BIRTHDAY BLESSING

INTRODUCTION:

It is always appropriate to give thanks to God, especially on the occasion of a birthday. It is a time to praise and
give thanks to God, the Author and Giver of LIFE. Today, we are gathered here to praise and thank the Lord for the birthday of
someone dear to us. We are here to celebrate life with FR. PHILIPP VINCENT.

May he continue to grow in wisdom, in age, in grace and of the Holy Spirit.

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

Invitation to all:
Leader: Brothers and sisters, give praise to God, who is rich in mercy and who has favored us in wonderful ways.
Blessed be God now and forever.
All: Amen.

FEW MINUTES OF SILENCE

Leader: Let us open our hearts in thanks to God for the favors showered upon us. St. Paul teaches us to give thanks to
God the Father always through Christ, in whom he has given us everything. For when we became God’s children
in Christ, God gave us the riches of his grace, rescuing us from the powers of darkness and bringing us into the
kingdom of his beloved Son.

READING OF THE WORD OF GOD

Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians:

I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my prayer for all of you, because of your
partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will
continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in
my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may
increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and
blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of
God.

PSALM OF THANKS
Leader: The heavens declare the glory of God, our Almighty Father, and every creature he has made extols his goodness.
Mindful of our indebtedness, let us together with praise and thanksgiving call upon him by saying:
Glory to you, O Lord, for all your gifts to us.

Father most generous, in Christ Jesus, your Son, you have given us Fr. Philipp to be our companion and friend;
grant that we may never fail to sing your praises. (R)
You loving response far exceeds the merits and expectations of those who pray to you; grant that with our lips
and our hearts we may sing the wonders of your works. (R)
You prepare and bestow upon us all countless signs of you love; grant that, as we receive your gifts, we may
always see you as our giver. (R)
You have told your disciples to share what they have with others; grant that our neighbors may share in your
gifts to us, so that they may also share in our joy. (R)
Our Father…

All:
God of all creation, we offer You grateful praise for the gift of life. Hear the prayers of Your servant, FR.PHILIPP, who marks the
day of his birth and rejoices in your gifts of life and love, family and friends. Bless him with Your presence and surround him with
Your love that he may enjoy many happy years, all of them pleasing to You.
God of grace and generosity, we thank you for sending us Fr. Philipp to be with us in our journey in the ministry. We thank you
for through him, we experienced your generosity, kindness and love. Help us keep this in mind as we face our daily challenges
especially in our Ministry in St. Michael College. May we never lose sight of the light that Jesus has given to our life that we may
be light to others, too, and that we will continue to walk in the truth.
We ask this in the sweetest name and love of Jesus, with Mary our companion and mother and with St. Michael our Patron. Amen.

Leader: May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord shed his light upon you.
May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace.

All: Amen.