ANDERSON, S.C. — Liturgical specialist Daniel Grigassy, OFM, led a workshop at St. Joseph Church describing the upcoming changes to the official manual of the Roman Catholic Mass — the Roman Missal. At the Oct. 8 nearly all-day workshop, attended by some 100 Catholics from several area parishes, Dan clarified how the liturgy will be celebrated beginning this Advent.
St. Joseph pastor Paul Williams, OFM, and Henry Fulmer, OFM, invited Dan, a former chair of the Department of Word and Worship at the Washington Theological Union to “come down and lead the workshop for us and the local Catholic community,” said Michael Stein, the parish’s director of communications. Members of Province parishes St. Mary of the Angels in Anderson and St. Anthony of Padua in Greenville, S.C., participated in the workshop. Dan is pastor of St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J.
On Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent, the third edition of the missal — the text containing prayers and instructions for celebrating Mass — will be implemented in the United States.
The USCCB Media Blog stresses that this is not a new Mass but a new translation. “Because a new edition of the Missale Romanum, the Latin Roman Missal, was promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 2000, it was necessary for all the countries of the world to translate this missal into the various local languages.” Author Mar Munoz-Visoso is assistant director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Stein said Dan challenged attendees to be “loving critics” as “some may see (the new translation) as a step backwards, others ‘poetic,’ others ‘cumbersome,’ and others ‘not so poetic.’” Dan emphasized: “Change brings a new awareness of our actions and purpose. We listen better. We watch more closely. It prompts many Catholics to ask why. It causes us to reexamine our beliefs.”
“Fr. Dan’s witness to his knowledge of our faith was only eclipsed by his example of how we must practice that faith with priestly love and humility,” Stein said. “His talk was enlightening on so many levels — intellectually, spiritually and emotionally.”
The Anderson presentation is just one of many going on around the Province to introduce community members to the changes in the missal. St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City is offering a series of information sessions to help people prepare for the new translation of the Mass. The next meetings are on Oct. 17 at noon and at 6 p.m. The sessions are held in Sam Damiano Hall, 127 W. 31st St.
In addition to in-person events, many ministries are providing information in writing, through bulletins. St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany, N.Y., for example, has been running a series of updates about the Mass texts in its bulletin. The Oct. 9 bulletin offered an eighth installment.
Other parishes offering information about the new translation of the Roman Missal include St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Long Beach Island, N.J., and St. Mary’s Church, Pompton Lakes, N.J.
— Jocelyn Thomas is communications director for Holy Name Province.
Editor’s note: HNP Today readers (friars and lay people) are encouraged to tell the Communications Office how they are learning about changes to the new translation of the missal. Methods and ideas will be shared in this newsletter and on the Province’s Facebook page.