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Office for Divine Worship and Sacraments
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FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear friends and colleagues,
As we begin a new “year” of liturgical and sacramental ministry, I hope the summer has provided a bit of time to recharge and renew your zeal. Thanks for all that you do to serve the Church at prayer.
In this issue of Praenotanda, you’ll find information about upcoming formation opportunities, the liturgical calendar, new liturgical texts, and more.
Of note, 2026 Annual Resources are now available for sale. Offering these at a deep discount to liturgical and sacramental ministers is a service the ODWS is glad to provide.
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
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FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
On July 14th, St. Lawrence church in East Price Hill (Cincinnati) unveiled their new (to them) pipe organ. Congratulations to those involved in this project, especially John Valentine for seeing this project through to its completion. It was a used organ from a university in Texas that was transplanted and enlarged for its new home in Cincinnati – a successful organ transplant if you will.
There are many used pipe organs for sale these days for a whole host of reasons – church closures, a radical change in vision for music ministry, are just a couple of reasons. Many of these instruments are in need of extensive restoration
to be made playable, but they still have life within them for the right home. Almost all pipe organs are custom built for their environment, but it is possible to repurpose them for a new home, and as such might be purchased for pennies on the dollar.
If your church is considering a pipe organ but is concerned about budget, an “organ transplant” could be the best solution. Need guidance? Let's talk.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director
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| 2026 Annual Liturgical Resources
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2026 Annual Liturgical Resources
(e.g. Workbook for Lectors, Year of Grace calendars, Living Liturgy, etc.) are available NOW!
As a reminder, these are available at a deep discount and tax-free when you add your tax ID number to your account.
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| Solemnities of All Saints and All Souls (Nov 1/2)
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Since November 1st - the Solemnity
of All Saints - falls on a Saturday in 2025, there is no obligation to attend Mass. An evening Mass (after 3pm) on Sat, Nov 1 should be for All Souls' Day. Precedence is given to the “feast of precept” (usually translated as holy day of obligation) - in this case, a Sunday - favoring the celebration of the day carrying an obligation for the faithful to attend Mass. More information can be found on the USCCB website.
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Liturgical Texts for St. Teresa of Calcutta
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The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments, by a decree issued June 24, 2025, has confirmed the English and Spanish translations of the Collect prayer and suggested Lectionary readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Teresa of Calcutta on September 5.
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NCCL Grant for Children in Worship
The National Community of Catechetical Leaders is launching two initiatives with
funds from a Lilly Grant. – Children and Catholic Prayer and Children and Catholic Worship. They are seeking about fifty parishes to participate in pilot programs. Resources will be free.
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Together Sunday
Sept 14
Together Sunday is more than a moment—it’s the beginning of a movement toward becoming a more welcoming and hospitable community. Every Sunday, we gather to worship Christ in the Eucharist—and every Sunday is an opportunity to open our doors and our hearts more widely.
With Together Sunday, parishes are invited to take a fresh look at how they welcome people: not only through smiles and greetings, but through a culture that sees, accompanies, and invites. With resources for formation and tools for action, this initiative empowers
parish communities to strengthen relationships, foster connection, and become places of belonging for all who enter.
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A Foundational Course for Pastoral, Liturgical, and Music Ministers
Mondays, 8:00-9:30pm
Sept 8 to Oct 13
Invite your liturgical ministers and parish catechists to join us for The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy series. Together, we’ll explore the riches of the Church’s liturgy, delving into topics including the rituals and gestures of the liturgy, the parts of the Mass, the liturgical year, the role of liturgical ministries, and sacraments and devotions.
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Children's Choir Festival
Sat, Feb 28, 2026
Cathedral Basilica
Catholic children's choirs from the region will gather for a daylong workshop/festival concluding with Mass with Archbishop Casey at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains on Sat, Feb 28.
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Suicide Awareness Month
September is Suicide Awareness Month. In addition to a Mass on September 14th celebrated by Archbishop Casey at the Cathedral Basilica, parishes are
encouraged to include this observance in their liturgical celebrations. Resources can be found online.
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Q. When can I celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of our parish church?
A. You can celebrate on the actual anniversary date unless a solemnity of a higher rank is observed. You can also move the celebration to an adjacent Sunday of Ordinary Time. If neither of those options work, the anniversary of the dedication could be celebrated on the Sunday prior to All Saints Day. Celebrating the anniversary of a church’s dedication is an important solemnity for a faith community.
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“Dear altar servers, the celebration of the Mass saves us today!” Pope Leo said to a gathering of French altar servers. “It saves the world today! It is the most important event in the life of the Christian and in the life of the Church, for it is the encounter where God gives Himself to us in love, again and again.”
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— Pope Leo XIV
Address to altar servers, August 25, 2025
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