Instead of an offertory hymn or a spoken prayer of the faithful, we use a chanted litany of petitions for the people. During the gathering time, the litany singer goes among the people to collect their immediate needs: illness, death, troubles, celebrations. She writes them down on our litany sheet to be chanted later, according to a regular formula. As the collection is taken up, the singer emerges from the assembly, and a Jewish prayer shawl is placed around her shoulders by the presider. The litany is sometimes quite long and gives a profound sense of the burdensome needs and hopes of an assembled people.
Meanwhile, at the back of the church, the offertory procession is forming. People have brought food for the poor to the church, placing it in many baskets to be carried to the altar. The procession begins: a lengthy procession of young and old carrying baskets; behind them, the bread and wine. The bread was baked that morning, each unleavened loaf about the size of a small plate. We use several loaves. The gift bearers carry the baskets of food to the old altar that remains in the back of the sanctuary, and they place the baskets there on the mantel. After the bread and wine have been prepared (the wine in a glass chalice so that its color and texture can be seen), the incense is brought out again. The presider first incenses the baskets of food for the poor and in the same movement incenses the bread and wine of the mass itself. In this way, we try to emphasize the great connection of liturgy and justice.