distinctive mission of Catholic schooling. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. Please join us in singing our final song. Final Song: Many Roads One Journey (A. Chinn, Many Roads One Journey). Let’s make the sign of the cross.