Dear Parishioners:

Get ready. It is coming. This November the bishops of the United States will be voting on the final parts of the revisions and translations for the new Roman Missal. We should be using the new missal by Advent 2010. (That's quick in Catholic Church time).

"Well, why are we talking about it now?" Good question. First of all, it's been a long, long time coming. The following is from the bishops' web site on the missal. You can get much more information from there.  (http://usccb.org/romanmissal/)

"The Missale Romanum (the Roman Missal), the ritual text for the celebration of the Mass, was first promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as the definitive text of the reformed liturgy of the Second Vatican Council. A second edition followed in 1975.

Pope John Paul II issued a revised version of the Missale Romanum during the Jubilee Year 2000. The English translation of the revised Roman Missal is nearing completion, and the Bishops of the United States will vote on the final sections of the text this November. Among other things, the revised edition of the Missale Romanum contains prayers for the observances of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Votive Masses and Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Intentions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass. The English translation of the Roman Missal will also include updated translations of existing prayers, including some of the well-known responses and acclamations of the people.

This website has been prepared to help you prepare for the transition. As this site continues to be expanded, you will find helpful resources for the faithful, for the clergy, and for parish and diocesan leaders.

May this process of the implementation of the revised Roman Missal be a time of deepening, nurturing, and celebrating our faith through our worship and the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy."

For the last two millennia we Catholics have been gathering together to pray with and for each other. As we grew in wisdom, age and grace, we developed forms of liturgical worship. In the middle of the sixteenth century the Council of Trent issued even more formal rubrics for the celebration of liturgy. There were many reasons for this and, all in all, it was a good thing.

The Holy Spirit of God called the bishops together in Rome and much was changed. Some saw this as good. Some were saddened that we no longer could go anywhere in the world and Mass would be the same. Truth be told, that was only true for Western Rite Catholics. We always had many forms of the Mass.

Now, after several decades, it is time for a change. It is not change for the sake of change, but for reasons of import and decorum. Translations were not the best and this should remedy much of that weakness. I encourage you to check out the web site.

Once all the approvals are in, publishers will begin printing new books, song writers will update and write new songs, etc. Hopefully our very well used hymnals will hold for another year or so until new material is available. I think we will start singing, Soon and very Soon, at least once a day.

Pax et bonum,
Msgr. Bill