Feast of the Ascension - High School Senior Mass

May 16

Processional Hymn - Shout to the North

Men of faith rise up and sing
Of the great and glorious King
You are strong when you feel weak
In your brokenness complete

Shout to the north and the south
Sing to the east and the west
Jesus is Savior to all
Lord of heaven and earth

Rise up women of the truth
Stand and sing to broken hearts
Who can know the healing pow'r
Of our awesome King of love

Rise up church with broken wings
Fill this place with songs again
Of our God who reigns on high
By His grace again we'll fly

First Reading - Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 103

The Lord is kind and merciful.

The Lord is slow to anger and rich in compassion.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

Second Reading -Ephesians 1:17-23

Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Gospel - Mark 16:15-20

Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish

Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.

Communion Hymn - Christ is Risen

Let no one caught in sin, remain inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us, freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength, You reign, Forever let Your church proclaim

O death where is your sting, O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
O death where is your sting, O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive He's alive

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you in my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and I unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Recessional Hymn - Chosen Generation

We are a chosen generation, Rise up holy nation
God we live for You
You have called us out of darkness
Into light so glorious, God we live for You

We run with passion for Your name we run
Freedom You've broken ev'ry chain we run
And our God will not be moved
Our God will never be shaken
We run to You we run

And our God will not be moved
Our God will never be shaken (3x)
We run to You we run

Ed Kless