August 2021 Praenotanda

Annual Liturgical Publications

We're live! For the first time, parishes can order and pay for their annual liturgical publications online at a deep discount of up to 30%! You can now purchase your 2022 resources like Workbook for Lectors, Living Liturgy, Sourcebook for Sundays, "Year of Grace" calendars, and more, online!
Spend a minute now setting up a customer account, provide us with your tax exempt number (by email), and the next day you can make your publication purchases tax-free!
Quantity discounts are available and pricing includes shipping costs!

FROM THE DIRECTOR
As the triennial “Bread of Life” discourse continues from the Gospel of John for the next few Sundays, we are reminded of Jesus’ promise to be with us in the sacrificial meal that is the Holy Eucharist. I continue to be grateful for all the efforts our priests, deacons, and lay liturgical ministers are making, especially during these difficult times, to ensure that Mass, other liturgies, and sacramental celebrations are celebrated with reverence, dignity, zeal, and joy!

In the praenotanda below, you’ll find information about commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 tragedy, the archdiocesan norms for implementation of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes (on the use of the 1962 missal), updates on Beacons of Light, a featured resource from the Office for Persons with Disabilities, and much more.

Annual resources to support your liturgical ministries are now available on August 1 at deep discounts over publishers’ list prices. Now you can purchase these tax-free through the ODWS shop, along with our archdiocesan publications for engaged couples, bereaved families, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and more!

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
In my third and final article about encouraging young people to learn the art of playing the pipe organ, let me offer a few suggestions for parish organists, music directors, business administrators, and pastors.

Find out who is taking piano lessons in the church. Offer a time once or twice a month for people to come and look at the console, see the pipes (if yours is a pipe organ), and offer the opportunity for young people to try out the keys. Ask them if they want a loud sound or quiet sound, and then let them give it a try. Most people don’t realize we use our feet to play the pedals and operate pistons, swell/choir boxes, etc., so be ready to demonstrate how that works. Keep the language simple. This is a great time for you as organist to interact with members of the congregation, and a great “sales” opportunity. If the young person seems interested, offer a free introductory lesson at some point.

For pastors and parish administrators it is important to understand that young students (and us older organists) usually don’t have access to an organ at home. Most organists can only practice at church, so please allow these aspiring organists a few days a week to come and practice – free of charge! Once the aspiring organist is ready to play at Mass (which could take a year or more), then perhaps work out an arrangement for access to the organ in exchange for them playing at Mass on occasion.

Most importantly, be creative! Perhaps a young organ student isn’t ready to play for a Mass but could play a piece for prelude/postlude. Have them sit on the bench with you during Mass and pull stops or push pistons so they can see everything you do during a Mass. Connect (or become a member) of your local chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This organization offers opportunities for young people throughout the year and advertises organ concerts at other churches.

And as always, keep in mind the safe environment protocols and adhere to those policies so that everyone is safe and can have a positive experience. Always keep in mind that you are the best ambassador for the art of organ playing.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director

Monday, Aug. 30:
St. Michael Church, Sharonville

Tuesday, Aug. 31:
St. Charles Borromeo Church, Kettering

Join fellow pastoral musicians from around the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for an evening of renewal as we kick off a "new year" of ministry leading our parish communities in sung worship. In addition to sung Evening Prayer, we’ll have an opportunity to spend time with one another, get caught up on upcoming events and new resources, and enjoy some fellowship afterwards. As we did last year, we will honor our colleagues who are completing their 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, or 60th years of service to the Church. We will also honor those who have recently retired or will be retiring in the coming year and remember our colleagues who have died during the past year.

With Zeal and Patience:
The Role of the Parish Worship Commission

Mon, Sept. 13, 7p-9p, Online
Thurs, Sept. 16, 7p-9p, St. Vivian

Join new, potential, and veteran members of other parish worship commissions for this workshop on your role in promoting the sacred liturgy in our faith communities with "zeal and patience"! Topics include essential liturgical principles, evaluating your parish liturgies for improvement, strategies for liturgical catechesis, preparing the liturgical year, equipping liturgical ministers, forming a worship commission for multiple parishes in a region/Family, and much more. Registration is FREE, so reserve your spot now!

Sept. 11 (20th Anniversary)

Since the 20th anniversary of Sept 11, 2001 falls on a weekend this year, Archbishop Schnurr has given permission for the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions “For the Nation” or “For the Preservation of Peace & Justice” to be used on Sunday, Sept 12 (cf. GIRM 374) for pastoral advantage. Whether these orations or those for the 24th Sunday of the Year are used, the readings of the day should be proclaimed. Suggested intercessions, music suggestions, homily helps, and resources for observing this solemn occasion on Saturday, Sept 11 itself (within or outside of Mass) may be found online.

“The status quo can have no place in our vocabulary.”

Archbishop Schnurr shared this powerful statement in his letter to the faithful about Beacons of Light. In the letter, Archbishop says, “Our local Church is a part of the Lord’s plan for His people, and that plan cannot fail. God’s love is too powerful for that. It is up to us to rely on that love and respond to it, both as individuals and as members of the one Church. As we look to the future, we can be certain that the Gospel will continue to be preached, the sacraments will continue to be celebrated, and the Lord will always be with His people.” You can read the full letter here. Stay informed about Beacons of Light. Be heard.

Suffering in Silence: Pastoral Care to Those Experiencing Child Loss

Heaven’s Gain Ministries and Reviv are teaming up with the Respect Life Office and Priests' Personnel Office to present a one-day workshop for priests on the mindset and trauma associated with stillbirth, miscarriage, & child loss and how priests can best serve these families. Many families leave the church after experiencing the loss of a baby, but as a caring priest you have the ability to help them understand that God did not abandon them. The training will include real-life testimonies, relevant statistics, and opportunities to practice with your peers.

Day of Prayer for the Church and Victims of Abuse

The archdiocese will observe the fourth annual Day of Prayer for the Church and Victims of Abuse on Tuesday, Sept 14. In addition to Mass for the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrated by Archbishop Schnurr at 5:15pm at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter-in-Chains, all are encouraged to observe this day in parishes, schools, and other institutions.

Sample texts for Mass and other liturgical and devotional resources are on the ODWS website.

Q. If there is no singing at a weekday Mass, should we recite the Entrance and Communion antiphons found in the missal? Who should recite them?

A. While singing is always desirable for Mass, these antiphons can be recited as part of the liturgical celebration. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that the antiphons are recited by all the faithful, by just some of the faithful, or by a reader; otherwise, they are recited by the priest himself. (GIRM 47)