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Office for Divine Worship and Sacraments
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TOGETHER: Homecoming
With the pandemic continuing to wane and availability of boosters for adults and vaccinations for children 5-11, we hope to see more and more people making their way back to worship in person.
Here are some strategies for parish leaders to help welcome everyone back to church for Christmas and in the New Year!
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FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear friends and colleagues,
Happy Advent! There is great cause for hope this year, as the pandemic continues to wane, vaccines are more available, and perhaps we are turning yet another corner in returning to “normal”. I remain so grateful for the work that all our liturgical and sacramental ministers have done throughout this entire pandemic to continue to serve the people of God, to celebrate Christ’s enduring presence among us, and to listen to the Spirit of Jesus as we lead the Church together.
In this month’s Praenotanda, you’ll find many resources for your ministry, including preparing liturgies in January, new approaches to singing the dismissal of catechumens, returning our liturgical celebrations to “normal”, the Rite of Election, and more!
Notably, you’ll find some suggestions about how to have a “homecoming” in your parish now that younger children can be vaccinated. The resources of our TOGETHER initiative will help you catechize your community about the importance of Sunday Mass, gathering in person, and the gift of the Eucharist.
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.
May this Advent and Christmas be a time of great blessing and joy for you, your families, and your faith community!
Jeremy Helmes
ODWS Director
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FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
Wondering what gift to buy for your priest that has a musical element to it? How about for a fellow church musician? Here are a few ideas:
* The 4th edition of the Book of Sung Gospels available from CanticaNOVA publications. This edition contains 42 Gospels from the revised Lectionary for Mass (1998-2002), with Introductory Dialogue from the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal. It’s a great way to add beauty and solemnity to special feasts and liturgies.
* O Come Emmanuel by Gordon Giles, also available from CanticaNOVA publications. This is a handy spiritual book for the holidays. It contains poems (drawn from familiar carols and seasonal music), a meditation and a prayer for each day of December through January 6.
* And finally, something for the church organist: Improvising – How to Master the Art by Gerre Hancock and published by Oxford University Press. This exemplary text is a master class by one of America’s great organ improvisers (with a strong Cincinnati connection) on the art and discipline of improvisation for the liturgical organist. It is filled with musical examples which helps demonstrate the ideas and concepts he discusses.
I wish all of you a prayerful Advent, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director
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Leadership Formation, Training, and Orientation for Parish Leaders
During 2022, there will be opportunities for formation in leadership, growth in the skills needed to lead pastoral planning, and orientation to the Beacons process itself.
Please give us feedback by December 10th on what opportunities for formation, training and topics you would benefit from the most, what media and times work best for you, and your thoughts on how we can all be better leaders in our Church.
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Advent Liturgical Resources
This resource from the FDLC - now available in both English AND Spanish - will assist parishes and schools in preparing the liturgies of these holy seasons. Sample texts, outlines of liturgies outside of Mass (including a communal Penance service for Advent), intentions for the Universal Prayer, calendars, and more!
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Post-Covid Recovery Guide to Mass
You may find this resource helpful as the pandemic continues to wane and you continue to return parish liturgical practices to normal, reverent and dignified celebrations, with faithful ars celebrandi and active participation.
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Singing Our Catechumens Forth
COVID and the resulting safety precautions required liturgists and musicians to reimagine how we celebrate the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults. As we resume the dismissal of catechumens at Sunday Mass, many of us face a challenge of how to accompany their leave-taking with fresh musical settings. Learn more about this ritual and find some musical suggestions.
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Praying for Synod 2021-2023
You can find resources for praying in your parish for Synod 2021-2023 on the website of the ODWS, including intentions for the universal prayer, and other resources.
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Updated Worship Together Safely Guidance
The regulations of state and local health authorities should be observed at all times. Specific guidelines to be observed (effective Nov 28, 2021) are listed on the ODWS website.
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Preparing January Liturgies: World Day of Peace and Sunday of the Word of God
To assist you in preparing these annual January liturgies, check out resources on the ODWS website. You’ll find sample intentions for the Universal Prayer, homily helps, catechetical resources, music suggestions, and more.
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The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy,
Track Three:
Liturgy, Life, and Discipleship
Track Three emphasizes the celebration of the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life. The topics in this track are particularly appropriate for those with a solid understanding of the liturgy.
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Rite of Election
First Sunday of Lent
March 6, 2022
The Rite of Election (and Call to Continuing Conversion) will be celebrated as usual on the First Sunday of Lent, March 6, 2022.
New this year: parishes may choose from any of the three liturgies for their group to attend, based on geography, timing, or language; there will be no deanery-specific assignments.
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Q. What is the Epiphany Proclamation and how do I use it?
A. An ancient tradition in the Roman Rite is to announce the date of Easter and the other moveable feasts (i.e. those not assigned to a particular date on the secular calendar) each year on the Solemnity of the Epiphany. This so-called "Epiphany Proclamation” is described in the current edition of the Roman Missal in this way: “Where it is the practice, if appropriate, the moveable Feasts of the current year may be proclaimed after the Gospel” and then indicates that you can find this among the various chants in the back of the missal. The chant is sung by a deacon or cantor from the ambo. Be sure to consult your liturgical calendar or ordo for the coming year to sing the proper dates!
Even if you have never done this before in your parish, consider this ritual for one or more of your Masses for Epiphany. This will help to strengthen the connection between the Christmas and Easter feasts, reminding us that the Incarnation is fundamentally connected to the Paschal Mystery.
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