CELEBRATION OF THE
HOLY EUCHARIST
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON YOUTH
National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate
3/F CBCP Bldg., 470 General Luna Street, Intramuros, 1002 Manila
Telephone + 63 2 527 9567 | Telefax +63 2 527 9566
Mobile Phone + 63 917 853 6792
Email address ecynsya@gmail.com, youth@cbcpworld.com
FIRST MASS OF THE “SIMBANG GABI”
16 December 2010
NATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2010
LAUNCH OF THE CBCP YEAR OF THE YOUTH
INTRODUCTORY RITE
Introduction
The 16th of December, the first day of our traditional “Simbang Gabi” – our
novena in preparation for the Solemnity of the Birth of our Lord – was declared
last 1986 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as “National
Youth Day”. Today, we begin as a Church in the Philippines the celebration of
the “CBCP Year of the Youth”.
The Church places great importance to the young people, not only because of
their rich gifts and strong potentials, but more importantly in fidelity to the life
and mission of the Lord Jesus who Himself became young; thus, she has
established her youth ministry in its various forms in different levels. The
Church in the Philippines aims to concretize this in a special way during this
special year, where we all hope to lead young people towards a stronger
relationship of faith in Christ and a deeper love for others as for themselves. As
a community of the faithful gathered to await and celebrate the mysteries of
Christ’s birth, let us pray that we become instruments of God’s preferential love
for the youth, celebrate their presence as both blessing and challenge, and
journey with them towards new life in Jesus Christ.
After the introduction, a simple MTV of the young people may be played and followed Commentator: May we request everyone to be seated as our young people sing
by a guided animation for everyone to participate. and animate the theme song of the CBCP Year of the Youth.

Opening Prayer While the song is being sung, a “second collection” for the CBCP-Episcopal
Commission on Youth and the Diocesan Youth Ministry may be done to support the
Presider: Let us pray. (silence) celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth. If this collection is to be done, it is
Father, important to explain this to the community before the young people and the assembly
in your plan for our salvation sing and dance “theme song.”
your Word became man, After the song, the commentator will say:
announced by an angel and born of the Virgin Mary.
May we who believe that she is the Mother of God Commentator: Let us clap our hands once again for our beloved young
receive the help of her prayers. people!
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, Other announcements may be made here.
one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen. Concluding Rite

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading
Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 66

Gospel
John 5:33-36

Homily

The homilist is strongly encouraged to emphasize in a catechetical way the themes of

this day – the message of the reading, especially of the Gospel, and the National Youth
Day together with the launch of the CBCP Year of the Youth – in his homily.

Prayers of the Faithful

Presider: As we remember the mysteries of the Incarnation,

let us ask the Lord who became a human being like us
so that we may share in the divine life

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Celebration of the Holy Eucharist [16 December 2010] p.11

Presider: Lord Jesus, you said,
“Let the children come to me; do not stop them;
for it is to such as these
that the kingdom of God belongs.”
You have shown preferential love to young people
when you gave them a special place
in Your salvific plan.
We thank You, Lord Jesus,
for putting your trust in the youth.
We offer to you our young people
who lovingly serve their fellow youth,
but sometimes are misunderstood:
may they become stronger
in their commitment to serve You
and lead more young people towards holiness.
Today, as we begin the CBCP Year of the Youth,
may their dream to build a life of authentic love and
concern for their brethren be fulfilled,
and may the culture of individualism
and selfishness end.
Guide the young people who do not know You,
those who continue to live
in darkness and indifference.
Heal the hearts of those who experience hardships and
responsibilities even at their early age.
We ask you to journey with them,
that they may remain strong
in facing every challenge of their lives.
Lord, continue to dwell in our hearts
as we strive to live a life of service to you
and to our brethren.
May all of us come to behold your heavenly presence and
share in the joy of your kingdom
with Mary, our loving mother. Amen.
p.10 Celebration of the Holy Eucharist [16 December
to enable us to bring His transforming presence in our
situation today, especially in the world of the youth.
Let our response be:
LORD, HEAR YOUR PEOPLE.
1 For the Church, our Mother in faith:
May she bring more and more people to the Lord,
and, in each of them, give birth to a new life that is centered in Him.
Let us pray.
2 For our Holy Father, our bishops and clergy:
May their ministry be always drawn from their hearts
as shepherds who care for their flock,
especially those who are weak and voiceless.
Let us pray.
3 For our country:
May our preparations for Christmas allow us to rediscover
the importance of a welcoming heart and a generous disposition,
and lead us to meaningfully celebrate the CBCP Year of the Youth.
Let us pray.
4 For all young people:
Throughout this CBCP Year of the Youth,
may they experience God’s preferential love for them
through our efforts and initiatives as a Church.
Let us pray.
5 For the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth
and the youth ministries in the dioceses, parishes, schools,
organizations, and other settings all over the Philippines:
May they all receive God’s bountiful blessings
as they lead the whole Church in the Philippines
to a more relevant and fruitful ministry among the young.
Let us pray.
Celebration of the Holy Eucharist [16 December 2010] p.3
6 For all of us: by living in true and fruitful communion with You
May we strive to learn from Jesus, and with one another.
the values of humility, openness and generous love,
and share these through our lives, Empower us through Your Holy Spirit
especially to the youth who need these the most. to stand firm in faith.
Let us pray. May we bring our fellow young people closer to You
so that together, we become agents of change
7 Let us pray in silence for our personal intentions. (Pause) Let us pray. and builders of a society
of justice and solidarity, love and peace.
Presider: Loving Father, You sent Your Son to be our Brother,
and to learn how to live by his example. Enable all of us:
May His great love, especially to the young, Your young people, together with those ministering to us
be our inspiration and guide as we prepare for Christmas, in the church, in families and in society,
and as we celebrate the Church the CBCP Year of the Youth. to make a decisive response to our universal vocation:
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord, to live fully and fruitfully by doing everything in love
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, as we follow Jesus Christ along the path
forever and ever. of genuine trust in You.
All: Amen.
In communion with the rest of the Church,
we pray that this CBCP Year of the Youth
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST become a kairos time
for the youth ministry of your Church
Before the offertory procession, if permitted, a youth representative leads the offering of and a new springtime for us, Filipino youth:
the gifts by reading the following prayer: a special period of growing in Your grace
through our living in youthful holiness
Youth: Lord, we, your children, ask you to take delight in our and through our effort to reach out as a Church
offerings. With these are our dreams and desires, our to those waiting for Your love.
aspirations and ambitions. We offer them all to you together
with the bread and wine and all of our humble gifts. Together with our Blessed Mother,
our model in giving oneself entirely to Your will,
Watch over us, your children, as we pray for a better future we lift this prayer to You in Jesus Christ, Your Son,
which we believe we can attain for You are with us. our Friend, Brother and Lord,
Today, as we celebrate the National Youth Day and the In the power of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
commencement of the CBCP Year of the Youth,
may we be worthy
to present ourselves to you at your holy altar Commentator: We invite everybody to please stand and pray over the young
and offer these gifts that they may be signs of your saving people of our community and of the Philippines. We invite the
love. Amen. youth, ages 13 to 39, to please kneel.

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Celebration of the Holy Eucharist [16 December 2010] p.9
 life of the Church and the society. Their one direction After the prayer, the offertory song is sung. Young people may offer old clothes, books,
represents that despite their uniqueness, their goal is one: the school supplies, food, etc which will be given to the needy, followed by the bread and
Cross. wine.

The Cross is Jesus Christ. Its yellow color depicts that Jesus is Prayer over the Gifts
the source of light of the young people and the guiding wisdom
of youth ministry. It is inclined towards the young people to Presider: Lord,
give emphasis that Jesus is reaching out to the young, whom may the power of your Spirit,
he deeply love. which sanctified the mother of your Son,
make holy the gifts we place upon this altar.
The number twenty-five (25) depicts the number of years since We ask this through Christ our Lord.
the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth was created. The
All: Amen.
creation of the commission is one of the greatest gifts of the
Philippine Catholic Church to the young.
Preface
The blue color of the background symbolizes the presence of
Mary in the lives of the youth, someone who constantly helps Presider: The Lord be with you.
and guides towards humble surrender and obedience to God’s All: And also with you.
will.
Presider: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Commentator: We invite all the young people to please stand and say the
Prayer of the Youth. Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

PRAYER OF THE YOUTH Presider: Father, all-powerful and ever –living God,
ON THE OCCASION OF THE CBCP YEAR OF THE YOUTH we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty Father, God of life and love,
His future coming was proclaimed by all the prophets.
Through time and ages, You love us.
You trust and choose us The virgin mother bore him in her womb with love beyond
to participate in Your saving work. all telling.

Bless us, Your young people, with Your grace. John the Baptist was his herald and made him known when
Give us the gift of living life to the full at last he came. In his love Christ has filled us with joy as we
prepare to celebrate his birth, so that when he comes he
by encountering Your Son in a personal way
and sustaining a relationship with Him, may find us watching in prayer, our hearts filled with
by learning what life truly is from His words and works, wonder and praise.
from His filial relationship with You, and

Celebration of the Holy Eucharist [16 December 2010] p.5

p.8 Celebration of the Holy Eucharist [16 December 2010]
 And so, with all the choir of angels in heaven Presider: Brothers and sisters, let us pray to God:
we proclaim your glory may He continue to protect
and join in their unending hymn of praise. and watch over our young people –
they who are the great treasures of our Church.
Prayer after Communion May He also guide and protect
all those who mold and help them
Presider: Let us pray. (silence) to be more effective witnesses of Jesus.
Lord our God,
may the sacraments we receive Today, in the spirit of joy and gratitude to God
show us your forgiveness and love. who loves the young,
May we who honor the mother of your Son let us launch the CBCP Year of the Church.
be saved by his coming among us as man,
for he is Lord for ever and ever. May our Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints
All: Amen. guide our efforts as one united Church
so that the celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth
may be fruitful and grace-filled. Amen.
FORMAL OPENING OF THE CBCP YEAR OF THE YOUTH
Commentator: Let us clap our hands for all our beloved young people!
Commentator: Dear brothers and sisters,
in solidarity with the Philippine Catholic Church, This will be followed by the entrance of the logo of the CBCP Year of the Youth.
we shall now launch the CBCP Year of the Youth. Together with this is its explanation while playing an appropriate music. Instrumental
As special members of the Church, of the theme song can be played.
young people are given preferential love
for they are the hope of our society and of the Church. Youth: The CBCP Year of the Youth is a year of grace not only for the
The Church recognizes their important role young people of the Philippines but also to the whole Catholic
in spreading the Good News Church.
and in living out the teachings of the Church
by being steadfast witnesses of Christ. This logo symbolizes the dreams and aspirations of the young
Starting today, towards a holy life.
we shall celebrate the grace-filled CBCP Year of the Youth
with our prayers that young people may continue to be true Explanation of the Logo
and good servants of our Lord,
and that in, their living out the Good News, The three (3) human figures symbolize the
they may show that they are true friends and disciples of Jesus. youth and youth ministry reaching out to and
holding the Cross, who is Jesus Christ. Their
A short AVP on the celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth is played. After the AVP, colors yellow, orange and red signify the
the main Presider, Bishop or Priest, formally launches the CBCP Year of the Youth uniqueness of the Filipino youth. These colors
using the following words: also tell us that the Filipino youth are full of
energy, sincere in what they do and vital in the

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