Text of the Mission Sending of the brothers going to Timor Leste

16 January, 2013, St Dominic's Priory witnessed the historic mission sending of the founders to the new mission of the Province of the Rosary: Timor Leste. During the mass, Fr. Provincial presented them to the friars and asked for the support and prayers of the community. Though it was a very private affair, the communities of the GCA were well represented with the presence of their superiors: Fr. Hyacinth for St. Joaquim Royo, Fr. Secundino for St Albert, Fr. Fernando of Saint Dominic's Yangoon aside from the friars assigned to the Priory,.  Here is the text of the blessings used yesterday.

ORDER OF BLESSING AND SENDING OF MISSIONARIES WITHIN THE MASS
Greeting
P. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

P: May the Lord, who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light, be with you all.

All: And with your spirit.

My dear brothers, today we are gathered here in prayer as we ask for God’s blessing for the brothers whom we are sending to make a new foundation in Timor Leste.

We are in a sense reliving a practice of the early Church, the eager sending of its members to other peoples, to assist either those who were already of the household of the faith or those who did not yet believe in Christ.

The sending of our brothers to this new mission, to serve the needs of the Church will strengthen our bond of communion with the people of Timor Leste is a very historical event for the Church and also for us. We hope that this mission may flourish and bring about a renewal of missionary fervor among us, and this can only be realized with the support of our prayers as a
family.
 

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Biblical Reading
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah  (1:4-9)
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I appointed you as prophet to the nations.'
I then said, 'Ah, ah, ah, Lord Yahweh; you see, I do not know how to speak: I am only a child!
But Yahweh replied, 'Do not say, "I am only a child," for you must go to all to whom I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of confronting them, for I am with you to rescue you, Yahweh declares.'  Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me: 'There! I have put my words into your mouth.  Look, today I have set you over the nations and kingdoms, to uproot and to knock down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.'
Word of the Lord.
A.   Thanks be to God.

Song: Here I am Lord!
Presentation of those who are to be sent to the Missions

The introduction of the departing missionaries:

Celebrant: Dear brothers: inspired by charity and strengthened by obedience, these brothers are sent to begin the Dominican foundation in Timor Leste to serve the Church and to proclaim the Gospel:
Fr. Ruben Martinez Ortega
Fr. Gerson Javier Nieto Flores

When their names are called they stand.

Celebrant: May by your words and your lives proclaim to all peoples the Gospel that is proclaimed in this house of God, so that the mystery of Christ and the Church may be revealed to all.
The Community then stands for the Gospel Acclamation:

Alleluia:

Gospel Antiphon:
Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Gospel

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (28: 16-20)
Meanwhile the eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them.  When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.'
The Gospel of the Lord.
All.   Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

After the homily the celebrant sits down.
Let us now ask Fr Ruben to say a few words as a response.
C. Let us now stand for the Blessing and the Intercessions.

Prayer of Blessing

The celebrant then hold his hands outstretched over the departing missionaries, as he says the prayer of blessing.
P. We bless you, O God, and we praise your name. In your merciful providence you sent your Son into the world to free us from the bondage of sin by his own blood and to enrich us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Before he returned, triumphant over death, to you, Father, he sent his apostles, the bearers of his love and power, to proclaim the Gospel of life to all peoples and in the waters of baptism to cleanse those who believe.

Lord, look kindly on your servants our brothers Ruben and Gerson Javier: we send them forth as messengers of salvation and peace, marked with the sign of the cross.

Guide their steps with your mighty arm and with the power of your grace strengthen them in spirit, so that they will not falter through weariness.

Make their words the echo of Christ's voice, so that those who hear them may be drawn to obey the Gospel.

Fill the hearts of your missionaries with the Holy Spirit, so that, becoming all things to all people, they may lead many to you, the Father of all, to sing your praises in your holy Church.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.
C. Please be seated.

Presentation of Crosses to the Missionaries

C. We shall now have the blessing and the presentation of the mission cross.
The celebrant blesses the crosses:
P. Father of holiness, you willed the cross of your Son to be the source of all blessings, the fount of all grace. Bless these crosses and grant that those who will preach the crucified Christ to others may themselves strive to be transformed into his image. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
R. Amen.

Then one by one the missionaries go to the celebrant, who gives each one a cross, as he says: Receive this sign of Christ's love and of our faith. Preach Christ crucified, who is the power and wisdom of God.

The missionary replies: Amen.

Then the missionary takes the crucifix, kisses it, and returns to his place.

Intercessions

P. Let us pray together to God, our merciful Father. He anointed his own Son with the Holy Spirit to preach the Good News to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, and to comfort the sorrowful. With great confidence we therefore say: R. Lord, may all your people praise you.

God of everlasting mercy, your will is that all people should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth; we give you thanks for sending your only Son into the world as our Teacher and Redeemer, we pray to the Lord. R.

You sent Jesus Christ to preach the Good News to the poor, to proclaim the release of captives, and to announce the age of grace; 'grant that the embrace of your Church may extend to people of every tongue and every nation, we pray to the Lord. R.

You call all peoples out of darkness into your marvelous light, so that at the name of Jesus every knee must bend in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; enable us to bear true witness to the Gospel of salvation, we pray to the Lord. R.

Give us hearts that are upright and simple, so that we will be open to your word; make our lives and all the world rich in works of holiness, we pray to the Lord. R.

You continue to preserve the missionary spirit of our Province with new foundations and generous vocations, we also ask you to bless the brothers who are sick and elderly, our different communities in the mission, the different vicariates around the world, we pray to the Lord. R.

You inspire us to respond to the needs of your Church, as we send these brothers of ours Ruben and Gerson Javier to the Church of Timor Leste, we ask you to bless them with good health, apostolic zeal and love for your people, may they continue the long and glorious tradition of the many Dominican missionaries who had given their lives to that church and may the Saints and Blesseds of our Province help them through their prayers, we pray to the Lord. R.

P: God our Father, we thank you for calling us to share in the mission of preaching; as we now begin a new mission in Timor Leste with our brothers Ruben and Gerson Javier, we humbly ask you to confirm them in your grace and grant them the courage to face all difficulties and faithfully serve your people in the ministry entrusted to them. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen.

After communion:

Presentation of gifts to the new missionaries:

The mayor of the student community will present a gift to the new foundation in behalf of the student community.

The prior of the community also presents the gift of the priory to the departing friars.

Concluding Rite

P. "Bow your heads and pray for God's blessing,"
V. May God, who in Christ has shown us his truth and love, make you messengers of the Gospel and witnesses to the divine love before all the world. R. Amen.

V. May the Lord Jesus Christ, who promised that he would be with his Church until the end of time, guide your steps and fill your words with power. R. Amen.

V. May the Spirit of the Lord be upon you, enabling you as you go through the world to bring the Good News to the lowly and to heal the brokenhearted. R. Amen.

V.  May almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.

C: As it was the tradition of our Province that the friars greet the Virgin when they leave for the missions, let us now chant the Solemn “Salve” and the “O Spem miram”.