Dec 2024 Praenotanda

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear friends and colleagues,

Happy Advent!

This month’s issue of Praenotanda includes some resources to help you finish preparations for Advent and Christmas, including a comprehensive liturgical preparation resource in English and Spanish, including penance service, readings, Epiphany Proclamation, and more. You’ll also find resources to help you prepare the liturgy for Jan 1, marked as World Day of Prayer for Peace, and Jan 26, the Sunday of the Word of God.

You’ll also find more information about the Jubilee Year 2025, including Mass formularies that can be used in the parish and the December 29th Mass at the Cathedral Basilica.

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.

Maranatha: come, Lord Jesus!

Jeremy Helmes
ODWS Director

FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

Pope Francis stated in his February 2022 letter announcing the Jubilee 2025: "We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire..."

Jubilee 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope – is a great opportunity to mix the Holy Father’s desire for hope and rebirth of faith with our Beacons of Light initiative. Perhaps this is an opportunity for our music ministries to re-examine what we sing and why we sing it. Look beyond the tunes and focus on the texts. Our patrimony of music stretches back many centuries, and much of our theology can be found in those texts and chants that move us beyond the temporal world so much of modern Church music espouses. They lead us into that transcendent act of worship where so many of today’s texts focus on us rather than on He who is truly worthy of worship.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Matthew J. Geerlings
Music Director

Use of the new ritual book Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery outside Mass is obligatory effective December 1, 2024.

Of note, the proper ritual for distributing Holy Communion outside of Mass (a so-called “Communion service”) is found in Chapter 1 of the new ritual book. Guidelines for scheduling such liturgical celebrations in the absence of a priest are found on the ODWS website. In short, a “Communion service” should not take place on Sunday except in truly emergency circumstances, and only on weekdays when Mass is not celebrated in a given church. Even in that case, the faithful should be encouraged to participate in Mass at another church within the Family of Parishes or another church nearby. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

Q. Outside of a church, where can Mass be celebrated?

A. While Mass is normally celebrated in a sacred space – a dedicated church, chapel, or oratory set aside for worship – according to church law, the Eucharist may also be celebrated in other “respectable places” when pastoral need requires it, with the permission of the archbishop or vicar general. This might include school Mass in a gym, or Mass in a nursing home, Mass outside at a scout campout, or other unusual circumstances. Whenever possible, there should be a dedicated altar, but if necessary, a decent table may be used, always with a cloth and corporal. For more information, check out the archdiocesan policy on Mass Outside of a Sacred Space.