Parishes ease into changes in liturgy from Vatican

In workshops on changes being made by the Vatican to the Mass, Elizabeth Simcoe likes to point out that the first murder was committed over liturgy: "Cain killed Abel because Abel's sacrifice was pleasing to God, and Cain's was not. So this is explosive territory!"

All joking aside, the director of the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship said that more than 400 Catholics in the Albany Diocese have attended diocesan-sponsored workshops on the liturgical changes and that some parishes are doing their own orientations.

Among those already educated are lectors, Eucharistic ministers and music ministers from parishes across the Diocese.

"If you're a lector or even a greeter, it's important to know about your role in the context of the whole" liturgy, Ms. Simcoe noted.

Many questions

Each workshop was three hours long to allow for questions, and Ms. Simcoe said the question-and-answer period usually filled the time.

The most common concerns raised by participants were exactly when to bow their heads after receiving Communion, and what to do about parishioners who insisted on continuing practices like genuflecting after receiving Communion. (Ms. Simcoe noted that people should bow their heads as they say "Amen" after having taken the host.)

One positive comment she often heard was that in parishes that have already implemented the liturgical changes, parishioners are appreciating the periods of silence during Mass.

In practice now

Two parishes of the Diocese have instituted the changes -- St. Mary's in Clinton Heights and Sacred Heart in Stamford.

Another parish, Sacred Heart in Watervliet, had Ms. Simcoe explain the changes before one liturgy and stay in the front of the church for the Mass to demonstrate them. She called that a "wonderful" way to make the differences clear to Mass-goers.

Ms. Simcoe also suggested that parishes might consider training a "core group" of parishioners who can demonstrate the changes to others during liturgies each week until the community remembers them.

TV Mass

The Diocese's original plan was to have all parishes implement the changes by Pentecost (May 30). That deadline will not be met, Ms. Simcoe said, partly because changing the liturgy requires a lot of education.

One way of imparting the information is through the "Table of the Lord" televised Mass on WTEN-Channel 10 (see the calendar page for the schedule). It has turned into an opportunity for broad catechesis about the changes.

When a parish community is videotaped for the program, Ms. Simcoe instructs them on the changes. Thus, the differences can be seen every time "Table of the Lord" is aired.

"It's another way to model" the changes, she explained, adding that when parishioners from St. Mary's in Clinton Heights were taped, they arrived eager to demonstrate their early knowledge of the changes.

All together

Unity at Mass is the goal of the changes; Ms. Simcoe cited the General Instruction for the Roman Missal (the book that contains the order of the Mass), which says that "any semblance of individuality is to be shunned. We come together to form the body of Christ, and that should be our goal."

"Where there are differences of opinion or strong feelings" about the changes, Ms. Simcoe added, "it's only because people really care about what goes on" during liturgy.

(The list of changes includes longer periods of silence, notably, after the readings, homily and Communion; carrying the Book of the Gospels, not the lectionary in the entrance procession; the congregation's bowing from the waist during the Profession of Faith and when the priest genuflects after the Consecration; Catholics bowing their heads when Jesus' name is said and after receiving communion; and different directives on when to stand, sit or kneel. Singing is also emphasized. For a more detailed explanation, go to www.evangelist.org and search for "long-anticipated changes." Two more workshops on the changes will be held: June 5 at St. James parish in Chatham, and June 18 at Sacred Heart in Margaretville. For more information, call the Office of Prayer and Worship at 453-6645.)

(5/20/04) [[In-content Ad]]