Feb 2025 Praenotanda

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear friends and colleagues,

I hope that this stretch of Winter Ordinary Time has provided a respite from a busy Advent and Christmastide before we begin the 90-day Paschal Cycle. Thanks for everything that you do to provide liturgical and sacramental ministry to the faithful in your parish, school, or other faith community.

In this month’s Praenotanda, you’ll find resources related to the new OCIA and Christian Initiation ministry, as well as ways to help encourage the faithful to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance this Lent. Of note, I hope to see anyone connected to the Christian initiation of adults – pastors, vicars, deacons, OCIA team members, directors of worship and evangelization, parish musicians, and more – at our Initiate Workshop on March 25 (Cincinnati) or March 26 (Dayton) with Fr. Paul Turner.

As always, if there’s anything that Matthew, Gloria Ann, 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

With Lent beginning next month, your pastor has perhaps asked you to use Gregorian chant. While I would argue that chant should be used throughout the year as part of a comprehensive music program, Lent seems to be the season where it is programmed with some degree of frequency.

If you are reading chant in modern notation, it may come across to you and your congregation as dull and uninspiring. If you don’t know how to read/sing/play from chant notation, there are several helpful resources online and in book form for the budding chant enthusiast.

1. The Parish Book of Chant – available in book form or online, this is the ‘go to’ resource for
learning and understanding how to sing chant. There is a guide on how to sing chant (with
easy-to-understand explanations) as well as a pronunciation guide to Liturgical Latin. A hard
copy of this book is available from the Church Music Association of America (CMAA).
2. Internet search engines – Can it get any easier for us? Maybe you want to sing one of the
Propers assigned for a particular Sunday. Enter it into your search engine, and a practice
video, with the chant notation, will certainly be one of the top returns.
3. The Graduale Project – A search for this project is worth your time if you prefer to hear a
recording. The goal of this project is to record all the Propers in the Graduale Romanum, and they have succeeded!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director

Shop the ODWS

Thanks to everyone who ordered annual liturgical resources last fall. We served hundreds of parishes and other institutions, saving them thousands of dollars off retail price.

Don’t forget that you can shop all year online for archdiocesan resources to assist bereaved families, engaged couples, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and more. You can also find resources from national liturgical publishers at deep discounts. Parishes, schools, and other non-profits can always shop tax free.

Q. What options may be used for the Profession of Faith at Mass on Sundays and Solemnities?

A. #18 of the Roman Missal puts the Nicene Creed in first place, both with chant notation and text. #19 then specifies that “Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, especially during Lent and Easter Time, the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.” This gives a clear indication that the Nicene Creed is to be normatively used throughout the year and the Apostles’ Creed could be used during Lent and Easter. There is no indication that the Apostles’ Creed would be used during other seasons simply because it’s shorter. Also, when other sacraments or rites are celebrated during Mass (e.g, Baptism or the Rite of Election), the Creed may be omitted.