Families across the Diocese of Parramatta looking for some extra faith-filled content for their children while learning from home, have been blessed with a special edition of Worship Wednesday.
Last night’s session was hosted by Brisbane-based Catholic singer-songwriter and liturgist Michael Mangan, who has written over 250 pieces that are familiar to children and the young at heart.
Taking Worship Wednesday in a different direction, Michael spoke to the families watching along and encouraged them to sing with big voices and to do the actions.
Before leading the audience in The Jesus Song, Michael explained that the reason we gather for something like Worship Wednesday is that we are people who follow Jesus.
Michael also reminded families that this coming Sunday is Social Justice Sunday, saying that it is a time when we think about big-picture things outside of our families and parishes.
This year’s Social Justice Sunday Statement theme from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, based on the teachings of Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’.
Brisbane-based Catholic singer-songwriter Michael Mangan is seen during a special family-friendly edition of the Diocese of Parramatta’s Worship Wednesday. Image: Diocese of Parramatta/Facebook
“[Pope Francis], for a long time talked about looking after the Earth, caring for the environment and caring for creation,” Michael said. “He’s also talked about looking after everyone, especially those who are poor, people who don’t have enough food, people who don’t have a place to live, people who don’t feel safe.
“As people who follow Jesus and as people who love God, we need to respect that gift that God has given us, the place where we get to live – our common home.
“The second part, care for the poor…[we] care for people who don’t have anything, through no fault of their own. and it’s the responsibility of all of us to do the very best we can to give people the best life that’s possible for them. We call that the common good, that everybody has a chance and the opportunity and the support to have a good life.”
Michael then led the audience in songs connected to the social justice theme – God Made Everything, which was inspired by the Genesis story, and The Common Good, which reminds us that everybody should have a good life.
To close the worship session, Michael performed a ‘goodnight’ song of blessing for the children, reminding us that God is always with us, even in lockdown.
May God bless us and keep us.
May God’s goodness shine on us.
May we see God’s face
And live in God’s own peace.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
“I’m praying for you, and I wish you peace and comfort and strength to get through it,” he said.
Tonight, our ‘Be MET’ Night will take us behind the walls of our Holy Spirit Seminary. Two of our seminarians, Matthew and Jack, will be online to share what life is like in the seminary and how they are coping in lockdown.
Tune in for this unique session at 7.30pm either through Zoom or on Facebook. Email met@parracatholic.org for the Zoom link.
Visit parracatholic.org/homeground to view our schedule of events to take us through until 17 September.
Watch last night’s family-friendly Worship Wednesday session with Michael Mangan here on The Well.
Want some home-grown kid-friendly Catholic songs to add to your playlist? Look up Michael’s originals on YouTube or on your music platform of choice:
- Come Together
- Shout Out With Joy
- The Jesus Song
- The Light Of My Life
- God Made Everything
- The Common Good
- Out Of Ashes
- Love God, Love Each Other
- Setting Hearts On Fire
- Song of Blessing
