This Sunday's Readings

Church of the Sacred Heart

7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

16 & 17 MAY 2026

Let us pray.

Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord,

so that we, who believe that the Saviour of the human race

is with you in your glory,

may experience, as he promised,

until the end of the world,

his abiding presence among us.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

First Reading 

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.           1:12-14

All joined in continuous prayer.

After Jesus was taken up into heaven, the apostles went back from the Mount of Olives, as it is called, to Jerusalem, a short distance away, no more than a sabbath walk; and when they reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James. All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

The word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm       

R.  I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

The Lord is my light and my help;

    whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

    before whom shall I shrink?

R.  I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

    for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord,

    all the days of my life,

to savour the sweetness of the Lord,

    to behold his temple.

R.  I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

O Lord, hear my voice when I call;

    have mercy and answer.

Of you my heart has spoken:

    ‘Seek his face.’

R.  I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

Second Reading 

A reading from the first letter of St Peter           4:13-16

It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ.

If you can have some share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed. It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, because it means that you have the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God resting on you. None of you should ever deserve to suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then he is not to be ashamed of it; he should thank God that he has been called one.

The word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;

I will come back to you, 

and your hearts will be full of joy.

Alleluia!

Gospel 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.                17:1-11

Response: Glory to you, O Lord

Father, glorify your Son.

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Father, the hour has come:

glorify your Son

so that your Son may glorify you;

and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him,

let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him.

And eternal life is this:

to know you,

the only true God,

and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

I have glorified you on earth

and finished the work that you gave me to do.

Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me

with that glory I had with you

before ever the world was.

I have made your name known

to the men you took from the world to give me.

They were yours and you gave them to me,

and they have kept your word.

Now at last they know

that all you have given me comes indeed from you;

for I have given them the teaching you gave to me,

and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you,

and have believed that it was you who sent me.

I pray for them;

I am not praying for the world

but for those you have given me,

because they belong to you:

all I have is yours

and all you have is mine,

and in them I am glorified.

I am not in the world any longer,

but they are in the world,

and I am coming to you.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer Of The Faithful

Introduction: We gather as a community of faith in the love of Christ. With Him, let us turn humbly to God our Father who desires to hear and grant the needs of the Church and the world.

Response: Lord, graciously hear us.

1. For the Church. That we, the one Body of Christ, may cooperate with the Spirit of God’s Love to fulfill our baptismal call and make Jesus known to all peoples. We pray to the Lord.

2. On Social Communications Sunday. That the Spirit of Truth will inspire all who engage in social media and communications to seek the truth, respect dignity, act responsibly and care for the common good. We pray to the Lord.

3. For those in search of the truth. That they may listen to the Holy Spirit who beckons them to Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life. We pray to the Lord.

4. For ministries in our parish. That they may use the gifts of the Holy Spirit wisely, share them generously and embrace differences with humility, gentleness and compassion to build a united community. We pray to the Lord.

5. For those who are ill in mind and body and lonely in our community. That they find strength and consolation in the Cross of Christ and through the Holy Spirit, have a share in Christ’s suffering to persevere in faith. We pray to the Lord.

6. We now pray in silence for other needs and intentions …

For these other needs and intentions, we pray to the Lord.

Conclusion: God our Father, we thank You for the glory You have given to Your Son Jesus Christ. Through Him may we give glory to You by our lives and actions. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.