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When Rev. Michael Driscoll, Ph.D., gives a talk Oct. 6 on "the Eucharist as the Embodiment of Love," his underlying topic will be the upcoming changes in the Mass.

A Notre Dame theology professor, Father Driscoll said he has delivered the lecture in several other cities and has seen what's yet to be done in preparing Catholics for the new translation of the Roman Missal, which takes effect in Advent.

"It would be ignoring the elephant in the room not to talk about it," he said. "I've found that, once people understand the reasons why and the background to this change, they're OK with it.

"Transparency is key here," he added. "We have to talk about what the challenges are going to be - but we can also talk about what's to be gained from this."

Father Driscoll's talk is part of the annual Rev. Theodore Hesburgh lecture series sponsored by the Albany Diocese, The College of Saint Rose in Albany and the Notre Dame Club of Northeastern New York. Among many other roles, the speaker has served as an adviser to the U.S. bishops' Committee on the Liturgy.

Jeanne Schrempf, director of the diocesan Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life, noted that Father Driscoll's talk is tied to the "Amazing God" diocesan evangelization initiative; the theme of Amazing God's second year is "the heart of Christ," or learning more about Christ as a gift to the world.

One of Father Driscoll's former students is Elizabeth Simcoe, chancellor for pastoral services for the Diocese. She said that he "looks at the Eucharist from a variety of sources. He teaches how the Eucharist nourishes us for our service in the world."

"This new missal gives us the chance for deeper catechesis on eucharistic theology," said Father Driscoll. "It is a mystery to be celebrated, a mystery to be believed and a mystery to be lived."[[In-content Ad]]

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