January 2021 Praenotanda

FROM THE OFFICE DIRECTOR

Merry Christmas!

I hope your parish and family celebrations of Christmastide have been safe and healthy, yet reverent and joyful! Thanks for everything that you each did to bring the love of the Christchild to the many liturgical and sacramental celebrations of this holy season.

The 2nd annual Sunday of the Word of God will be celebrated on January 24 and we’ve put together resources for your parish, school, and families to celebrate this important day.

As you know, the Rite of Election will be celebrated in parish liturgies on February 21, not in large archdiocesan liturgies. We have some resources ready for you already, and more will be forthcoming as they are developed.

Finally, Praenotanda has a new monthly feature from the Office for Persons with Disabilities. Each month, we’ll highlight a helpful resource from OPD in the “Belonging” section.

As always, if there’s anything that Matt, Monica, or myself can do to assist you in your worship and sacramental ministries, please let us know.

Happy New Year!

Jeremy Helmes
ODWS Director

FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

There is a little glimmer of hope out there that perhaps 2021 will usher in a return to some sense of normalcy. The various vaccines against COVID have given me reason to believe that perhaps by the summer, or maybe early fall, our music programs will once again thrive.

One of the great joys I’ve witnessed in my short tenure here is the creativity I see among all of you. The various ways you have worked around the short leash of Pandemic Christmas (which will help us all with Pandemic Ash Wednesday/Lent/Easter…sorry but, you know, reality).

A major component of the music making process is the social and musical interaction between musicians. This works best, of course, in person. And I’m happy to see how so many of you have continued to reach out to your choir and ensemble members throughout this period. Soon there will be a need for in-person rehearsals again.

NOW is the time to start thinking about retaining current musicians and recruiting new musicians into your parish music programs. This best way to recruit isn’t a bulletin announcement or Facebook post, but rather a personal invitation from you or members of your music groups. We are a missionary people, and the work of mission begins with prayer, then an invitation.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Matthew J. Geerlings
Director of Music
Archdiocese of Cincinnati &
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains

Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion

Due to the ongoing public health concern, the Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion will take place in parishes on the First Sunday of Lent (Feb 21, 2021), not in large archdiocesan celebrations.

Archbishop Schnurr delegates the priests and deacons of the Archdiocese to celebrate this liturgy in their parishes, with preference being that the pastor celebrate the rite if possible (cf. RCIA #12, 34, 121). This replaces the Rite of Sending which would normally take place in the parish on this day (cf. RCIA #106).

More guidance on celebrating this important Lenten liturgy can be found on our website, and more resources will be added as they are developed.

Year of St. Joseph

In a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” which began on December 8th and extends until the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2021. Parishes are encouraged to celebrate well the existing feasts of St. Joseph (March 19) and St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), perhaps with special Masses outside the typical schedule, even including a blessing of Fathers. An image of St. Joseph (icon or statue) could find a special place in the narthex or other part of the church, or an existing image could be adorned in a special way. Finally, the Apostolic Penitentiary has issued a decree granting special indulgences available during this jubilee year.

* Share With Your Parishioners *

NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH

Online workshop for funeral and medical pre-planning

Feb. 3, 1:30-3pm & Feb. 4, 7-8:30pm

It’s never too soon to begin thinking about our own funeral, end-of-life care, and who will be making those decisions. Join us to learn about how to get started on planning a Catholic funeral and what the Church teaches on key end-of-life issues. Topics include pre-planning the three stages of the Catholic funeral, what the Church really teaches about cremation, how to approach difficult end-of-life decisions with your loved ones from a Catholic perspective (life support, medical power of attorney, etc.), and more.

Family & Caregiver Mass Toolkit for Persons with Disabilities

As more people begin to return to Mass, the Office for Persons with Disabilities has created a Mass Toolkit for Families and Caregivers loaded with printable materials and items for purchase that can enhance the liturgical experience for persons with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. These resources are also great for younger children! Visit the OPD website to discover more resources for celebrating the sacraments and other liturgies with persons with disabilities.

Q. May EMsHC wait until after ministering to the faithful before receiving Holy Communion themselves?

A. No. Those who will minister Holy Communion to others must receive Communion first. “The practice of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive Holy Communion until after the distribution of Holy Communion is not in accord with liturgical law.” (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion 39). Holy Communion is a gift: a minister receives it and then gives it to another.