McAuley High School Spiritual Reference Booklet

Transcription

1 McAuley High School Spiritual Reference Booklet Our Motto "Domine in te speravi - Lord, in you I have hoped" - stresses our trust in God and the responsibility for each one of us to be people of hope for the world. The motto comes from Psalm 39 which is a prayer for wisdom and guidance. Coming together in Prayer Below are some of the prayers we say together at staff and school gatherings. You are not expected to memorise all these prayers, songs and waiata immediately. It is more important that they are said with reverence than chanted by rote. That being said, you may find that being familiar with the words allows you to attend more deeply to the meanings and sentiments expressed in them and that saying them becomes a more spiritual practice for you. The Sign of the Cross Catholics make the sign of the cross before and after our prayers. In fact, the Sign of the Cross is a prayer itself. It should be said with reverence; we shouldn't rush through it on the way to the next prayer. We say: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Ki te ingoa o te Matua, o te Tamaiti o te Wairua Tapu. Amene. (Māori) I le suafa o le Tama, ma le Alo, ma le Agaga Pa ia. Amene. (Samoan) I he huafa o e Tamai, mo e Alo, mo e Laumālie, Ma oni oni. Ameni. (Tongan)

2 How we make the Sign of the Cross This is a kinaesthetic element. We trace the cross on our bodies. Feel free to join or just remain still. If you wish to join in here are the instructions: Using your right hand, you touch your forehead at the mention of the Father; the lower middle of your chest at the mention of the Son; and the left shoulder on the word "Holy" and the right shoulder on the word "Spirit". The Lord's Prayer The Lord's Prayer was taught to us by Jesus Christ himself and it is a prayer of perfect and unselfish love. See Matthew 6:9-13 for the Lord's Prayer. The form of the Lord s Prayer (or Our Father ) has recently reverted to traditional wording for Catholics in New Zealand. Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen. The Rosary The Rosary is a devotion in honour of the Virgin Mary. It consists of a set number of specific prayers: one Apostles Creed (Credo), one Our Father (the Pater Noster or the Lord s Prayer), three Hail Mary s (Aves), one Glory Be (Gloria Patri). The Hail Mary The "Hail Mary" is part of the Rosary, a prayer to Mary. It is made up of two sentences. The first sentence is a paraphrase from Elizabeth s greeting to Mary in Luke 1. The second sentence is a statement which rephrases a formula from the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

3 Glory Be The Glory be is also part of the Rosary. It is a prayer that reminds us of the eternal glory of God. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Eternal Rest We pray this together when someone has died, as a prayer for their soul. Catholics pray for the dead as encouraged by 2 Maccabees 15: and Catholic interpretations of other biblical texts. If you are happy to join us here are the words: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Coming together in Song Mo Maria This Maori-language hymn about Mary was written in 1842 by French Catholic Jean Baptiste Francois Pompallier ( ), who was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of New Zealand. Mō Maria aianei, ō tātou waiata, Kia kaha rā tātou, Kia nui te aroha. Tenā hoki ngā ahere E whakahonore ana Ki to ratou rehina Ki a Maria anō rā. Aroha ki te Atua Aroha ki a Maria I te Rangi, i te whenua āke tonu, āke tonu. For Mary now Our songs Let us be strong Let there be great love There also the angels Giving honour To their queen To Mary Love God Love Mary In heaven And on earth Forever and ever

4 Ka Waiata A popular Maori Catholic hymn venerating Mary, the Mother of Jesus, for accepting her role as mother of future generations. It is also sung at non-catholic gatherings to praise the role of all mothers as "Whare tangata". Ka waiata ki a Maria Hine i whakaae Whakameatia mai He whare-tangata (tangata) Hine pūrotu Hine ngākau Hine rangimārie Ko te whaea (x2) O te ao (x2) Sing now to Maria The girl who said Yes Let it be as you say, that I become The house of mankind. A simple girl A strong-hearted girl A quiet girl The mother of Jesus And of the world Ehara i te mea Composed by Eru Timoko Ihaka ( ). Ehara i te mea Nō nāianei te aroha Nō ngā tūpuna I Tuku iho, tuku iho Te whenua, te whenua Te oranga o te iwi Nō ngā tūpuna I Tuku iho, tuku iho Whakapono, tumanako Te aroha te aroha; Nō ngā tūpuna I Tuku iho, tuku iho. Not the thing Of recent times, is love But by the ancestors it has been Passed down, passed down. From the land, the land Comes the wellbeing of the people; By the ancestors it has been Passed down, passed down. Faith, hope And love; By the ancestors they have been Passed down, passed down. E toru ngā mea A hymn sung when beginning a communal project. E toru ngā mea Ngā mea nunui E kī ana, te paipera Tumanako, whakapono Ko te mea nui Ko te aroha There are three things Very important things As stated in the Bible Hope, faith And the greatest thing, Is charity

5 Ngaringari (The National Anthem) "God Defend New Zealand" was written as a poem in the 1870s by Irish-born, Victorian-raised immigrant Thomas Bracken of Dunedin. The Māori language version was produced in 1878 by Thomas H. Smith of Auckland, a judge in the Native Land Court, on request by Governor George Edward Grey, and, in 1979, this was back-translated into English by former Māori Language Commissioner, Professor Timoti Karetu. E Ihowa Atua O ngā iwi mātou rā Āta whakarongona Me aroha noa Kia hua ko te pai Kia tau tō atawhai Manaakitia mai Aotearoa The Mercy Cross God of nations at thy feet In the bonds of love we meet Hear our voices we entreat God defend our free land Guard Pacific's triple star From the shafts of strife and war Make her praises heard afar God defend New Zealand Haka Powhiri We use this in opening ceremonies to welcome guests. Usually the Y13 only perform it. LEADER: CHORUS: LEADER: CHORUS: LEADER: CHORUS: Ā, tōia mai, Te waka! Ki te urunga, Te waka! Ki te moenga, Te waka! Ah, drag it here The canoe! To the entry The canoe! To the berth The canoe! ALL: Ki te takoto rungai, Takoto ai, Te waka! Hi! Up to the resting place, Set it down. The canoe! Yeah!

6 The McAuley High School Song Silver fern from heart of bushland Spread New Zealand s name abroad Symbol too of our upreaching As we walk the Christian road Waiata mai kotiro ma Matauranga mo koutou Akona ate mahi nei Aroha ki te Atua Mother Catherine McAuley Cross of southern sky so brilliant Light our path and guide our way As the star o er Bethlehem s stable Shone on that first Christmas Day Pe a tuua I matou Aoga ma galuega Le lalolagi e tumau pea Manatua au uo sai lai Little shamrock green of Ireland Land of Mother Catherine s birth Symbol too of God s three persons Trinity of Heaven and Earth late Koe e Otua Ko homau Amanaki anga Moto ia o eku ako Ma u a e mo ui kakato Domine, in te speranzi This the motto of our school God our hope and trust forever, Christ s example be our rule.

7 Coming together in Mercy Values Each year a mercy value is chosen as a focussing theme for the whole school. Respect for Human Dignity We respect human dignity when we: Respect the sacredness of life Care for the whole person Demonstrate unity of purpose while recognising individual differences Value each person s contribution Act in a culturally appropriate manner Compassion / Mercy We show compassion / mercy when we: Act with understanding and sensitivity towards each other and the students Work co-operatively with others Are available to those we serve and to each other Respect and nurture the environment Service We provide service when we: Create an environment of welcome and hospitality Promote quality care and excellence in the teaching ministry Encourage and demonstrate team spirit Recognise the value of individual initiatives and ideas Show an openness to constructive criticism and feedback Justice We promote justice when we: Act with integrity Respect the rights of others Take responsibility for our actions Preserve our resources Provide quality without extravagance Demonstrate fairness in decision making Affirm, celebrate ad develop the gifts and talents of each person Model justice in all aspects of our teaching practice Care for the poor and vulnerable We care for the poor and vulnerable when we: Listen attentively to identify unmet needs Respond in a practical way to those in need Collaborate with others to share resources Create access to educational opportunities

8 Gathering Together in Celebration Dedication Mass A full mass precedes the dedication and blessing of student leaders. Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is one of the most important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel." It is not required that a person wear the ashes for the rest of the day, and they may be washed off after Mass. However, many people keep the ashes as a reminder until the evening. Holy Thursday Holy Thursday marks the beginning of Holy Week. It commemorates Jesus return to Jerusalem where he shared the Last Supper with His apostles. He was subsequently arrested and tried. He was crucified at Calvary on Friday, outside the gates of Jerusalem. He was buried the same day, and arose three days later, on Easter Sunday. All of this is done by our Lord for forgiveness of our sins, and for life everlasting with Him. Mercy Day On the 24th of September every year, Sisters of Mercy and their friends around the world celebrate Mercy Day. This is the day on which Catherine McAuley first opened the House of Mercy in Ireland and dedicated it to Our Lady of Mercy. This is a day to celebrate all the wonderful work Sisters of Mercy and their friends do around the world. Thanksgiving Mass Thanksgiving Mass is our final celebration of the year, at which we give thanks for God s blessings throughout the year. Weekly Mass A Mass is celebrated in the chapel one lunchtime per week for those, staff and students, who wish to attend.

9 Glossary of special terms Mass The Mass is the central act of worship in the Catholic Church. The Mass is divided into two main parts. The Liturgy of the Word includes Scripture readings and a homily and ends with the general intercessions or prayers. The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the offering of the gifts, followed by consecration of the bread and wine and the reception of Communion. Catholics believe that in the consecration the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ. The Eucharist The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the seven sacraments because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Innumerable, precious graces come to us through the reception of Holy Communion. It is normally impossible for non-catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, however you are invited to share in communion by receiving a blessing instead. Liturgy The general term for all the church's official acts of worship. It includes the Mass (also called the Eucharistic liturgy), the celebration of the other sacraments, and the Liturgy of the Hours, which contains the official prayers recited by priests and some others to sanctify parts of the day. Sacrament A sacrament is a ceremony that imparts spiritual grace. Catholics believe that there are seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, matrimony, holy orders and the anointing of the sick. The Trinity The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion -- the truth that in the unity of God there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Charism In general the word charism denotes any good gift that flows from God's love to humans. Charism can be considered to be a living passion for whatever dimension of the life of Christ is needed now - faith, obedience, compassion, thoughtfulness, hope, contentment, determination... It is also used to refer to the particular ethos and purpose of a Catholic Order or school. For example, our school follows the Mercy charism. Lent A season of penance that commemorates the forty days Christ spent in the wilderness, and which ends with Holy Week. Homily A commentary or lesson on scripture (the teachings of the Bible).

10 Thanks to John Hall, who provided scriptural and theological guidance, Shanna Rope, who corrected te reo, Leiola Finau, who corrected Tongan language, and Alicia Tapu, who corrected Samoan language. Images taken from: