Rite-of-Groundbreaking

Rite of Groundbreaking
Meanwhile, the bishop, in his vestments and with miter and pastoral staff, approaches
the people. Putting aside the pastoral staff and miter, he greets the people, saying:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
Peace be with you.
R. And also with you.
Then the bishop briefly instructs the people on their participation in the celebration and
explains to them the meaning of the rite. When the bishop has finished the instruction,
he says:
Let us pray.
All pray in silence for a brief period. The bishop then continues:
Lord,
you built a holy Church,
founded upon the apostles
with Jesus Christ its cornerstone.
Grant that your people,
gathered in your name,
may fear and love you
and grow as the temple of your glory.
May they always follow you,
until, with you at their head,
they arrive at last in your heavenly city.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
READING OF THE WORD OF GOD
A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his
disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They
replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do
you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the
Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you,
you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the [e]
gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
The Gospel of the Lord.

Brief Exhortation
BLESSING OF THE SITE OF THE NEW CHURCH
When the homily is finished, the bishop takes off the miter, rises, and blesses the
site of the new church, saying:
Let us pray.
Lord,
you fill the entire world with your presence
that your name may be hallowed through all the earth.
Bless all those
who have worked or contributed
to provide this site (property, land)
on which a church will be built.
Today may they rejoice in a work just begun,
soon may they celebrate the sacraments in your temple,
and in time to come may they praise you forever in
heaven.
R. Amen.
Then the bishop puts on the miter and sprinkles the site of the new church with holy
water. To do this he may stand in the middle of the site or go in procession around
the foundations with the ministers; in the latter case the following antiphon is sung
with Psalm 48.
Another appropriate song may be sung.
CONCLUDING RITE
When the singing is finished, the bishop takes off the miter, and invites the people
to pray the general intercessions, in these or similar words:
Brothers and sisters, now that we have laid the

cornerstone of our new church, let us pray to God, our
Father.
R. Bless and watch over your Church, O Lord.
That he may transform into a living temple of his glory

all whom he has gathered here and who look upon
Christ as the cornerstone of their faith, let us pray to
the Lord:
That God in his power may overcome the division and

sin which separate his people so that they may ultimately
worship as one, let us pray to the Lord:
That he may ground upon the bedrock of his Church

the faith of all those who have undertaken the work on
this building, let us pray to the Lord:
That those who are prevented from building places of

worship may bear witness to the Lord by conducting
themselves as living temples of glory and faith, let us
pray to the Lord:
That all here present may be cleansed by his divine

power and come to share in the celebration of his holy
mysteries, let us pray to the Lord:
Then the bishop may introduce the Lord's Prayer in these or similar words:
Let us join the voice of the Church with that of Christ

in praying to the Father using those words which the
Son has given us. And so, with one voice, let us say:
Our Father …
The bishop continues immediately:
God of love,
we praise your holy name,
for you have made us your temple by baptism
and inspire us to build on earth
churches dedicated to your worship.
Look favorably upon your children,
for they have come with joy
to begin work on this new church.
Enable them to grow into the temple of your glory,
until, shaped anew by your grace,
they are gathered by your hand into your heavenly city,
R. Amen.
When the bishop has received the miter and pastoral staff, he blesses the people in
the usual way.
And may the Almighty God bless you, + the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Go in peace.
R. Thanks be to God.

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Rite of Groundbreaking

Peace be with you.

R. And also with you.

READING OF THE WORD OF GOD

A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.

gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

The Gospel of the Lord.

BLESSING OF THE SITE OF THE NEW CHURCH

Another appropriate song may be sung.

Brothers and sisters, now that we have laid the

R. Bless and watch over your Church, O Lord.

That he may transform into a living temple of his glory

R. Bless and watch over your Church, O Lord.

That God in his power may overcome the division and

R. Bless and watch over your Church, O Lord.

That he may ground upon the bedrock of his Church

R. Bless and watch over your Church, O Lord.

That those who are prevented from building places of

R. Bless and watch over your Church, O Lord.

That all here present may be cleansed by his divine

R. Bless and watch over your Church, O Lord.

Let us join the voice of the Church with that of Christ

The bishop continues immediately:

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