Dec
15
Written by:
Todd Williamson
12/15/2011 11:00 AM
For many Catholics, the first time they will experience the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal will be at the Masses for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord–Christmas!
How do you plan to help them?
The first and most important thing that I can think of is: Make sure there are enough worship aids / pew cards. This is absolutely imperative! This will indeed be challenging, as many parishes experience “standing room only” at many of the Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The spike in the number of participants will necessitate having an extra number of aids—most likely more than you will ever need for any other day of the year. Understandably, that will translate into an extra cost for the Christmas Masses. But no one can deny the necessity of every person having an aid, ensuring that they are able to participate using the revised texts!
Don’t worry, though—keep the extra worship aids / pew cards; you’ll be able to use them again on Easter!
Another important thing to seriously consider is: Develop a good, solid greeting before Mass - something that is hospitable and helpful rather than judgmental or condemning. Such a greeting can remind the faithful (and particularly those who are first hearing of any “changes”):
- for the last month we have been using the revised Mass texts;
- because of this many of the responses and acclamations for Mass are different;
- all of the new responses are in the worship aid they received when they entered the church;
- because of these differences they will definitely need to have a worship aid, and
- if they did not receive one, they can get one from an usher or a greeter.
Extra worship aids / pew cards may call for extra ushers or greeters to be able to provide for the larger crowds. Be sure to schedule accordingly!
Consider printing a reprise of an insert that you might have used in the bulletin earlier this year, as you prepared for the first weekend of implementation of the third edition of The Roman Missal. It would take very little effort to re-fashion it for use in the Christmas bulletin particularly for “those who may not have been to Mass recently and are just now learning of the changes in the Mass.” This could be an added opportunity for evangelization, kindly inviting them back to participate more often in Mass at the parish! (NOTE: If you do include information in the Christmas bulletin about the new Mass texts, be sure to include that note in the announcement before Mass.)
Did you use banners or posters in the narthex, announcing the new Missal, in preparation for the first Sunday of Advent, when the English translation was first implemented? Consider putting them up again for the weekend of Christmas. This can alert new-comers, even before they enter the inside of the church, that some things will be different.
With some careful planning, a parish could go a long way to ensuring that all those who come to Mass this Christmas can be well equipped to enter fully, actively and consciously into the great Mystery, celebrating the Incarnation!