June 2025 Praenotanda

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear friends and colleagues,

As Eastertide comes to a close with celebrations of both the Ascension and Pentecost, let me thank you who work in liturgical and sacramental ministry for the many ways you have served your faith communities over these last 90 days. Your hard work to help our local Church express her faith in the risen Jesus is essential to our life as a Eucharistic community.

In this month’s Praenotanda, you’ll find information about a few remaining training and formation for new and veteran EMsHC, notes on this year’s liturgical calendar, and other details.

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

At a recent meeting of our Archdiocesan Music Committee, the idea of music ministry as a vocation was discussed and the impact that vocation has had on our lives. It was good to listen to people talk about their calling and how the challenges and rewards of serving our parishes as musicians has impacted our lives, both good and bad. Part of the vocation prayer we sometimes pray at Mass says, “You have created us for some definite purpose,” and later it says “…who are a sign of Christ’s love for His Church.” I firmly believe that all of us serving our Church as musicians are shown His love for His Church and for us through this wonderful gift of music, a gift given to us from heaven.

There are also challenges that we must navigate. There are times when we are under attack spiritually. It is at these times that we need a spiritual helper, someone to help us recognize, navigate, and eventually come out on the other side with an even deeper love of Christ and His Church. To this end I will be working this summer to find people throughout our archdiocese who would be willing to serve in this capacity, namely priests, deacons, or women religious.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director

The USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship has announced the confirmation of the English translation of the Order of the Anointing of the Sick and of their Pastoral Care and the Spanish translation of the Ritual de la Unción de los enfermos y de su atención pastoral by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the USCCB, subsequently issued a decree of promulgation, indicating that these rites may be used from February 11, 2026 (memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick) and must be used as of April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday).

Q. May EMsHC wait until after ministering to the faithful before receiving Holy Communion themselves?

A. No. Those who will minister Holy Communion to others must receive Communion first. “The practice of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive Holy Communion until after the distribution of Holy Communion is not in accord with liturgical law.” (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion 39). Holy Communion is a gift: a minister receives it and then gives it to another.