1. Corpus Christi We gather…
Reader: In the name of the +Father, and of the +Son, and of the +Holy Spirit Amen.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. Just as one loaf of bread is made with many grains of wheat, so there are millions of people around the world, but we are all joined together as one family.
Reader: When we gather as a church or school community to receive the Body of Christ we show that we are united as the Body of Christ. When we share with our neighbour, we become sisters and brothers in Jesus, and bring his life and love into the world.
Background notes: Tabeth Sililo, 30, and her family of four used to survive on one cup of boiled maize for a day. Tabeth would feel sick from hunger and her children were too weak to go to school. CAFOD has funded agriculture training for Tabeth and fenced off a community garden where she grows nutritious vegetables all year round. Tabeth has also started to grow sesame, which she hopes to make into a nutritious paste to add to her children’s porridge, and sell any leftovers. Tabeth has a plot at a community vegetable garden.
Photo credit: Thom Flint | CAFOD (2017)

2. We listen…
Reader: In the New Testament we hear about the importance of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Narrator: Jesus and His disciples gather around a table to share their last meal together.
Jesus: I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. The bread I shall give is my flesh, which I give so the world may live.
Background notes: The family are farmers and face similar problems to many living in Guaymango in El Salvador - the seeds they got from the government were weak, it's difficult growing enough in the soil here, the extreme weather is wiping out crops and they often don't grow enough to support themselves. CAFOD supporters have helped the family through our partner, by giving them a variety of native seeds that don't require costly pesticide and insecticide. The family have also been trained to diversify crops. They have received chickens, pigs and fish to supplement their income. The family have trained others in good farming practices: crop diversity, crop rotation, using native seeds, correct storage of crops. They are also members of the farmers' cooperative and Julia is a member of one of the women's savings groups.
Photo credit: Louise Norton | CAFOD (2017)

3. Narrator: Jesus took the bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them.
Jesus: This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
Disciple 1: Because there is only one loaf of bread, it means that though there are many of us, we form one body with Jesus.
Reader: Church is a place where rich and the poor are all called to gather together around the altar table. At the Eucharist there are to be no rich and no poor, only one equal family praying together.
Reader: Let us have a moment of silence to think about God’s words.
(Taken from John 6: 51-58; Matthew 2:1, 9-12
and 1 Cor 10: 16-17)
Background notes: Santiago and his four children shelter from the rain in their newly-built greenhouse to eat a lunch of potatoes, chuno, beans and salsa. As part of CAFOD’s Hands On Altiplano project, Nicanora and her family will be supported to sow vegetables, make organic pesticides and fertilisers, build a greenhouse, plant a vegetable garden, construct a wormery, and about understanding good nutrition. All of these activities will help them to grow more food in the harsh climate and provide an income to support their families.
Photo credit: Ben White | CAFOD (2016)
We listen…

4. We listen… Reader: Who brought a packed lunch with them this morning?
Imagine you have a packed lunch for school one day and you're the only person with a lunch.
What thoughts might go through your mind? What would you do?
Reader:  In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear the story about when Jesus had to feed over 5,000 people. The story is one of Jesus’ most famous miracles.
Background notes: Fish farming in Zambia
Photo credit: Ben White | CAFOD (2016)

5. We listen… Reader: A reading from the Gospel of Matthew
“As Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.
When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.'
Jesus replied, 'There’s no need for them to go: give them something to eat.’
But they answered, 'All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’
So Jesus said, 'Bring them here to me.’ He took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing.
And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds.
They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full.
The Gospel of the Lord
All: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 14: 14-21)
Background notes (left) : Fish farming in Mbala, Zambia. The fish are tilapia. Isaac is a hardworking parent and carer of orphans. Despite not experiencing too many difficulties in life, he feels it’s his duty to support orphans in his village. The fish are from his pond.
Photo credit: Ben White | CAFOD (2016)
Background notes (right) : baking Pupusa bread in El Salvador.
Photo credit: Tania Dalton | CAFOD (2016)
We listen…

6. He wants us to do the same. How can we do this?
SACRED SILENCE
We respond…
What is God saying to us?
At the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends and showed them his love for everyone.
He wants us to do the same.
How can we do this?
Optional slide- Following the reading of the Word, you may wish to provide a moment for ‘Sacred Silence’ with questions for children to ponder.
Reader: At the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends and showed them his love for everyone – and he wants us to do the same. How can we do this?
Reader: Let us have a moment of silence to think about God’s words.
Background notes: Iglesia de la Divina Providencia (Church of Divine Providence) where Archbishop Oscar Romero was killed during Mass, bungalow of Archbishop Oscar Romero in the grounds of the church and mosaic mural by renowned Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort.
Photo credit: Louise Norton | CAFOD (2017)

7. Reader: Following the teaching of Jesus, we believe that everyone is chosen and special and a valuable part of the family of God. We believe that God created our beautiful world; a world where everyone should have the basic things we need in life.
Reader: What do you think these children are doing? These children are from El Salvador and they are taking part in Stations of the Cross. One of CAFOD’s partners has helped some of their families to learn skills for farming. This has meant that they can grow more food so they don’t go hungry but also means they can sell some. The family can then buy shoes, clothes and medicine. The family have also trained others in their community.
Photo credit: Mark Chamberlain | CAFOD (2017)
We respond…

8. Reader: CAFOD works with all people whatever their skin colour, nationality or religion because we are all equal.
Reader: Like we all do, CAFOD believes in a better world, where no one lives in poverty and each of us can become the best person we can be. CAFOD works together with poor communities to end poverty in more than 40 countries around the world.
Photo credit: Step into the Gap and Thom Flint | CAFOD (2017)
We respond…

9. C O M M U N I O N
OPTIONAL SLIDE- additional detail for a KS2 assembly
Reader: The Eucharist is a sacrament of love and a sign of unity. The word communion reminds us of union and community. We celebrate our union with Christ and our community with people locally and globally.
Background notes: Maiduguri, Nigeria
Photo credit: Thom Flint | CAFOD (2018)
We respond…

10. Going forth… Dear Jesus,
We thank you for all your gifts, especially for the gift of yourself in Communion.
Help us to share all our gifts with our sisters and brothers. Thank you for all we have received.
Amen
Reader/all: Let us pray…
Dear Jesus, we thank you for all your gifts, especially for the gift of yourself in Communion.
Help us to share all our gifts with our sisters and brothers.
Thank you for all we have received. Amen
Background notes: Iglesia de la Divina Providencia (Church of Divine Providence) where Archbishop Oscar Romero was killed during Mass, bungalow of Archbishop Oscar Romero in the grounds of the church and mosaic mural by renowned Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort.
Photo credit: Louise Norton | CAFOD (2017)