Liturgy of the Word

Presider: Father Bartek Palzcewski

Words of Welcome

Murray Watson

✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

(And with your spirit.)

My friends, we are gathered together tonight to celebrate and give thanks for the many ways in which students and staff across our school board have distinguished themselves over the past year, making good use of the gifts God has generously bestowed on them. Tonight is a time to recognize their achievements, which have brought honour to the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and to remind us of how we can help to improve and transform our world by using our skills and talents, our time and our passion. Tonight is a night to be inspired by these accomplishments, and to re-commit ourselves to the goal of excellence in the life of our Catholic schools.

Let us pray.

God of goodness and source of every blessing and gift,

we praise you as we come together tonight

to celebrate with pride the achievements of our students and staff.

We thank you for their talents, hard work and generosity,

and we ask them to bless them, their loved ones,

and our entire school board,

as together we strive each day to use effectively

the many gifts you have given to each one of us,

the things that make us unique and beautiful in your sight.

Glory to you, God of goodness and love,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(all are seated)

Proclaimed by Trustee and Vice-Chair Janice Hutchison

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians

My brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! … In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you … To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord. (Thanks be to God.)

Proclaimed by Trustee Shawn Cooper

The response to the psalm is: Heaven and earth are full of God’s glory.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

    praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels;

    praise him, all his heavenly hosts. (Response)

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for at his command they were created,

and he established them for ever and ever—

    he issued a decree that will never pass away. (Response)

Kings of the earth and all nations,

    you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and women,

    old men and children. (Response)

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for his name alone is exalted;

    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (Response)

(Please stand)

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. (Glory to you, O Lord!)

Jesus said to the crowds:

“At the end of time, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one, he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

The Gospel of the Lord. (Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!)

(All are seated.)

HOMILY: Father Bartek Palzcewski

Father Bartek: As we gather here tonight, we do so in a spirit of gratitude for the way in which God’s gifts shine through in our students and staff. Let us ask God to continue showering his gifts on our world, especially upon those people and regions where the needs are greatest. The response to our prayers is: “Lord, hear our prayer”.

Led by Student Trustees Kate Sontag and Andrew Jones.

1. We pray in gratitude for all those we honour this evening, whose excellence brings us joy, and whose gifts make us proud. May God continue to bless them, and may they continue to use their talents and time to the utmost. For this, we pray to the Lord … 

2. We pray for our schools and school communities—for all of the families and staff who make them up—that they may continue to be places of learning and growth, of faith and welcome. For this, we pray to the Lord …

3. We pray for those who serve as coaches, mentors, and guides to our young people, who help bring out the best in our youth, and who assist them in honing their skills. May their generosity and role-modeling help to shape young people who are strong, confident, compassionate, and proud of their talents and skills. For this, we pray to the Lord …

4. We pray for Ukraine and Sudan, and for the many parts of our world which are tormented by conflict, war, violence, and injustice—where young people do not have access to the same kinds of opportunities that we enjoy here. May God grant peace to the troubled areas of the globe, and may we work to ensure that every young person is able to flourish in safety and peace. For this, we pray to the Lord …

5. We pray that every student and staff member in our board will have a sense of how special, valued, and unique they are and that they will allow their gifts and talents to enrich the lives of those around them. For this, we pray to the Lord …

6. We pray for those who are sick, hospitalized, or suffering at this time, and especially those who may be dealing with the effects of COVID-19. May they have the best of professional care, and may they be surrounded by the love and support of their family members, friends, and colleagues. For this, we pray to the Lord …

7. We pray for our deceased relatives and friends, and for all those who have died. May they rejoice forever in God’s presence, and may those who mourn their loss be comforted by the promise of our faith, and by the resurrection of Jesus. For this, we pray to the Lord …

Father Bartek: God of endless generosity, we bless you for the ways you fill our lives with blessings each and every day. Pour out those blessings on our families, our communities, and our world—especially those who are less fortunate—and help us to be a source of blessing and joy for others around us. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And now, in a spirit of confidence and love, we turn to God in prayer as one family of faith, and together we say, as Jesus taught us.:

Our Father …

Let us pray.

God our Creator and guide,

our gifts and talents are a reflection of your goodness and love for us.

Bless our students and staff,

our families and school communities,

that we may honour you with our bodies and minds,

our hearts and our souls,

and may contribute to a world where ALL people

are free to flourish and achieve their full potential.

Bless those we have honoured tonight,

and may they continue to use their abilities

to serve and benefit others—

to pursue true excellence, and to become, day by day,

the people you have created them to be.

We ask all of this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Lord be with you (And with your spirit).

May God bless you and keep you, sustain you and strengthen you, uphold you, and guide you to a future of hopefulness and joy … ✠ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us go now in peace, praising God by the lives we lead. (Thanks be to God)