October 2021 Praenotanda

Praying with Your Parish for Beacons of Light

Archbishop Schnurr has called all of us to pray for the success of Beacons of Light. Resources are now available for parish leaders to bring their communities together in prayer over the coming months, especially leading up to and during the comment period on the draft Families of Parishes. You’ll find sample intentions for the Universal Prayer at Mass, a sample homily for Sun, Oct 10, the prayer to Radiate Christ, resources for prayer at parish meetings, and more.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear friends and colleagues,

Fall is upon us and the regular rhythm of parish and school life (even if modified due to Covid) has returned. I hope that your liturgical and sacramental ministries and celebrations continue to be lifegiving and of great service to the people of God.

In the praenotanda below, you’ll find information about upcoming formation and training programs hosted by the ODWS both for parish leaders and for the faithful at large, liturgical calendar notes, new norms and policies, and many more resources to inform your ministry and liturgical life in our parishes and schools.

Of note, the upcoming Synod 2021-2023 will be a prime moment for the Church to listen to the Holy Spirit, and focus on deeper communion, greater participation, and reflection upon our mission. Please celebrate the opening of the Synod in your parish on October 17th. More details can be found below.

During the month of October, there will be opportunities for everyone to comment upon the draft Families of Parishes as part of the Beacons of Light process. Once these Families of Parishes are formed, the exciting work begins of planning a future for our faith communities that includes worship and sacraments at the heart of parish life. Stay tuned in the coming months for more details about the pastoral planning process and how liturgical and sacramental ministers can play a part in helping our parishes truly be Beacons of Light!

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.

Jeremy Helmes
ODWS Director

FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

One of the more frequent questions asked of me from music directors in our Archdiocese is focused on how to compensate contract musicians…are they to be considered employees, 1099 contractors, etc.? We reached out to Human Resources and the Safe Environment team for clarification.

Of utmost importance is the safety of our children and respecting the dignity of those who interact with contract musicians. The official policy can be found here.

The question of when does a contract musician need to be considered an employee isn’t an easy one to answer. The Archdiocese recommends that if the contract musician is paid more than four (4) times in a year that they be treated as an employee and should complete the Safe Environment background check and be placed on the church’s payroll.

As always, if you have questions, please reach out to me at mgeerlings@cathedralaoc.org.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director

Now and At the Hour of our Death: Catholic Medical and Funeral Planning for the End of Life

Tues, Oct 5, 7p-8:30p
Gate of Heaven Cemetery

Weds, Oct 6, 1:30p-3p
Online

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.)

Formation and Training for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

In-person and online formation and training for new and veteran extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion will take place this fall in both English and Spanish. Some sessions will focus on ministry to the sick, hospitalized, and homebound. Please share with EMHCs in your parish and those looking to join this ministry.

Holy Family, Price Hill (Spanish): Sept 25, Noon-2p
Online (Spanish, focus on sick/homebound/hospitalized): Oct 9, 2p-3:30p
Online (English): Oct 12, 1:30p-3:30p
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Anderson Township (English): Oct 21,7p-9p
Online (English, focus on sick/homebound/hospitalized): Oct 25, 1:30p-3:30p
St. Mary of the Assumption, Springboro (English): Nov 4, 7p-9p
Our Lady of the Visitation, Cincinnati (English): Nov 9, 7p-9p
St. John the Baptist, Tipp City (English): Nov 16, 7p-9p

Synod 2021-2023: Liturgies for Opening Weekend Oct 17th

At the direction of Pope Francis, the Synod of Bishops in Rome has convoked a synod that will run from 2021 until 2023 “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” It officially opens on October 10th in Rome and on October 17th in dioceses around the world. In addition to 11a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter-in-Chains on Sunday, October 17th, parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are encouraged to celebrate the opening of the synod as well on the weekend of October 16th and 17th. Archbishop Schnurr gives permission for parishes to use the Mass for Various Needs “For a Council or Synod” in place of the orations for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (cf. GIRM 374.) If the Mass for Various Needs is celebrated, red vestments are worn. The readings may be taken from the Lectionary #838-842 or may be those of the day.

Q. What is the difference between a “vigil” Mass and an “anticipated” Mass? Which is the best word to describe a typical Saturday evening Mass in a parish?

A. While we tend to use the word “vigil” to describe a Mass on Saturday evening that fulfills the Sunday obligation, this Mass is (more often than not) merely an “anticipated” rather than truly a vigil Mass.

It is traditionally part of observing the liturgical calendar to begin a feast day the evening before (based on the similar Jewish tradition of marking a day from sundown to sundown rather than Midnight to Midnight.)

Some solemnities and feasts are so important and significant that they have multiple Mass formularies for their celebration, often including a Mass on the day itself and a Mass to be celebrated the evening before as a “vigil”. Some of these are familiar to us (e.g. Easter, Christmas), and some are not as well known (e.g. Pentecost, Ascension, Epiphany, even the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.)

Most Sundays (unless they are solemnities or feasts like those listed above) do not have a “vigil” Mass. We simply “anticipate” their celebration with Mass on Saturday evening after the hour of precept. If one is unable to participate in Mass on Sunday, they can attend Mass Saturday evening to fulfill their obligation, and the orations and readings for that Mass are the same as those used on Sunday.

The average Saturday evening Mass is “anticipated” rather than a “vigil” Mass.