A Blessing of Students and Teachers for Catholic Schools Week

The blessing below is an adapation of a liturgy of "Enrollment and Blessing of Students" by Diana Macalintal which originally appeared in Into the Fields, a training resource for catechists and teachers. It is reprinted with permission.

You may reprint the blessing below for free for use in your parish, but please include the Web site address and reference to Into the Fields - intothefields.org - in any copies you make.


BLESSING OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
Adapted from a blessing from Into the Fields - intothefields.org


INTRODUCTORY RITES
When the community has gathered, a suitable song may be sung.
The presider greets those present.

Presider:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May the God of wisdom and understanding be with you.
And also with you.

Today we gather to answer God’s call
to grow in wisdom and grace,
just as Jesus progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace
before God and all people.

The Word of God brings wisdom and light to the eye.
Let us then ask God to open the ears of our hearts
that we may hear and follow the Spirit of God.


READING OF THE WORD OF GOD
A reader may read a text of sacred Scripture – Sirach 6:32-37.
After the reading, a suitable psalm may be sung and the presider or another minister may relate the reading to the lives of the students and teachers.


CALLING AND ENROLLMENT OF THE STUDENTS
[Begin here if the blessing takes place within Mass.]

Principal of the School:
Let those who are students and teachers at N. School come forward.

If time allows, and the number of students and teachers is not too large, each student and teacher is called by name. He or she responds by saying, “Present,” or “Here I am.”


INTERCESSIONS

Presider:
Let us pray for these students
and all who seek to know and love God.

Another reader leads the intercessions.

Our response is: Fill us with the Spirit of God.

For these students and their teachers, we pray to the Lord.

For their families and all who support them, we pray to the Lord.

For our church and all who teach and guide us, we pray to the Lord.

For our Catholic schools and all those places where the Good News is found, we pray to the Lord.

For all the catechumens and those who seek to grow in faith, we pray to the Lord.

For those who have no one to teach them, we pray to the Lord.


LORD’S PRAYER
[Omit if the blessing takes place within Mass.]

Presider:
Christ taught us to call upon the Father, and so we pray: Our Father…


PRAYER OF BLESSING

Presider:
Eternal God, your wisdom is beyond our understanding.
Yet it is revealed to us in the life and love of Jesus, your Son.
Bless these daughters and sons of yours
who have answered your call to grow in faith.
Enlighten them with your Word and fill them with your Spirit
that they may follow the path that leads to your wisdom.
Open their eyes that they may see your presence each day,
open their ears that they may hear your voice in unexpected places,
open their minds that they may understand
the mystery of your love,
and open their hearts that they may be joyful companions with us
as we continue to grow in likeness to the mind of Christ.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


CONCLUDING BLESSING
[Omit if the blessing takes place within Mass, and continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.]

Presider:
May God bless us with wisdom and fill us with peace
now and for ever. Amen.