March 2023 Praenotanda

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear friends and colleagues,

As Lent begins, let me thank you – on behalf of Archbishop Schnurr and on behalf of all the faithful to whom you minister – for your tireless efforts in liturgical and sacramental ministry to God’s people, especially during this most sacred time of the year, the Paschal Cycle.

In this month’s Praenotanda, you’ll find many resources to continue preparing for Lent, the Paschal Triduum, and Eastertide in your Family of Parishes, including how to encourage the Sacrament of Penance in your Family of Parishes during Lent, resources to prepare to sing the Exsultet, rubrics for multiple paschal candles at one Easter Vigil, and more. Let us know if you need any more support to prepare these important liturgical seasons.

Please remember that use of the new Order of Penance is obligatory by the Octave Day of Easter.

Pastoral musicians are invited to an upcoming deanery gathering on a Monday coming soon…please join and extend the invite to the musicians in your Family of Parishes.

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

I will admit that Lent is perhaps my favorite season in the liturgical calendar. There is so much beautiful music written for this season and it always seems I am finding new works for my choir to explore – music that is beautiful that helps people draw closer to God. Lent also brings about a flurry of activity in the life of the church family – Friday fish dinners, Stations of the Cross, the Rite of Election and seeing our new sisters and brothers in Christ getting ready to enter into our Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil.

Along with this flurry of activity, there are a few things happening in our Archdiocese for our musicians. After a few years of covid-induced hiatus, the Annual NPM Cincinnati Choral Festival returns on Sunday, April 23rd at 7:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Harrison. Choirs are invited to sing 2-3 choral pieces from their own repertoire and then join in the large choir singing of Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus and Courtney’s One Faith, One Hope, One Lord. For those people in the northern section of the Archdiocese, this event will be held on Wednesday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m. at Incarnation Parish in Centerville. More information can be found at www.npmcincinnati.org.

I am also traveling to the various deaneries on the Mondays of Lent (and into Easter) to hold discussions with parish musicians about the Beacons of Light program. We’ll look at what a thriving music ministry in our newly formed Families of Parishes might look like, planning for the future, and getting feedback from those attending on how their work is impacted (both good and bad). See info below and register so we have enough food! I look forward to meeting you.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director

Musical Mondays

Join fellow pastoral musicians from your deanery, Archdiocesan Music Director Matthew Geerlings, regional members of the Archdiocesan Committee on Sacred Music, and other liturgical leaders for a conversation about music ministry in your Family of Parishes! Musical Mondays will be a time for parish music ministers in your deanery to:

> Hear important updates on Beacons of Light and efforts underway to realize the Eucharist principle.

> Talk to one another about the successes and challenges of parish music ministry in a time of change.

> Enjoy some food and fellowship as colleagues in the deanery.

Dates & Locations

March 6, 1pm, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church (Dayton)
March 6, 6:30pm, Our Lady of Sorrows Church (Monroe)
March 13, 6:30pm, St. Jude Church (Bridgetown)
March 20, 6:30pm, St. Augustine Church (Minster)
March 27, 1pm, Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter-in-Chains (Cincinnati)
March 27, 6:30pm, Mary, Help of Christians Church (Fairborn)
April 17, 6:30pm, St. Peter and Paul Church (Reading)

Coming in Lent 2023 – A NEW SERIES ON THE MASS

EUCHARIST: THE WORK OF OUR REDEMPTION

In response to Pope Francis’ call for a “serious and dynamic liturgical formation” (ibid, 31), the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions is pleased to present a five-part Lenten series which will explore the Mass – “Eucharist: The Work of Our Redemption.” We offer this in harmony with the United States Bishops’ campaign for a Eucharistic Revival.

We have assembled some of the nation’s most respected theologians and liturgists. They will offer not merely an exploration of the elements of the Mass but will reflect on its rich theology and identify implications for pastoral practice.

Eucharist-Centered Parishes

The first principle of Beacons of Light is Eucharist: “The Mass is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. Accordingly, the Eucharist is the essential moment for building up and strengthening the parish community, along with the sacraments and other celebrations of the paschal mystery — the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Each month, we’ll look at one of the aspects of the vision for a Eucharist-centered parish and offer a prompt for your reflection upon your own Family of Parishes.

Trained Ministers: Priests, deacons, and lay liturgical ministers are well-trained and formed for leadership of communities at prayer and are “imbued with the spirit of the liturgy.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14)

Question for Reflection: Are liturgical ministers in our parishes well-trained and formed? In what other ways can our Family of Parishes train and form liturgical ministers (lectors, EMsHC, musicians, ushers and greeters, servers, sacristans, et al)? How can I as a parish leader help them be even more “imbued with the spirit of the liturgy?"

HELP NEEDED!

Interested in joining the Belonging Task Force? The BTF is a group of parents, teachers, and community members who meet monthly to discuss ways to help and support families on their faith journey. What is special about the BTF? The families we support are those families who have a loved one with a special need. We support the blind, deaf, hard of hearing, and disabled. Would you like to learn more about the Belonging Task Force? I would like to schedule a time to visit your deanery to meet with you. Contact Lisa L. Averion, Associate Director, Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD)

Q. Are the scrutinies only for the catechumens or also for those baptized Christians preparing to be received into full communion?

A. The three scrutinies found in the RCIA are intended only for the unbaptized catechumens (now called “elect”), to be celebrated on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays respectively. They are NOT intended for those already baptized who are seeking to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church or those adults preparing for Confirmation and/or First Communion. The texts, imagery, and ritual actions themselves are intended for use only with the unbaptized, and are not appropriate for use with ones already baptized. There is an optional penitential rite to be used with baptized candidates which can be used on the Second Sunday of Lent. Using the proper rite with the proper people will help make clear the distinction between these two groups of people and properly respect the dignity of baptism.