Display Poster or Overhead of the Dublin Diocese Jubilee Logo in a prominent position.

Commentary

The cross stands for Christ

The 2000 stands for the years
we are celebrating
since the birth of Christ.

Reader 1:

We recall Jesus' words

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give this is my gift to you (John14:27)

Reader 2:
Do not model your behaviour on the contemporary world, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern for yourselves what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and mature. (Romans 12:1-2)

Commentary

Reader 3:
We recall Jesus' words:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:18)

Leader:

In the Dublin diocese the Jubilee is being launched on the feast of Laurence O'Toole who iin his own life gave witness to Christ as a Peace maker, reformer and someone who showed great commitment to the poor.

Reader 4:

Let Us Pray

We Remember how Laurence loved God and gave his life to serve God's people, especially the people of the Dublin Diocese. We ask Laurence to pray for us that we will love God and love one another.
St Laurence Pray For Us

When Laurence was a boy he was taken away as a hostage for peace. He was afraid, but he learned to turn to God for help. We ask Laurence to pray for us that we may not be afraid to be people of peace.
St Laurence Pray For Us

Saint Laurence loved the beauty and silence ofd country life. He also loved the people of the towns and city. Laurence found time to pray even though he was so busy. We ask Laurence to help us to realise how important it is to pray.
St Laurence Pray For Us

Laurence was a great friend to the poor, the hungry, the sick and the lonely. We ask Laurence to pray for us that we will be good friends to all those in need both at home and throughout the world.
St Laurence Pray For Us

Laurence was a leader in the church as Abbot of Glendalough and Archbishop of Dublin. We ask Laurence to pray for today's leaders in the church, for John Paul our Pope and Desmond our Archbishop. We also ask Laurence to pray for us that we may become leaders by our good example to one another.
St Laurence Pray For Us

Laurence tried his best to make peace and prevent war. He was an ambassador for peace and reconciliation. Let us ask him to pray for our counrty and anywhere in the world where there is war.
St Laurence Pray For Us

Laurence died in France, a foreign country whose people treated him with great hospitality and respect. Let us ask Laurence to pray for us that we may always treat with dignity, those who are different to us in any way. We especially ask him to pray for all those who are refuggees in our country.
St Laurence Pray For Us

Let us pray together as Jesus taught us-
Our Father.....

Concluding Prayer

We are God's holy and chosen people. God's life and God's Holy Spirit live in us. We are called to be saints like Laurence O'Toole and all the Saints. May all the Saints of Ireland pray for us as we prepare for the great jubilee year 2000. May our country and each one one of us be, as Jesus askes us to be, the light of the world and the salt of erth. May we follow the example of Laurence O'Toole and be a beacon for peace, reconciliation and justice in our world. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Laurence O'Toole

He was a hostage to Dermot Mac Murrough,
Mac Murrough na gall.
A brave, fearless boy he was taken
Out from his father's hall

Into the tyrant's keeping
The little hostage went.
So early he knew sorrow
And all that sorrow meant.

Rescued from Mac Murrough
To Glendalough he came.
And, as the years passed slowly
All Ireland learned his name.

Now a great man in Dublin,
Archbishop Laurence saw
The people he loved turned outcast
with neither land nor law.

King Rory in his castle,
The nobles in their forts
had little care for Ireland,
Nor honour in their thoughts.

But Laurence rode throughout the land-
"Unite! Unite!" he cried.
"For Church and Country arm and fight!"
He would not be denied.

A hostage in his boyhood:
A patriot to the end:
A saint who struggled all his days
His country to defend.

(from Knights of God by Patrick Lynch)