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Regular Mass-goers will lead by example this Christmas for Catholics returning to church for the holidays - especially since learning new responses when the new Roman Missal was instituted this Advent.

Parishes across the Albany Diocese are preparing to welcome Christmas crowds. They note that many Catholics and visitors don't attend Mass on a regular basis - joining up to 80 percent of Catholics nationwide - and may have a loose understanding of the new missal.

Parish leaders view the "Christmas return" as an opportunity to catechize and attract lapsed Catholics back to the Church, but they don't want to distract from the spirit of the holiday.

"I don't want to spoil the celebration, so I probably won't catechize about it," said Rev. John O'Kane, pastor of St. Isaac Jogues parish in Chestertown/ Hague. "You want them to stay focused on Christmas."

Father O'Kane does plan to address the changes before Mass and remind people to use the parish's pew cards.

He's gotten used to offering reminders during Mass: "Sometimes, I give them little hints - like, I'll say, 'And with your spirit,' before I say, 'The Lord be with you.'"

Immaculate Conception parish in New Lebanon and its mission church, St. Joseph's in Stephentown, may run a PowerPoint presentation outlining the changes in the back of the church before Masses.

Rev. John Close, pastor, will explain the reasons behind the changes and point out pew cards and missals. "I'm hoping that the people don't take it in the wrong way," he noted.

Father Close will explain that many of the new phrases echo passages from the Bible and show more reverence for God. He'll also practice a few responses with Mass-goers, "so at least they're aware and they have something they can work with."

He said parishioners and even priests are still struggling to adapt, and the changes could actually make visitors feel more at ease: Returnees "don't like to look like they don't know what's going on. Well, everyone doesn't quite know what's going on, including the person standing up on the altar," he said.

"I really think this may give us a handle to give people who have been discouraged or felt alienated a way of coming back - or at least start a dialogue with them. We're drawing nearer to some of the things that Vatican II changed" in the 1960s, when major changes included celebrating the Mass in English rather than Latin.

Rev. William Gorman, pastor of St. John the Baptist parish in Newport and St. Joseph's in Dolgeville, will mention the pew cards, but also assumes visitors have learned the changes through the media or their home churches.

He said it will take a while before he's able to celebrate Mass without keeping his nose buried in the missal, lamenting: "I miss the eye contact with the people. Before, it was more fluid and celebratory, I think."

But "I'm not as threatened by it anymore. It's been an adjustment and I have to accept the fact that I can't celebrate the way I did before."

Rev. Robert Hohenstein, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Schenectady, said returning Catholics tend to be "laid back. I think they'll take the direction from the people who are here all time."

At St. Francis of Assisi parish in Albany, Deacon Ray Sullivan, parish life director, reported that "the people [who] are coming for Christmas are no different than those who have been coming since Advent."

Sacred Heart parish in Cairo has been preparing visitors for weeks through letters sent home with faith formation students, said Barbara Koerner-Fox, administrator of faith formation.

Before Christmas Masses, the lector will give the crowd a crash course in the changes, the music minister will talk about musical changes, and a special bulletin will have reminders.

"It's important for the children to see that everyone knows what they're doing," Mrs. Koerner-Fox explained.

Some former traditions remain: for instance, musicians at Christ the King parish in Westmere, Albany, will use sung parts from the old Mass setting at Christmas Masses, said LouAnn Cleary, director of music and liturgy.

"I just want people who haven't been there in a while to feel comfortable," she said.[[In-content Ad]]

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