∫ (Piano music) ∫

The following presentation is made possible
By the generosity of the viewers
Of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome
To Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent.

My name is Dan Riley.
I am joined by Tom McNamara and Maudette Carr,
And our celebrant is Father Carl Morello.

∫ When the King shall come again, ∫
∫ All His power revealing. ∫
∫ Splendor shall announce His reign, ∫
∫ Life and joy and healing. ∫
∫ Earth no longer in decay, hope no more frustrated. ∫
∫ This is God’s redemption day, longingly awaited. ∫

In the name of the Father,
And of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.

-Amen.

The grace, the peace, the love of God be with each of you.
-And with your spirit.

Today, on this Third Sunday of Advent,
We celebrate with joy,
For our salvation is near and is in fact at hand.

We remember God’s mercy and love
Given to us in Jesus, as we call to mind our sins.

Lord Jesus, You came to call us sinners to Your mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
-Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, Your love for us heals the wound of our sin.
Christ, have mercy.
-Christ, have mercy.

And Lord Jesus, out of love You gather us around this table,
Where You strengthen us in the virtues of faith, hope, and love.
Lord, have mercy.
-Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God, who loves us, have mercy on us,
Forgive us our sins, and one day bring us
To what the Eucharist points toward,
The banquet of everlasting life.

-Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, who see how Your people faithfully await
The feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
Enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation
And to celebrate them always
With solemn worship and glad rejoicing.

Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.

-Amen.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

The desert and the parched land will exult;
The steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers
And rejoice with joyful song.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
The splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
The splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
Make firm the knees that are weak.
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not. Here is your God.

He comes with vindication, with divine recompense;
He comes to save you.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
The ears of the deaf be cleared.
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
Then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return
And enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy.
They will meet with joy and gladness;
Sorrow and mourning will flee.

The Word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫
∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫
∫ It is the Lord who preserves fidelity forever, ∫
∫ Who does justice to those who are oppressed. ∫
∫ It is He who gives bread to the hungry, ∫
∫ The Lord who sets prisoners free. ∫
∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫

A reading from the Letter of Saint James.

Be patient, brothers and sisters,
Until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
Being patient with it
Until it receives the early and the late rains.

You too must be patient.

Make your hearts firm
Because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not complain, brothers and sisters,
About one another, that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.

Take as an example of hardship and patience,
Brothers and sisters,
The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ∫
∫ Because He has anointed me ∫
∫ To bring glad tidings to the poor. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

Brothers and sisters in faith, the Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

This is a reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
-Glory to You, O Lord.

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
He sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for another?”

Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
The blind regain their sight, the lame walk.
Lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear.
The dead are raised,
And the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense in Me.”

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?

Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.

Then why did you go out?
To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You;
He will prepare the way before You.’

Amen, I say to you,
Among those born of women there has been none greater
Than John the Baptist;
Yet the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
-Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

“Rejoice!”

That is what we are asked to do today,
To remember to rejoice.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent,
Called Gaudete, which is a word that means rejoice.
And that is why the candle today on the wreath is pink.

It is a reminder that even in our time of waiting,
There is joy because the Lord is near.

And that is why we hear in the first reading today,
From Zephaniah, he tells God’s people:
“Shout for joy because the Lord, your God, is in your midst.”

And that is the heart of Advent.
Not just waiting for God to come at Christmas,
But realizing that God is already here with us.

Here at Mercy Home, as well as in our own homes,
In our school communities, in our workplace,
The presence of God is seen in these small moments.

It’s a word of encouragement given,
A shared laugh, a helping hand.

It’s in those small moments that we can recognize
That God is here right now in our midst.

Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, says,
“Rejoice in the Lord always.
The Lord is nearby.”

He says, “Have no anxiety at all.”

Now remember, Paul wrote this letter from prison,
And yet he still rejoices.
How could that be? Why?

Well, Paul knows that real joy
Isn’t about everything being perfect.
It’s about trusting that God is close,
Even when life feels uncertain.

How many of us need to remember that message today?

Finally, the Gospel tells us that people ask
John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
And his answer is simple.

He says, “Share what you have.
Be fair and be honest,
Because the joy of knowing Christ leads to action.”

Advent joy isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a way of living that makes God’s love visible today.

So as we have lit the third candle,
The rose candle on the Advent wreath today,
Remember three things.

God is already with us in this time we have together at Mass.

Secondly, remember we can choose joy.
Even in the midst of hard times, we can choose joy
By trusting that God’s peace is greater than any of our worry.

And thirdly, remember that the joy we speak about today
That comes from the Scriptures
Is a joy that moves us to action, to kindness,
To compassion, to respect, to forgiveness,
To care for one another.

Friends, as we move closer to Christmas,

May this joy grow deeper, not because everything is easy,
But because God is faithful and God is near.

This week, in some way that works for you,
Try to bring joy to one person.
Maybe it’s through a call of encouragement,
Or maybe it’s some kind word or a smile,
Or a compliment to someone,
Maybe someone especially that you don’t particularly care for.

Now these things may seem like they’re not big deals,
Like they’re not much, but in doing these simple things,
It gives flesh to the meaning of Advent joy.

God is with us.

How will you give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others God is already with us.

It is with faith, hope, and love, trusting God is with us,
That we profess now in the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and Earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day, He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God,
The Father Almighty.
From there, He will come to judge

The living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins,
The Resurrection of the Body, and Life Everlasting.
Amen.

As a people of faith, hope, and love,
A people of joy, knowing God is with us,
We bring our prayers before God.

Our response to each prayer will be,
“Lord, hear our prayer.”

For our Holy Father and all clergy
Who minister throughout the world,
May their words of hope fill hearts with the peace of Christ.
We pray to the Lord.
–Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who look upon the Advent Wreath,
May they be filled with joy as we prepare for Christ’s birth.
We pray to the Lord.
–Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who care for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls’ children,
May Christ’s light shine forth in their lives.

We pray to the Lord.
—Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who are suffering,
May they find hearts and hands reaching out to them
With love and encouragement.
We pray to the Lord.
—Lord, hear our prayer.

Loving God, our joy this very day
Comes from trusting that Jesus, Your Son, is with us.
Strengthen us in those gifts of faith, hope, and love
As we pray through Christ our Lord.
—Amen.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

Through the mingling of water and wine,
May we share the divinity of Christ,
Who humbled Himself to share our humanity.

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation,
Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer,
Which earth has given and human hands have made.
May it become for us the Bread of Life.
Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation,
Through Your goodness we have wine to offer,
Fruit of the vine, work of human hands.
May it become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God forever.

Lord, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me of all sin.

∫ (Piano music continues) ∫

Pray with me now in faith that the gifts
Of bread and wine offered be acceptable
To our Almighty and Loving God.

—May the Lord accept the sacrifice at our hands
For the praise and glory of God’s Name,
For our good and the good of all God’s Holy Church.

May the sacrifice of our worship, Lord, we pray,
Be offered to You unceasingly to complete
What was begun in sacred mystery
And powerfully accomplish for us Your saving work.
Through Christ our Lord.

—Amen.

The Lord be with you.
—And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.
—We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
—It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
Always and everywhere to give You thanks, Lord,
Almighty and Eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

For all the oracles of the prophets foretold Him.
The Virgin Mother longed for Him with love beyond all telling.
John the Baptist sang of His coming
And proclaimed His presence when He came.

It is by His gift that already we rejoice
At the mystery of His Nativity,
So that He may find us
Watchful in prayer and exultant in His praise.

Now, with all the Angels and Saints,
We sing this hymn to Your glory:

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. ∫
∫ Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory. ∫

∫ Hosanna in the Highest. ∫
∫ Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the Highest. ∫

You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness.
Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
By sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
So that they may become for us
The Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion,
He took bread, and giving thanks, broke it,
And gave it to the disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
For this is My Body, which will be given up for you.”

In a similar way, when the supper was ended,
He took the chalice and, once more giving thanks,
Gave it to the disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
For this is the chalice of My Blood,
The Blood of the new and eternal covenant,
Which will be poured out for you and for many
For the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of Me.”

The mystery of faith.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ∫
∫ We proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ Until You come again. ∫

Now, as we celebrate the memorial of His Death and Resurrection,
We offer You, Lord,
The Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation,
Giving thanks that You have held us worthy
To be in Your Presence and minister to You.

Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
We may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, Your Church, spread throughout the world,
And bring her to the fullness of charity,
Together with Leo, our Pope, Blas…, our Archbishop,
And all who minister in Your Church everywhere.

We pray for all who have died in Your mercy.
Welcome them into the Light of Your Face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
That with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
With Joseph, her spouse,
With the Blessed Apostles and all the Saints
Who have pleased You throughout the ages,
We may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life.

And one day there praise and glorify You
Through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through Him, with Him, and in Him,
O God, Almighty Father,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All glory and honor are Yours forever and ever.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ Amen. Amen. Amen. ∫

Today, as the disciples of Jesus, we pray as He taught:

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 those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
And graciously grant peace this day.
In Your mercy, keep us free from sin,
Protect us from anxiety and despair,
As we await the blessed hope
And the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Kingdom, the power,
And the glory are Yours now and forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your Apostles,
“Peace I leave you; My peace I give you,”
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of Your Church,
And graciously grant her peace and unity
In accordance with Your will,
Who live and reign forever and ever.

—Amen.

The Lord be with you always.
—And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other some gesture of Christ’s peace.
And today, from all of us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
To all of you folks at home,
We extend the peace of Christ,
And in that peace, the great joy that comes
From our faith in knowing Jesus.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Grant us peace. ∫

We behold now in faith Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Strengthened are we, sharing the supper of the Lamb.

—Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof,
But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

May the Body of Christ,
May the Blood of Christ
Keep us safe for everlasting life.

—Amen.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

For those of you at home, please turn to page six
In your TV Mass guide and join in singing our Communion song,
“Like a Bird.”

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Like a bird that spreads her wings ∫
∫ To gather in her young. ∫
∫ So You open wide Your arms ∫
∫ To gather in Your own. ∫
∫ For our free response You wait, ∫
∫ Early morning, noon, and late. ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us to Your welcome. ∫
∫ Maranatha, come. ∫

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ For the nations You prepare ∫
∫ And spread a splendid feast. ∫
∫ Gather every tribe and race, ∫
∫ The greatest and the least. ∫
∫ For one family, how You long, ∫
∫ Round Your table vast the throng. ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us to Your welcome. ∫
∫ Maranatha, come. ∫

Let us pray.

We implore Your mercy, Lord, that this divine sustenance
May cleanse us of our faults
And prepare us for the coming feast.
Through Christ our Lord.

—Amen.

And I invite you to join me in the beautiful prayer
For the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide,
Protect, and bless all boys and girls
Who this day have a home called Mercy.

May they find the Father’s mercy
As we offer them our hearts
In the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
May they see God’s mercy in action
Through our love, prayers, and sacrifices.

Before we conclude now with the final blessing,
Let’s take a moment and think about one person
That perhaps we might bring some joy to today
As we celebrate this Third Sunday of Advent,
Gaudete Sunday, a time to rejoice.

Think about what you might do, who that might be.
And remember, in what we do,
The smallest, the simplest thing,
We give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others our joy comes from
Knowing and trusting God is with us.

The Lord be with you.
–And with your spirit.

We bow our heads and ask God’s blessing as we go forward.
May we find the wisdom, the courage, and the strength
To bring joy—the joy of knowing Christ—to others
Through the good things that we do
As we go forward, blessed in the Name of the Father,
And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
–Amen.

We go now in peace to love and serve God
By our care for one another.
–Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, ∫
∫ Whose trust ever childlike no cares could destroy. ∫
∫ Be there at our waking and give us, we pray, ∫
∫ Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day. ∫
∫ Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, ∫
∫ Whose strong hands were skilled ∫
∫ At the plane and the lathe, ∫
∫ Be there at our labors and give us,
Hello, my friends.
As you know, as I know,
This TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important.

It allows us to gather wherever you may be
To participate in the prayer of the Church.
It allows us to pray for one another, and how important it is.
It allows you and me to pray for the children
Here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

We’re nourished by our presence together
And by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity
To thank you so very much for the ways in which
You support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Please consider doing that going forward as well.

May God bless you and your family
And your friends, for all you do
For the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home
Is generously provided by GIA Publications Incorporated
And its World Library Publications division.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ (Piano music) ∫

The following presentation is made possible
By the generosity of the viewers
Of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome
To Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent.

My name is Dan Riley.
I am joined by Tom McNamara and Maudette Carr,
And our celebrant is Father Carl Morello.

∫ When the King shall come again, ∫
∫ All His power revealing. ∫
∫ Splendor shall announce His reign, ∫
∫ Life and joy and healing. ∫
∫ Earth no longer in decay, hope no more frustrated. ∫
∫ This is God’s redemption day, longingly awaited. ∫

In the name of the Father,
And of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.

-Amen.

The grace, the peace, the love of God be with each of you.
-And with your spirit.

Today, on this Third Sunday of Advent,
We celebrate with joy,
For our salvation is near and is in fact at hand.

We remember God’s mercy and love
Given to us in Jesus, as we call to mind our sins.

Lord Jesus, You came to call us sinners to Your mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
-Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, Your love for us heals the wound of our sin.
Christ, have mercy.
-Christ, have mercy.

And Lord Jesus, out of love You gather us around this table,
Where You strengthen us in the virtues of faith, hope, and love.
Lord, have mercy.
-Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God, who loves us, have mercy on us,
Forgive us our sins, and one day bring us
To what the Eucharist points toward,
The banquet of everlasting life.

-Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, who see how Your people faithfully await
The feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
Enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation
And to celebrate them always
With solemn worship and glad rejoicing.

Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.

-Amen.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

The desert and the parched land will exult;
The steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers
And rejoice with joyful song.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
The splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
The splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
Make firm the knees that are weak.
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not. Here is your God.

He comes with vindication, with divine recompense;
He comes to save you.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
The ears of the deaf be cleared.
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
Then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return
And enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy.
They will meet with joy and gladness;
Sorrow and mourning will flee.

The Word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫
∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫
∫ It is the Lord who preserves fidelity forever, ∫
∫ Who does justice to those who are oppressed. ∫
∫ It is He who gives bread to the hungry, ∫
∫ The Lord who sets prisoners free. ∫
∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫

A reading from the Letter of Saint James.

Be patient, brothers and sisters,
Until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
Being patient with it
Until it receives the early and the late rains.

You too must be patient.

Make your hearts firm
Because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not complain, brothers and sisters,
About one another, that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.

Take as an example of hardship and patience,
Brothers and sisters,
The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ∫
∫ Because He has anointed me ∫
∫ To bring glad tidings to the poor. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

Brothers and sisters in faith, the Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

This is a reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
-Glory to You, O Lord.

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
He sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for another?”

Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
The blind regain their sight, the lame walk.
Lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear.
The dead are raised,
And the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense in Me.”

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?

Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.

Then why did you go out?
To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You;
He will prepare the way before You.’

Amen, I say to you,
Among those born of women there has been none greater
Than John the Baptist;
Yet the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
-Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

“Rejoice!”

That is what we are asked to do today,
To remember to rejoice.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent,
Called Gaudete, which is a word that means rejoice.
And that is why the candle today on the wreath is pink.

It is a reminder that even in our time of waiting,
There is joy because the Lord is near.

And that is why we hear in the first reading today,
From Zephaniah, he tells God’s people:
“Shout for joy because the Lord, your God, is in your midst.”

And that is the heart of Advent.
Not just waiting for God to come at Christmas,
But realizing that God is already here with us.

Here at Mercy Home, as well as in our own homes,
In our school communities, in our workplace,
The presence of God is seen in these small moments.

It’s a word of encouragement given,
A shared laugh, a helping hand.

It’s in those small moments that we can recognize
That God is here right now in our midst.

Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, says,
“Rejoice in the Lord always.
The Lord is nearby.”

He says, “Have no anxiety at all.”

Now remember, Paul wrote this letter from prison,
And yet he still rejoices.
How could that be? Why?

Well, Paul knows that real joy
Isn’t about everything being perfect.
It’s about trusting that God is close,
Even when life feels uncertain.

How many of us need to remember that message today?

Finally, the Gospel tells us that people ask
John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
And his answer is simple.

He says, “Share what you have.
Be fair and be honest,
Because the joy of knowing Christ leads to action.”

Advent joy isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a way of living that makes God’s love visible today.

So as we have lit the third candle,
The rose candle on the Advent wreath today,
Remember three things.

God is already with us in this time we have together at Mass.

Secondly, remember we can choose joy.
Even in the midst of hard times, we can choose joy
By trusting that God’s peace is greater than any of our worry.

And thirdly, remember that the joy we speak about today
That comes from the Scriptures
Is a joy that moves us to action, to kindness,
To compassion, to respect, to forgiveness,
To care for one another.

Friends, as we move closer to Christmas,

May this joy grow deeper, not because everything is easy,
But because God is faithful and God is near.

This week, in some way that works for you,
Try to bring joy to one person.
Maybe it’s through a call of encouragement,
Or maybe it’s some kind word or a smile,
Or a compliment to someone,
Maybe someone especially that you don’t particularly care for.

Now these things may seem like they’re not big deals,
Like they’re not much, but in doing these simple things,
It gives flesh to the meaning of Advent joy.

God is with us.

How will you give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others God is already with us.

It is with faith, hope, and love, trusting God is with us,
That we profess now in the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and Earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day, He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God,
The Father Almighty.
From there, He will come to judge

The living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins,
The Resurrection of the Body, and Life Everlasting.
Amen.

As a people of faith, hope, and love,
A people of joy, knowing God is with us,
We bring our prayers before God.

Our response to each prayer will be,
“Lord, hear our prayer.”

For our Holy Father and all clergy
Who minister throughout the world,
May their words of hope fill hearts with the peace of Christ.
We pray to the Lord.
–Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who look upon the Advent Wreath,
May they be filled with joy as we prepare for Christ’s birth.
We pray to the Lord.
–Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who care for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls’ children,
May Christ’s light shine forth in their lives.

We pray to the Lord.
—Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who are suffering,
May they find hearts and hands reaching out to them
With love and encouragement.
We pray to the Lord.
—Lord, hear our prayer.

Loving God, our joy this very day
Comes from trusting that Jesus, Your Son, is with us.
Strengthen us in those gifts of faith, hope, and love
As we pray through Christ our Lord.
—Amen.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

Through the mingling of water and wine,
May we share the divinity of Christ,
Who humbled Himself to share our humanity.

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation,
Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer,
Which earth has given and human hands have made.
May it become for us the Bread of Life.
Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation,
Through Your goodness we have wine to offer,
Fruit of the vine, work of human hands.
May it become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God forever.

Lord, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me of all sin.

∫ (Piano music continues) ∫

Pray with me now in faith that the gifts
Of bread and wine offered be acceptable
To our Almighty and Loving God.

—May the Lord accept the sacrifice at our hands
For the praise and glory of God’s Name,
For our good and the good of all God’s Holy Church.

May the sacrifice of our worship, Lord, we pray,
Be offered to You unceasingly to complete
What was begun in sacred mystery
And powerfully accomplish for us Your saving work.
Through Christ our Lord.

—Amen.

The Lord be with you.
—And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.
—We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
—It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
Always and everywhere to give You thanks, Lord,
Almighty and Eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

For all the oracles of the prophets foretold Him.
The Virgin Mother longed for Him with love beyond all telling.
John the Baptist sang of His coming
And proclaimed His presence when He came.

It is by His gift that already we rejoice
At the mystery of His Nativity,
So that He may find us
Watchful in prayer and exultant in His praise.

Now, with all the Angels and Saints,
We sing this hymn to Your glory:

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. ∫
∫ Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory. ∫

∫ Hosanna in the Highest. ∫
∫ Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the Highest. ∫

You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness.
Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
By sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
So that they may become for us
The Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion,
He took bread, and giving thanks, broke it,
And gave it to the disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
For this is My Body, which will be given up for you.”

In a similar way, when the supper was ended,
He took the chalice and, once more giving thanks,
Gave it to the disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
For this is the chalice of My Blood,
The Blood of the new and eternal covenant,
Which will be poured out for you and for many
For the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of Me.”

The mystery of faith.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ∫
∫ We proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ Until You come again. ∫

Now, as we celebrate the memorial of His Death and Resurrection,
We offer You, Lord,
The Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation,
Giving thanks that You have held us worthy
To be in Your Presence and minister to You.

Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
We may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, Your Church, spread throughout the world,
And bring her to the fullness of charity,
Together with Leo, our Pope, Blas…, our Archbishop,
And all who minister in Your Church everywhere.

We pray for all who have died in Your mercy.
Welcome them into the Light of Your Face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
That with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
With Joseph, her spouse,
With the Blessed Apostles and all the Saints
Who have pleased You throughout the ages,
We may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life.

And one day there praise and glorify You
Through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through Him, with Him, and in Him,
O God, Almighty Father,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All glory and honor are Yours forever and ever.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ Amen. Amen. Amen. ∫

Today, as the disciples of Jesus, we pray as He taught:

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 those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
And graciously grant peace this day.
In Your mercy, keep us free from sin,
Protect us from anxiety and despair,
As we await the blessed hope
And the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Kingdom, the power,
And the glory are Yours now and forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your Apostles,
“Peace I leave you; My peace I give you,”
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of Your Church,
And graciously grant her peace and unity
In accordance with Your will,
Who live and reign forever and ever.

—Amen.

The Lord be with you always.
—And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other some gesture of Christ’s peace.
And today, from all of us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
To all of you folks at home,
We extend the peace of Christ,
And in that peace, the great joy that comes
From our faith in knowing Jesus.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Grant us peace. ∫

We behold now in faith Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Strengthened are we, sharing the supper of the Lamb.

—Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof,
But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

May the Body of Christ,
May the Blood of Christ
Keep us safe for everlasting life.

—Amen.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

For those of you at home, please turn to page six
In your TV Mass guide and join in singing our Communion song,
“Like a Bird.”

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Like a bird that spreads her wings ∫
∫ To gather in her young. ∫
∫ So You open wide Your arms ∫
∫ To gather in Your own. ∫
∫ For our free response You wait, ∫
∫ Early morning, noon, and late. ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us to Your welcome. ∫
∫ Maranatha, come. ∫

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ For the nations You prepare ∫
∫ And spread a splendid feast. ∫
∫ Gather every tribe and race, ∫
∫ The greatest and the least. ∫
∫ For one family, how You long, ∫
∫ Round Your table vast the throng. ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us to Your welcome. ∫
∫ Maranatha, come. ∫

Let us pray.

We implore Your mercy, Lord, that this divine sustenance
May cleanse us of our faults
And prepare us for the coming feast.
Through Christ our Lord.

—Amen.

And I invite you to join me in the beautiful prayer
For the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide,
Protect, and bless all boys and girls
Who this day have a home called Mercy.

May they find the Father’s mercy
As we offer them our hearts
In the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
May they see God’s mercy in action
Through our love, prayers, and sacrifices.

Before we conclude now with the final blessing,
Let’s take a moment and think about one person
That perhaps we might bring some joy to today
As we celebrate this Third Sunday of Advent,
Gaudete Sunday, a time to rejoice.

Think about what you might do, who that might be.
And remember, in what we do,
The smallest, the simplest thing,
We give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others our joy comes from
Knowing and trusting God is with us.

The Lord be with you.
–And with your spirit.

We bow our heads and ask God’s blessing as we go forward.
May we find the wisdom, the courage, and the strength
To bring joy—the joy of knowing Christ—to others
Through the good things that we do
As we go forward, blessed in the Name of the Father,
And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
–Amen.

We go now in peace to love and serve God
By our care for one another.
–Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, ∫
∫ Whose trust ever childlike no cares could destroy. ∫
∫ Be there at our waking and give us, we pray, ∫
∫ Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day. ∫
∫ Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, ∫
∫ Whose strong hands were skilled ∫
∫ At the plane and the lathe, ∫
∫ Be there at our labors and give us,
Hello, my friends.
As you know, as I know,
This TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important.

It allows us to gather wherever you may be
To participate in the prayer of the Church.
It allows us to pray for one another, and how important it is.
It allows you and me to pray for the children
Here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

We’re nourished by our presence together
And by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity
To thank you so very much for the ways in which
You support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Please consider doing that going forward as well.

May God bless you and your family
And your friends, for all you do
For the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home
Is generously provided by GIA Publications Incorporated
And its World Library Publications division.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ (Piano music) ∫

The following presentation is made possible
By the generosity of the viewers
Of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.

Good morning and welcome
To Sunday Mass at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent.

My name is Dan Riley.
I am joined by Tom McNamara and Maudette Carr,
And our celebrant is Father Carl Morello.

∫ When the King shall come again, ∫
∫ All His power revealing. ∫
∫ Splendor shall announce His reign, ∫
∫ Life and joy and healing. ∫
∫ Earth no longer in decay, hope no more frustrated. ∫
∫ This is God’s redemption day, longingly awaited. ∫

In the name of the Father,
And of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.

-Amen.

The grace, the peace, the love of God be with each of you.
-And with your spirit.

Today, on this Third Sunday of Advent,
We celebrate with joy,
For our salvation is near and is in fact at hand.

We remember God’s mercy and love
Given to us in Jesus, as we call to mind our sins.

Lord Jesus, You came to call us sinners to Your mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
-Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, Your love for us heals the wound of our sin.
Christ, have mercy.
-Christ, have mercy.

And Lord Jesus, out of love You gather us around this table,
Where You strengthen us in the virtues of faith, hope, and love.
Lord, have mercy.
-Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God, who loves us, have mercy on us,
Forgive us our sins, and one day bring us
To what the Eucharist points toward,
The banquet of everlasting life.

-Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, who see how Your people faithfully await
The feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
Enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation
And to celebrate them always
With solemn worship and glad rejoicing.

Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.

-Amen.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

The desert and the parched land will exult;
The steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers
And rejoice with joyful song.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
The splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
The splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
Make firm the knees that are weak.
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not. Here is your God.

He comes with vindication, with divine recompense;
He comes to save you.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
The ears of the deaf be cleared.
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
Then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return
And enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy.
They will meet with joy and gladness;
Sorrow and mourning will flee.

The Word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫
∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫
∫ It is the Lord who preserves fidelity forever, ∫
∫ Who does justice to those who are oppressed. ∫
∫ It is He who gives bread to the hungry, ∫
∫ The Lord who sets prisoners free. ∫
∫ Lord, come and save us. ∫

A reading from the Letter of Saint James.

Be patient, brothers and sisters,
Until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
Being patient with it
Until it receives the early and the late rains.

You too must be patient.

Make your hearts firm
Because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not complain, brothers and sisters,
About one another, that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.

Take as an example of hardship and patience,
Brothers and sisters,
The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.
-Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫
∫ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ∫
∫ Because He has anointed me ∫
∫ To bring glad tidings to the poor. ∫
∫ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. ∫

Brothers and sisters in faith, the Lord be with you.
-And with your spirit.

This is a reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
-Glory to You, O Lord.

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
He sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for another?”

Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
The blind regain their sight, the lame walk.
Lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear.
The dead are raised,
And the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense in Me.”

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?

Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.

Then why did you go out?
To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You;
He will prepare the way before You.’

Amen, I say to you,
Among those born of women there has been none greater
Than John the Baptist;
Yet the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
-Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

“Rejoice!”

That is what we are asked to do today,
To remember to rejoice.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent,
Called Gaudete, which is a word that means rejoice.
And that is why the candle today on the wreath is pink.

It is a reminder that even in our time of waiting,
There is joy because the Lord is near.

And that is why we hear in the first reading today,
From Zephaniah, he tells God’s people:
“Shout for joy because the Lord, your God, is in your midst.”

And that is the heart of Advent.
Not just waiting for God to come at Christmas,
But realizing that God is already here with us.

Here at Mercy Home, as well as in our own homes,
In our school communities, in our workplace,
The presence of God is seen in these small moments.

It’s a word of encouragement given,
A shared laugh, a helping hand.

It’s in those small moments that we can recognize
That God is here right now in our midst.

Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, says,
“Rejoice in the Lord always.
The Lord is nearby.”

He says, “Have no anxiety at all.”

Now remember, Paul wrote this letter from prison,
And yet he still rejoices.
How could that be? Why?

Well, Paul knows that real joy
Isn’t about everything being perfect.
It’s about trusting that God is close,
Even when life feels uncertain.

How many of us need to remember that message today?

Finally, the Gospel tells us that people ask
John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
And his answer is simple.

He says, “Share what you have.
Be fair and be honest,
Because the joy of knowing Christ leads to action.”

Advent joy isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a way of living that makes God’s love visible today.

So as we have lit the third candle,
The rose candle on the Advent wreath today,
Remember three things.

God is already with us in this time we have together at Mass.

Secondly, remember we can choose joy.
Even in the midst of hard times, we can choose joy
By trusting that God’s peace is greater than any of our worry.

And thirdly, remember that the joy we speak about today
That comes from the Scriptures
Is a joy that moves us to action, to kindness,
To compassion, to respect, to forgiveness,
To care for one another.

Friends, as we move closer to Christmas,

May this joy grow deeper, not because everything is easy,
But because God is faithful and God is near.

This week, in some way that works for you,
Try to bring joy to one person.
Maybe it’s through a call of encouragement,
Or maybe it’s some kind word or a smile,
Or a compliment to someone,
Maybe someone especially that you don’t particularly care for.

Now these things may seem like they’re not big deals,
Like they’re not much, but in doing these simple things,
It gives flesh to the meaning of Advent joy.

God is with us.

How will you give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others God is already with us.

It is with faith, hope, and love, trusting God is with us,
That we profess now in the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and Earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day, He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God,
The Father Almighty.
From there, He will come to judge

The living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins,
The Resurrection of the Body, and Life Everlasting.
Amen.

As a people of faith, hope, and love,
A people of joy, knowing God is with us,
We bring our prayers before God.

Our response to each prayer will be,
“Lord, hear our prayer.”

For our Holy Father and all clergy
Who minister throughout the world,
May their words of hope fill hearts with the peace of Christ.
We pray to the Lord.
–Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who look upon the Advent Wreath,
May they be filled with joy as we prepare for Christ’s birth.
We pray to the Lord.
–Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who care for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls’ children,
May Christ’s light shine forth in their lives.

We pray to the Lord.
—Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who are suffering,
May they find hearts and hands reaching out to them
With love and encouragement.
We pray to the Lord.
—Lord, hear our prayer.

Loving God, our joy this very day
Comes from trusting that Jesus, Your Son, is with us.
Strengthen us in those gifts of faith, hope, and love
As we pray through Christ our Lord.
—Amen.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

Through the mingling of water and wine,
May we share the divinity of Christ,
Who humbled Himself to share our humanity.

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation,
Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer,
Which earth has given and human hands have made.
May it become for us the Bread of Life.
Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation,
Through Your goodness we have wine to offer,
Fruit of the vine, work of human hands.
May it become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God forever.

Lord, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me of all sin.

∫ (Piano music continues) ∫

Pray with me now in faith that the gifts
Of bread and wine offered be acceptable
To our Almighty and Loving God.

—May the Lord accept the sacrifice at our hands
For the praise and glory of God’s Name,
For our good and the good of all God’s Holy Church.

May the sacrifice of our worship, Lord, we pray,
Be offered to You unceasingly to complete
What was begun in sacred mystery
And powerfully accomplish for us Your saving work.
Through Christ our Lord.

—Amen.

The Lord be with you.
—And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.
—We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
—It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
Always and everywhere to give You thanks, Lord,
Almighty and Eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

For all the oracles of the prophets foretold Him.
The Virgin Mother longed for Him with love beyond all telling.
John the Baptist sang of His coming
And proclaimed His presence when He came.

It is by His gift that already we rejoice
At the mystery of His Nativity,
So that He may find us
Watchful in prayer and exultant in His praise.

Now, with all the Angels and Saints,
We sing this hymn to Your glory:

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. ∫
∫ Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory. ∫

∫ Hosanna in the Highest. ∫
∫ Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. ∫
∫ Hosanna in the Highest. ∫

You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness.
Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
By sending down Your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
So that they may become for us
The Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

At the time He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion,
He took bread, and giving thanks, broke it,
And gave it to the disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
For this is My Body, which will be given up for you.”

In a similar way, when the supper was ended,
He took the chalice and, once more giving thanks,
Gave it to the disciples, saying:

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
For this is the chalice of My Blood,
The Blood of the new and eternal covenant,
Which will be poured out for you and for many
For the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of Me.”

The mystery of faith.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ When we eat this bread and drink this cup, ∫
∫ We proclaim Your death, O Lord, ∫
∫ Until You come again. ∫

Now, as we celebrate the memorial of His Death and Resurrection,
We offer You, Lord,
The Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation,
Giving thanks that You have held us worthy
To be in Your Presence and minister to You.

Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
We may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, Your Church, spread throughout the world,
And bring her to the fullness of charity,
Together with Leo, our Pope, Blas…, our Archbishop,
And all who minister in Your Church everywhere.

We pray for all who have died in Your mercy.
Welcome them into the Light of Your Face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
That with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
With Joseph, her spouse,
With the Blessed Apostles and all the Saints
Who have pleased You throughout the ages,
We may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life.

And one day there praise and glorify You
Through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through Him, with Him, and in Him,
O God, Almighty Father,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All glory and honor are Yours forever and ever.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ Amen. Amen. Amen. ∫

Today, as the disciples of Jesus, we pray as He taught:

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 those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
And graciously grant peace this day.
In Your mercy, keep us free from sin,
Protect us from anxiety and despair,
As we await the blessed hope
And the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Kingdom, the power,
And the glory are Yours now and forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to Your Apostles,
“Peace I leave you; My peace I give you,”
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of Your Church,
And graciously grant her peace and unity
In accordance with Your will,
Who live and reign forever and ever.

—Amen.

The Lord be with you always.
—And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other some gesture of Christ’s peace.
And today, from all of us here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls,
To all of you folks at home,
We extend the peace of Christ,
And in that peace, the great joy that comes
From our faith in knowing Jesus.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Have mercy on us. ∫

∫ Lamb of God, ∫
∫ You take away the sins of the world: ∫
∫ Grant us peace. ∫

We behold now in faith Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Strengthened are we, sharing the supper of the Lamb.

—Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof,
But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

May the Body of Christ,
May the Blood of Christ
Keep us safe for everlasting life.

—Amen.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

For those of you at home, please turn to page six
In your TV Mass guide and join in singing our Communion song,
“Like a Bird.”

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ Like a bird that spreads her wings ∫
∫ To gather in her young. ∫
∫ So You open wide Your arms ∫
∫ To gather in Your own. ∫
∫ For our free response You wait, ∫
∫ Early morning, noon, and late. ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us to Your welcome. ∫
∫ Maranatha, come. ∫

∫ (Piano music) ∫

∫ For the nations You prepare ∫
∫ And spread a splendid feast. ∫
∫ Gather every tribe and race, ∫
∫ The greatest and the least. ∫
∫ For one family, how You long, ∫
∫ Round Your table vast the throng. ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us, ∫
∫ Come and wake us to Your welcome. ∫
∫ Maranatha, come. ∫

Let us pray.

We implore Your mercy, Lord, that this divine sustenance
May cleanse us of our faults
And prepare us for the coming feast.
Through Christ our Lord.

—Amen.

And I invite you to join me in the beautiful prayer
For the children of Mercy Home.

Our Lady of Mercy, we pray that You will guide,
Protect, and bless all boys and girls
Who this day have a home called Mercy.

May they find the Father’s mercy
As we offer them our hearts
In the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
May they see God’s mercy in action
Through our love, prayers, and sacrifices.

Before we conclude now with the final blessing,
Let’s take a moment and think about one person
That perhaps we might bring some joy to today
As we celebrate this Third Sunday of Advent,
Gaudete Sunday, a time to rejoice.

Think about what you might do, who that might be.
And remember, in what we do,
The smallest, the simplest thing,
We give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others our joy comes from
Knowing and trusting God is with us.

The Lord be with you.
–And with your spirit.

We bow our heads and ask God’s blessing as we go forward.
May we find the wisdom, the courage, and the strength
To bring joy—the joy of knowing Christ—to others
Through the good things that we do
As we go forward, blessed in the Name of the Father,
And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
–Amen.

We go now in peace to love and serve God
By our care for one another.
–Thanks be to God.

∫ (Piano music) ∫
∫ Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, ∫
∫ Whose trust ever childlike no cares could destroy. ∫
∫ Be there at our waking and give us, we pray, ∫
∫ Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day. ∫
∫ Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, ∫
∫ Whose strong hands were skilled ∫
∫ At the plane and the lathe, ∫
∫ Be there at our labors and give us,
Hello, my friends.
As you know, as I know,
This TV ministry at Mercy Home is so important.

It allows us to gather wherever you may be
To participate in the prayer of the Church.
It allows us to pray for one another, and how important it is.
It allows you and me to pray for the children
Here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

We’re nourished by our presence together
And by the celebration of the Eucharist.

I just want to take this opportunity
To thank you so very much for the ways in which
You support this Mass here at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Please consider doing that going forward as well.

May God bless you and your family
And your friends, for all you do
For the TV Mass at Mercy Home and for our children.

The music for the broadcast of Sunday Mass at Mercy Home
Is generously provided by GIA Publications Incorporated
And its World Library Publications division.

∫ (Piano music) ∫

“Rejoice!”

That is what we are asked to do today,
To remember to rejoice.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent,
Called Gaudete, which is a word that means rejoice.
And that is why the candle today on the wreath is pink.

It is a reminder that even in our time of waiting,
There is joy because the Lord is near.

And that is why we hear in the first reading today,
From Zephaniah, he tells God’s people:
“Shout for joy because the Lord, your God, is in your midst.”

And that is the heart of Advent.
Not just waiting for God to come at Christmas,
But realizing that God is already here with us.

Here at Mercy Home, as well as in our own homes,
In our school communities, in our workplace,
The presence of God is seen in these small moments.

It’s a word of encouragement given,
A shared laugh, a helping hand.

It’s in those small moments that we can recognize
That God is here right now in our midst.

Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, says,
“Rejoice in the Lord always.
The Lord is nearby.”

He says, “Have no anxiety at all.”

Now remember, Paul wrote this letter from prison,
And yet he still rejoices.
How could that be? Why?

Well, Paul knows that real joy
Isn’t about everything being perfect.
It’s about trusting that God is close,
Even when life feels uncertain.

How many of us need to remember that message today?

Finally, the Gospel tells us that people ask
John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
And his answer is simple.

He says, “Share what you have.
Be fair and be honest,
Because the joy of knowing Christ leads to action.”

Advent joy isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a way of living that makes God’s love visible today.

So as we have lit the third candle,
The rose candle on the Advent wreath today,
Remember three things.

God is already with us in this time we have together at Mass.

Secondly, remember we can choose joy.
Even in the midst of hard times, we can choose joy
By trusting that God’s peace is greater than any of our worry.

And thirdly, remember that the joy we speak about today
That comes from the Scriptures
Is a joy that moves us to action, to kindness,
To compassion, to respect, to forgiveness,
To care for one another.

Friends, as we move closer to Christmas,

May this joy grow deeper, not because everything is easy,
But because God is faithful and God is near.

This week, in some way that works for you,
Try to bring joy to one person.
Maybe it’s through a call of encouragement,
Or maybe it’s some kind word or a smile,
Or a compliment to someone,
Maybe someone especially that you don’t particularly care for.

Now these things may seem like they’re not big deals,
Like they’re not much, but in doing these simple things,
It gives flesh to the meaning of Advent joy.

God is with us.

How will you give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others God is already with us.