St. Joseph Catholic Church - Neptune at 28172 Nature Avenue, Hinton, IA 51024-8553 US - THE LITURGY
| THE LITURGY |
THE GENERAL INSTRUCTION ON THE ROMAN MISSAL is one of the documents of our Church that governs how the Sacraments are celebrated. It of course notes that the Eucharist is a central celebration. As in the previous editions, the 2002 edition notes that only one cross is to be visible. Thus, if there is already a cross or crucifix displayed in the sanctuary, the processional cross is to be put to the side or in the sacristy during the Mass. On another point, parishes have been encouraged not to display flags within the sanctuary itself in order to reserve that space for the altar, ambo, presidential chair, and tabernacle. While the origin of the display of the American flag in parishes in the United States began during the Second World War to invite prayers for those serving in the armed forces, that fact remains that when we gather each Sunday to pray, we do not gather as American Catholics, but as Roman Catholics, to pray for everyone including those serving in our country’s military. STANDING as the priest prays “Pray my brothers and sisters that our sacrifice may be acceptable…” after the gifts have been presented and prepared in order to pray “May the Lord accept the sacrifice…” is proper gesture that has been introduced to our Eucharistic celebration in this country. BOWING your head before receiving Holy Communion [both the Body and the Blood] is the proper gesture. Did you remember to bow before the minister gave you communion? -- During July and August homilies were given based on the significance of our celebration of the Eucharist [The Mass]. In addition, handouts were prepared regarding the changes in our Eucharist to take place the First Sunday of Advent. These changes are taking place world-wide as mandated by Rome. Handouts 1-6 are available in the church entrance. Handouts 7-8 are attached to this week’s bulletin. Persons wishing to have the complete set may contact Fr. Mark. Ministers are to pay close attention to the materials covered in these handouts. -- A COUPLE OF LITURGY REMINDERS: 1. We are to FAST one hour before we receive communion. This means no food, beverage, gum, etc. other than water and medication sixty-minutes before communion. 2. Please dress appropriately for our celebration. Our Eucharistic celebration is not a backyard cookout nor a beach party, but a sacred meal that suggests that we dress our best. 3. Thank you to everyone who comes early and stays late. It is nice to come early to pray and to remain until the final song is song. Late comers will still be seated and welcomed but they will have missed some important elements in our celebration. And remember, Judas was the first person to leave Mass early. 4. In the near future there will be some minor changes made to our celebration of the Eucharist. Most of these pertain to the presider only. No changes will be made until instructions from Bishop DiNardo issues them and describes how they will be implemented in our Diocese. [Note: other dioceses may implement the changes in different ways.] -- THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS are a response to the Good News. For that reason the actual celebration always takes place after the proclamation of the Word, especially the Gospel, and the homily. Notice anytime that before a person is baptized, confirmed, exchanges the vows of matrimony, is ordained, is anointed, or receives communion—the Word has been proclaimed and we respond through these sacramental signs. Even in the celebration of Reconciliation we confess our sins and are absolved after the Word is proclaimed. We see this clearly in the communal celebration [Form II]. In the more traditional celebration [Form I in the confessional] we have moved away from sharing the word, even a brief passage. The Rite does call for the Penitent and Priest to greet one another and for the priest to proclaim a passage of scripture, and then the Penitent confesses his/her sins. You may be delighted next time you confess your sins to hear the Word proclaimed. -- COMMUNION is to be received by those who are in union with the Roman Catholic Church. That is, by Roman Catholics who are free from mortal sin, by Roman Catholics who have not attempted invalid marriages, by Roman Catholics who believe in what we profess in the Nicene Creed. Just as non-Catholics are not permitted to receive communion in the Catholic Church, Catholics may not receive communion in non-Catholic churches because doing so signifies a level of unity that does not exist. In addition, only an ordained Catholic priest can offer Holy Communion. For more information you may check the “Guidelines for the Reception of Communion” found in the inside front cover of our Missal. -- HOLY WEEK is the holiest weeks of the year. During Holy Week we celebrate the holiest days of the year known as the TRIDUUM [Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday]. These are days that we should not plan any out of the normal activities. In fact, we should make plans to cease some of our normal activities in order that we can prepare and participate in the celebrations of the TRIDUUM. We need to take time out and respect these days as these are the HIGH FEAST DAYS OF THE LORD! -- GENUFLECTION is the action we take to honor the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. The proper genuflection is done with the right knee touching the ground as we face the tabernacle. -- THE EASTER VIGIL, the most important sacramental celebration of the year MUST begin after nightfall. On 19 April 2003 sunset is at 7:11 p.m. and nightfall begins 8:55 p.m. Thus, no one can begin this important celebration before 8:55 p.m. There should be no excuses [other than death, serious illness, or forced labor] to miss and/or skip this celebration. There is nothing more important on TV. There is no other event more important. -- THE CHOIR serves an important ministry of music leaders at our sacramental celebrations. Last Sunday, before practice they were commissioned for that sacred duty. Following their example we all sing God’s praises. -- MARRIAGE IS FOREVER. Divorce does not end the sacrament of marriage. Divorce only ends the civil legal aspects of marriage. Divorced persons are encouraged to utilize the Eucharist and Reconciliation. Only after an annulment are they free to court and marry. -- CANTORS are vital to the liturgy as they help the lead the singing of the people at every liturgy, even with the presence of the choir. At the last Liturgy Committee it was decided to invite people of the parish to become cantors [song leaders]. One person has already accepted the invitation. -- EUCHARISTIC PRAYER FOR MASSES FOR VARIOUS NEEDS AND OCCASIONS was approved by the United States Bishops in November 1994. This prayer, based on a prayer written in Switzerland, is an addition to other the nine Eucharistic Prayers, and has been available for use since October 1995. This prayer offers four themes: The Church on the Way to Unity, God Guides the Church on the Way of Salvation, Jesus-Way to the Father, and Jesus-the Compassion of God. Currently these prayers are not found in the missal as they are not as widely used as the other prayers. Over the coming weeks, these prayers will be used due to the richness of them and to offer another flavor to our liturgy. -- HOLY DAYS are to be treated like Sundays and thus fulfilling God’s Third Commandment to keep holy the Lord’s Day. Sundays and Holy Days are days of prayer, rest, and honoring the deeds of God. Currently there are five Holy Days in the United States: Mother of God [January 1], Assumption of Mary [August 15], All Saints [November 1], Immaculate Conception [December 8], and Christmas [December 25]. Attendance at the Eucharist should be great, both on Sundays and Holy Days, as we have at the Christmas Night Mass. Only when these days [except December 8 and 25] fall on a Saturday or Monday does the Obligation drop. It is great when we celebrate together on Sundays and Holy Days. -- LITURGICAL ACTIONS are important to our prayer. These actions include standing, kneeling, sitting, praying with raised hands, genuflecting and bowing. As we stand when the presider of the Eucharist stands for prayer, we bow like he when we profess the fact that Christ was born when we recite the Creed, and we hold up our hands in prayer when we pray the Lord’s Prayer. Our actions help us to pray and to honor our God. -- EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION may never distribute Holy Communion in the place of priests and deacons but their ministry are needed in order to facilitate the distribution of Holy Communion when the size of the congregation or there are not enough priests and deacons present. The Diocesan Bishop is responsible for the selection, preparation, and fulfillment of their liturgical role. We should be grateful for the exemplary ministry provided by so many Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion throughout the world. -- WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR RESPONDING AND SINGING AT MASS? Yes, everyone may not know all the songs we use and the final blessing can be tricky, even for the presider. But still, we should know how to respond to prayer. This includes with strong voices. Our voices should match and even exceed how we might respond to other events in life including sporting events. MISSAL/MUSIC ISSUES are in the pews to assist everyone to participate fully in our liturgical celebrations. Please use them to help sing and respond. With full voice and with jubilation we sing, respond, and praise our God. -- ENTHRONEMENT OF THE GOSPEL BOOK is being done as a way to honor the words of Christ. Just as Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament kept safe in the tabernacle, so is Christ present in his words found in the four gospels that are found in the Book of the Gospels. -- ACCLAMATION AFTER GOSPEL is another way we use to honor the Word of God that has just been proclaimed! -- LECTORS: please remember to pick up a Workbook in advance of the time you are scheduled to lector so you may prepare to proclaim God’s word well. Please remember to pause between the time you announce the reading and proclaim the actual passage and before you announce “The Word of the Lord.” Please pause between the reading and the psalm and the second reading to give people the opportunity to absorb the Word. Proclaim your reading with reverence. -- A WAY TO A STRONGER FAMILY FAITH: 1. Pray daily. 2. Learn more about your faith. 3. Practice the virtues. 4. Let go of bad habits. 5. Emulate the saints. 6. Worship regularly together. 7. Help people in need in specific, practical ways. [From Tom McGrath, “Act your way to a stronger family faith,” At Home with our Faith, August/September 2002] -- Why I go to Mass: 1. I need others to pray well. 2. The Mass enables me to pray with my whole body. 3. Besides talking to God, I need God to talk to me. 4. Being born again once didn’t quite do it. 5. The Mass helps me find the sacred in the ordinary. [From: Rev. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M., “Why I Go to Mass,” Catholic Update, August 2002.] -- THE COMMUNION CUP: Why is it that thousands of good, faithful Catholics march up the aisle at communion time, reverently receive the sacred bread, then turn and walk right past the sacred wine with nary a glance? At every Mass we hear Jesus’ words, “Take this, all of you, and eat it…and drink from it.” 1) Yes, you are not required to receive both bread and wine since you receive Christ fully in the bread. But receiving both bread and wine permits us to participate fully in Christ’s sacred meal as he wants us to. 2) The risk to health and hygiene from the cup is less than the risk of airborne infections. 3) Drinking from the cup says “yes we can” to Jesus’ question, “Can you drink from the cup that I drink from?” 4) Sharing from the cup is part of the good news of Jesus. [Based on “Communion Waiver,” US Catholic, May 2002] -- WEDDINGS AT SUNDAY EUCHARIST are possible just like we celebrate Baptisms, Confirmations, and First Eucharist at Sunday Eucharist. In fact it may be preferable to celebrate weddings at the Sunday Eucharist due to the declining number of priests and to allow more people to attend. Weddings at Sunday Eucharist would be easier to plan and would add not much more time to the Sunday celebration. These celebrations are becoming more common, even in our own Diocese. Such a celebration was celebrated at the Cathedral 11 May 2002 at the Saturday evening Eucharist. Many of the Hispanic, Laotian, and Vietnamese weddings are taking place during the Sunday Eucharist. Weddings at Sunday Eucharist permit more people to celebrate and to be reminded of the significance of the Sacrament of Matrimony. -- NEW DAILY LECTIONARIES have finally arrived! [The Sunday Lectionary (Volume I) arrived September 1998.] The new Lectionaries contain the new translation of the Bible undertaken by the US Bishops many years ago. Volume II is for daily readings Year I, Volume III is for daily readings Year II, and Volume IV is for ritual liturgies including Confirmation, Weddings, and Funerals. A new Roman Missal, the Sacramentary [the book of liturgical prayers used by the priest], will be issued later once it is approved by the Pope. -- SUNDAYS IN LENT Symbols abound for both catechumens and the faithful as our annual Lenten Season begins on February 13. For the faithful, a smudge of ash in the shape of a cross marks us as a people in need of conversion as we prepare to renew our baptismal promises at Easter. For the catechumens, the church judges their readiness on the testimony of their godparents and their election is marked with a rite of great solemnity, the focal point of the Church's concern for them. During this Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Advent, the enrollment of their names is a pledge of the fidelity of those chosen for initiation at Easter. The Lectionary for the first two Sundays of Lent takes us down a familiar path. Every Lent we hear the same stories on these first two weeks from the perspective of a different evangelist. This is the year of Matthew and he opens the door for us on two sides of the nature of Jesus Christ. We first see Jesus in his humanity alone and tempted by the power of evil. Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit and fortified by fasting and prayer, is able to withstand the challenge, even when Satan tries to deceive him by quoting the scriptures themselves. The second week tells the story of the Transfiguration. Like the other side of the same coin, Jesus' divinity is displayed as clearly as his humanity was last week. Peter, James, and John are privileged to experience an Old Testament riddle. No one can see the face of God and live; yet Moses and Elijah could speak with Yahweh face to face. Clearly, these two figures, representing the Law and the Prophets, give us a glimpse of Christ's divine nature. "Even now, says the Lord, turn to me." (Joel 2:12) As we prepare this Lent for baptism, or for the renewal of our baptismal covenant, let us hear the call of a life of Gospel conversion. We can begin anew, in prayer and fasting, to a life of mutual forgiveness and love of our enemies. We are called to holiness. In this conversion, we can turn and see the face of God. -- PARISH MINISTRY Why are so few of our Catholics involved in parish ministry? How many Catholics understand that serving others, all others, is a demand of their baptismal discipleship? . . . We need to . . . continue to encourage all baptized persons in the Church to be responsible ministers. This is how we live out our baptismal commitment. This challenge also challenges us to see our baptismal commitment as so much more than simply going to Mass on Sunday (as important as that is) and staying out of mortal sin; baptism invites us to enter into the paschal (dying/rising) journey of Jesus. … the activity of the Holy Spirit in the Church cannot be relegated to Pentecost Sunday. By nature we are a charismatic Church; that is, we are a Church blessed with the various gifts of the Holy Spirit for building up the body of Christ to full stature. Each of us is given by virtue of our baptism a unique gift for building up the body of Christ. Ministry isn’t a choice, then, but it is an expression of how we use the unique gift that the Spirit bestows on us for the sake of the community. Anything less than 100% ministerial involvement by those baptized is call for alarm. Baptism isn’t a ceremony to go through but ushers in a gospel life to be lived. Discipleship means servant service. . . . We must teach baptism . . . as an ongoing call to Christian discipleship. We must preach more on baptism, constantly reminding assembly members that baptism is the on going commitment to live the gospel. We must help all in the parish discern their unique gift given them at baptism for building up the body of Christ. We must help our parishioners understand that ministry isn’t something left to those perceived to have a particular “talent” or for religious enthusiasts. [Joyce Ann Zimmerman, “Editor Notes,” Liturgical Ministry. Summer 2001, 171-172.] -- WHERE ARE our many of our parishioners on Holy Days? Sundays and Holy Days are days called “obligatory” for participating in the celebration of the Eucharist because they are very important days for us to gather to celebrate. They are days of holy celebration and non-necessary work. While some parishioners need to attend Mass in other parishes, it seems there are many people who are skipping these days, especially Holy Days. This is a very dangerous practice. At the beginning of the year you were given a Catholic calendar and for every month of the year you are given a parish calendar that both note Holy Days. Times of celebration have been set with the attempt to get the most number of people present here. But still our attendance is very poor. “Forgetfulness” and “laziness” on these days will not serve you well on the day of judgment. Thank you to all who have gathered to celebrate with the parish family on these important dates. -- Pray inside/Visit outside. Rediscover a family heirloom of our faith: Pray before and after Mass. Rather than socializing inside the church, Catholics have traditionally saved their conversation for the outdoors so that others can pray undisturbed in the church. Many families who want to spend a few extra quiet moments with the Lord before and after Mass would be thrilled to see this tradition make a comeback. -- Confirmation’s gifts. The effect of the Sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. From this fact, confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace. It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!” It unites us more firmly to Christ. It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us. It renders our bond with the Church more perfect. It gives us special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never be ashamed of the Cross. [Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 1302-1303] -- GENUFLECTION is a sign of reverence for the presence of the Lord preserved in the Tabernacle in the form of bread. As we enter our pew or pass in front of the Tabernacle, we stop and genuflect with our right knee touching the floor. If we are not physically fit (poor knees, bad back, etc.) or carrying a sacred object (processional cross) a reverent bow is proper too. A curtsy is not a genuflection. Adults are models for children who will genuflect as their parents do. Pay special attention to the ministers when they enter and how and where they genuflect and follow their example. Another nice sign of respect is making the sign of the cross as one passes by a Catholic church, as many of you do as you pass our church each day! -- U.S. CATHOLICS are living more and more in a culture that is alien to the Gospel. They need to be very careful about how they related to American culture. Catholics are called to give, not to accumulate. . . . Pope John Paul II says that democracy is only as good as the virtues of its citizens. In fact, democracy can be tyrannical. He uses the phrase “the tyrant state” in a clear reference to the United States, which by law allows some 1.5 million unborn children to be destroyed by their parents, which imposes a deadly embargo on the people of Iraq, and which all to eagerly puts people to death by capital punishment. This is what the pope means by a “culture of death.” Catholics really aren’t “at home” here in the United States. Our true home is in the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. To the best of our ability we should try to keep the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day. Right now, Sunday as the Lord’s Day doesn’t exist anymore as it did when I was a kid. The late Cardinal John O’Connor of New York made a point a few years ago about soccer practice and games on Sunday morning. People weren’t coming to Mass and it was hard to get servers. O’Connor took a lot of grief for making that an issue, but you know what? It’s a real issue. If we don’t gather for liturgy, the Body of Christ is dispersed and a bunch of individual units disappear by absorption into U.S. culture. But when the Body comes together, that’s how it exists, and that’s why the Second Vatican Council says the most powerful liturgical symbol is the gathering of the assembly. People find that when they give over one day to the Sabbath, they find a kind of freedom that they didn’t think they had available to them. It creates the space to spend time reading the Bible or being with our families. [From “In the world but not of it, the editors interview Father Michael Baxter, C.S.C.” U.S. Catholic, August 2001.]