June 2022 Praenotanda

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear friends and colleagues,

I hope this issue of Praenotanda finds you looking forward to, or already enjoying a bit of down time after a long Paschal Cycle worth of liturgical and sacramental ministry! Among the many fruits of the Holy Spirit, I am in need of patience more and more every day!

This month’s issue includes a revision of our policy on Sunday Mass Scheduling, issued just days ago by Archbishop Schnurr. Please be attentive to this as you consider new schedules in your Family of Parishes in the coming years.

Hopefully your parish will celebrate well the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on June 18/19. You’ll find resources at the link below to help you celebrate this day, which is also the opening of the three-year Eucharistic Revival in the Churches of the United States.

You’ll also find some wisdom from Pope Francis about the role of the liturgy in bringing unity in the Church. The Eucharist truly is THE sacrament of unity, so let us all strive to be people who bring unity where there was once division.

Finally, you’ll find some perspective on how to schedule the Sacrament of Penance relative to Mass in an FAQ at the bottom.

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

Veni Sancte Spiritus!

Jeremy Helmes
ODWS Director

FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

As we begin to transition to Phase 1 of Beacons of Light, some of us might see some changes to our work routines, responsibilities, and Mass schedules.

Some might look at this with fear and trepidation, I see it as an opportunity to re-think and re-imagine our role as pastoral musicians. Part of that might mean taking inventory of our work schedules and setting boundaries on our time.

I recently had a conversation with a colleague who was working 6 days a week. And as his parish has many funerals his one day off was frequently taken up with the several hours to plan and play for a funeral. I suggested it might be time to step back and examine how his work/private life are balanced.

It’s always a good idea to let your pastor know if your work-load is becoming overwhelming. Document everything you do and the amount of time it takes to complete your routine tasks. This helps you see where maybe you can be more efficient, and it helps your priest see how you spend your time outside of Mass.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director

Pope Francis: Liturgy is a Not a Battleground

In a recent address to the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, Pope Francis stated: “It’s not possible to worship God while making the liturgy a battleground for issues that are not essential, indeed, outdated issues, and to take sides starting with the liturgy, with ideologies that divide the Church.” The Holy Father reinforced that the Church’s liturgical worship should lead to greater unity, not division, even in the midst of reform.

Q. Is it appropriate to go to confession during a Mass in which I’m participating? Should parishes be offering the Sacrament of Penance while Mass is taking place in the same church?

A. Generally, no. In earlier liturgical practice, confessions were routinely heard during Mass. This was possibly due to the fact that the accepted norm prior to the liturgical reform of St. Paul VI saw one's obligation to assist at Mass fulfilled by attending from the Offertory of the Mass onward and thus the faithful often engaged in other liturgical and devotional practices up to that point of the Mass (including praying the rosary, reading their own devotional texts, and – yes – going to confession.)

There is no prohibition strictly speaking about the Sacrament of Penance being offered at the same time as Mass, though the Rite of Penance  does state that "[The faithful] should be encouraged to approach the Sacrament of Penance at times when Mass is not being celebrated" (n. 13).  This has a practical value in that everyone who is participating in Mass should not be distracted by anything else, including the Sacrament of Penance. Therefore, it is highly laudable that only those NOT participating in Mass should be celebrating the Sacrament of Penance while Mass is going on. The idea of “2-for-1,” i.e. going to confession while the Mass I’m participating in is happening, is not ideal and detracts from the vision of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal that says that "the entire celebration [of the Mass] is arranged in such a way that leads to a conscious, active, and full participation of the faithful, namely, in body and in mind, a participation fervent with faith, hope, and charity, of the sort which is desired by the Church and which is required by the very nature of the celebration and to which the Christian people have a right and duty in virtue of their Baptism" (n. 18).  So, if confessions are regularly scheduled during Mass (a practice to be discouraged for the above reasons), catechesis should be provided to ensure the faithful know that confession should precede Mass whenever possible, and not take place while they are participating in Mass to fulfill their Sunday obligation.

Parishes should ensure adequate times outside of Mass during which the Sacrament of Penance can be celebrated.  A mere 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon before the anticipated Mass may not be enough and likely isn’t a great time for many people.  Consider the most generous schedule, ensure confessors are always present when scheduled, and encourage the faithful to come.