2. Today We Will
– Review the parish vision and implementation strategies
– Identify some key characteristics for effective liturgical
ministry
– Review Mass procedures
11. Gathering Before Mass
– Preparation of the church
– Hospitality
– Personal prayer
– Immediate preparation of
ministers
– Welcome by commentator
12. Gathering Before Mass
– Preparation of the
church
– Hospitality
– Personal prayer
– Immediate preparation of
ministers
– Welcome by commentator
13. The Altar
– The altar is clear before
Mass – it is prepared at
the Liturgy of the Eucharist
– Items ready at the
credence table
– Only the Book of Gospels
if necessary
14. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
It is most desirable that the faithful
receive the Lord’s Body from hosts
consecrated at the same Mass
15. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
It is most desirable that the faithful
receive the Lord’s Body from hosts
consecrated at the same Mass
It is most desirable that the faithful, just as the priest himself is
bound to do, receive the Lord’s Body from hosts consecrated at
the same Mass and that, in the instances when it is permitted,
they partake of the chalice, so that even by means of the signs
Communion will stand out more clearly as a participation in the
sacrifice actually being celebrated.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 85
16. The Offerings Table
– One large paten with
enough hosts for the whole
assembly
– One cruet with enough
wine for the whole
assembly
– Everything else at the
credence table
17. Gathering Before Mass
– Preparation of the church
– Hospitality
– Personal prayer
– Immediate preparation of
ministers
– Welcome by commentator
18. Book of the Gospels
– Only carried in procession
by the reader when it will
be used by the priest
during Mass
– Neither Fr John or
Fr Anthony use the Book
of the Gospels
19. Registration
– Signing up on the
whiteboard in the Parish
Centre before Mass is
essential
– When Fr John or
Fr Anthony is celebrating
Mass, wardens need to
choose parishioners who
can safely manage the
sanctuary steps
Offertory
20. Gathering Before Mass
– Preparation of the church
– Hospitality
– Personal prayer
– Immediate preparation of
ministers
– Welcome by commentator
21. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
Even before the celebration itself, it is
a praiseworthy practice for silence to
be observed
22. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
Even before the celebration itself, it is
a praiseworthy practice for silence to
be observed
Even before the celebration itself, it is a praiseworthy practice
for silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the
vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose
themselves to carry out the sacred celebration in a devout and
fitting manner.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 45 (part)
24. The Introductory Rites
– Entrance Procession and
Hymn
– Sign of the Cross
– Greeting
– Penitential Act
– Gloria
– Collect Prayer
25. The Introductory Rites
– Entrance Procession and
Hymn
– Sign of the Cross
– Greeting
– Penitential Act
– Gloria
– Collect Prayer
26. Entrance Hymn
– Needs to:
- accompany the procession
- continue for long enough to
give the presider time to be
ready at the chair and
participate in some of the
hymn
- give the assembly enough
time to enter into the
celebration
28. The Liturgy of the Word
– First Reading
– Responsorial Psalm
– Second Reading
– Acclamation Before the
Gospel
– Gospel
– Homily
– First Collection
29. The Liturgy of the Word
– Profession of Faith
– Prayer of the Faithful
30. The Readings
FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Isaiah 53:10-11
If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs and have long life.
The Lord has been pleased to crush his servant with suffering.
If he offers his life in atonement,
he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life
and through him what the Lord wishes will be done.
His soul's anguish over
he shall see the light and be content.
By his sufferings shall my servant justify many,
taking their faults on himself.
This is the word of the Lord.
32. Introduction to the
Lectionary for Mass
The dialogue between
God and his people demands short
intervals of silence
The liturgy of the word must be celebrated in a way that fosters
meditation; clearly, any sort of haste that hinders recollection
must be avoided. The dialogue between God and his people
taking place through the Holy Spirit demands short intervals of
silence, suited to the assembled congregation, as an opportunity
to take the word of God to heart and to prepare a response to it
in prayer.
Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, no. 28
33. Silence
– Between the First Reading and Responsorial Psalm (give
the reader time to take their seat at least)
– The Acclamation Before the Gospel only starts when the
priest stands up
– The First Collection only starts when the priest sits down
after the homily
35. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
– Second Collection
– Offertory Procession
– Prayer Over the Offerings
– Eucharistic Prayer
– Lord’s Prayer
– Rite of Peace
– Fraction
36. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
– Communion
– Silent Prayer or Hymn of
Praise
– Prayer After Communion
37. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
– Second Collection
– Offertory Procession
– Prayer Over the Offerings
– Eucharistic Prayer
– Lord’s Prayer
– Rite of Peace
– Fraction
38. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
It is most desirable that the faithful
receive the Lord’s Body from hosts
consecrated at the same Mass
39. Communion
– At Sunday Masses,
Communion that has been
reserved in the tabernacle
is not distributed to the
assembly
40. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
– Communion
– Silent Prayer or Hymn of
Praise
– Prayer After Communion
41. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
These ministers should not approach
the altar
before the priest has
received Communion
42. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
These ministers should not approach
the altar
before the priest has
received Communion
These [extraordinary] ministers [of Holy Communion] should not
approach the altar before the priest has received Communion,
and they are always to receive from the hands of the Priest
Celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy
Eucharist for distribution to the faithful.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no.162 (part)
44. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
Holy Communion has a fuller form as
a sign when it takes place under both
kinds
45. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
Holy Communion has a fuller form as
a sign when it takes place under both
kinds
Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it takes place
under both kinds…
… [Sacred pastors] should instruct the Christian faithful that the
Catholic faith teaches that Christ, whole and entire, and the true
Sacrament, is received even under only one species, and hence
that as regards the resulting fruits, those who receive under one
species are not deprived of any grace that is necessary for
salvation.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 281-282 (part)
46. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
While the Priest is
receiving the Sacrament, the
Communion Chant is begun
47. General Instruction of
the Roman Missal
While the Priest is
receiving the Sacrament, the
Communion Chant is begun
While the Priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion
Chant is begun, its purpose being to express the spiritual union
of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to
show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the
‘communitarian’ character of the procession to receive the
Eucharist. The singing is prolonged for as long as the
Sacrament is being administered to the faithful. However, if
there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion Chant
should be ended in a timely manner.
Care should be taken that singers, too, can receive Communion
with ease.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 86
48. Communion Hymn
– Starts (at least
instrumentally) as the
priest receives communion
– Ends as the last of the
assembly receive
communion
49. Communion Hymn
– Extraordinary ministers
must wait and distribute
communion to music and
media ministers once they
have finished
50. After Communion
– Everything is neatly left on
the credence table for
purification after Mass
– Consecrated wine must
remain in the chalice it was
distributed in
This year, we have asked all ministers to come together for a single formation workshop. In years past, we have received feedback from ministers who have been concerned that a consistent message about our practices at Sunday Mass is communicated to everyone. Especially as some of our practices have varied a little in the past year, we thought it was timely to bring everyone together.
For several years, our parish has been engaged in a process of pastoral planning and implementation to help us all more fully realise the mission of Christ here in Wentworthville. To guide us, led by our parish pastoral council, we collectively discerned a vision for our community.
Good liturgy, led by well formed and trained ministers such as yourselves, will help people feel welcome and that they can participate fully, consciously and actively in the celebration.
Every ministry requires ministers to have some specific skills in order to do it well. But across all liturgical ministers, We propose that there are three qualities that ensure that ministers truly lead the assembly in prayer.
We must remember that, first and foremost, we are here to pray. We are participants in the liturgical assembly first, and it is from that worshipping assembly that we are called to a particular role of service. While we don’t engage in ministry in order to put ourselves on show, we set the tone for the celebration by our engagement in prayer.
When we minister, we serve God, the community, and the liturgy itself. Each of us needs to be attentive, certainly, to the “routines” or patterns of the ritual, but there’s more to it than that. We need to be attentive to the broader shape of the liturgy – its purpose and the way ritual works and has its effect on us. Finally, we need to be attentive to what’s happening at this liturgy at this time. Our duty to serve means we can’t tune out to the people and action around us.
Which brings us to the need to be responsive. If we are attentive, then we can respond prayerfully to the different variables that can arise during the celebration. If we are familiar with the ritual pattern and shape, then when we do see something not going to the usual plan, then we can find an effective way of continuing the celebration without disruption.
With all of this in mind, let us look more closely at the patterns of how we celebrate Sunday Mass here at Wentworthville. It is important that we know these patterns as ministers, not for the sake of following a procedure or putting on a performance, but because ritual behaviour is essential to ensuring people can participate fully, consciously and actively. When all of us who are participating are comfortable with the ritual pattern, our minds and hearts are not preoccupied by thinking about what will happen next, but instead go deeper into prayer and thus an encounter with God.
Before Mass begins, the people of God gather for the celebration.
Here at Wentworthville, there are a number of things happening that help us all to prepare for Mass.
A considerable amount of the preparation work is done by sacristans, and by servers and others who may assist with particular tasks.
We now have guidelines available for sacristans, as well as a checklist for the preparation of the church for a typical Sunday Mass. Those preparing the church for Mass should refer to these documents for more detail.
At Mass, we as a Church are nourished at both the table of God’s word, and the table of the Lord. As we celebrate the Liturgy of the Word before the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we keep the altar clear before Mass, as the altar’s place as a focal point for the celebration will come later. Everything that will be needed later at the altar is arranged at the credence table, ready for the altar to be prepared at the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Book of Gospels is placed on the altar before Mass IF it will be used by the priest to proclaim the Gospel during Mass AND the reader cannot carry it in the Entrance Procession.
It is through the symbols we use in liturgy, like bread and wine, that Christ’s presence and grace is manifested, and that our beliefs and faith become a tangible reality.
The symbols of bread and wine are particularly central to our Sunday Eucharistic celebration.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal – the introduction to the missal, which outlines how Mass is to be celebrated and why – emphasises the importance of the symbols of bread and wine by stating that we should ideally eat of the Eucharist that is consecrated at this particular Mass that we are participating in, and not from a previous Mass.
Each ministry, in its own way, should involve some form of personal preparation before we come to Mass. Once we are here, then, there are things we need to do in order to be ready to serve at this celebration.
Ministers of the Word need to be familiar with the ritual books and texts that they will be using. The use of the Book of the Gospels is dependent on the priest who is proclaiming the Gospel.
Fr Anthony finds the book too heavy and Fr John needs the large print on his iPad, so neither of them use the Book of the Gospels. As such, it’s also not processed into the Church at the beginning of Mass.
In our parish, registering on the whiteboard in the narthex before Mass is essential for ensuring that we have the ministers we should have. For Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, it can be disappointing to have signed up but not actually serve at communion time, because others who have not signed up then come forward and leave us with too many communion ministers.
Wardens before Mass also assist with finding different people each week for the offertory procession. Frs John and Anthony need the gifts to be brought to them at the altar, so the people chosen need to be able to confidently and safely manage the sanctuary steps.
While we are preparing for Mass in our ministerial roles, the rest of the assembly are preparing for Mass through their own personal prayer.
The GIRM reminds us that a period of silent prayer before Mass is an important way for ALL OF US to prepare for the celebration of Mass. In addition, it is important that as ministers, when the commentator begins the welcome to the Mass, that we are ready and focused on beginning Mass by giving our attention to the commentator.
After all of this, Mass then begins with the Introductory Rites.
The Entrance Procession and Hymn are the first ritual within the celebration of Mass itself. They have an important role of opening the celebration as a unified act of Christ and his Church.
How the Entrance Hymn is led, therefore, is important in reflecting this. There is more to his hymn than filling in some time while the procession takes place.
We then listen to God speaking to us through the Scriptures in the Liturgy of the Word.
The Liturgy of the Word is marked by rituals that reflect dialogue – God’s speaking to us, and our response.
Of course, at some Sunday Masses, the Profession of Faith is preceded by celebrating the Introductory Rites of Baptism for children.
When proclaiming the reading, the words in italics are not read. Also, we should conclude the reading with “The word of the Lord”, rather than “This is the word of the Lord.”
If God speaks to us in the Liturgy of the Word, then it’s important that we listen. Silence is crucial to making space in our minds and hearts to listen to God.
It should also be a noticeable characteristic of our liturgy as a Carmelite family parish, given that silence and contemplation are integral to the Carmelite charism.
Silence also forms part of our response to God’s word. So we ask for three particular points of silence for the benefit of the whole community. These are after each reading and the homily.
The Mass then reaches its high point in the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
While many of the rituals within the Liturgy of the Eucharistic are largely led by the priest himself, the Fraction is one area where we have sought to improve our ritual practice recently.
Earlier, when talking about the preparations for Mass, we spoke about the importance of us all receiving the Eucharist which has been consecrated through our prayers at this time.
While the acolyte or senior server may need to get the ciborium from the tabernacle to reserve any Eucharist that remains after communion, on Sundays we don’t use hosts from the tabernacle for communion. While this may mean that the amount of Eucharist reserved in the tabernacle builds up over the course of the Sunday Masses, these hosts can be used through the week at the morning Masses.
We’d like to bring to your attention a few aspects of our practice at communion time that need some refinement.
Firstly…
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal articulates to us that the priest, as the presider of the celebration of the Eucharist, should be the first to receive communion. While the reality is that different priests may choose to distribute communion to the extraordinary ministers at different times, this does not prevent us from observing this expectation.
Consequently, extraordinary ministers must be attentive and watch when the priest receives communion. There have been many occasions when extraordinary ministers have received communion the moment it has been given to them, without realising that the priest has not yet received communion himself.
Secondly,
In Wentworthville, we have a now long-held and admirable practice of offering communion to all under the forms of both bread and wine at every Mass. This helps us all to richly experience the symbolism of the Eucharist as Christ commanded the disciples: to take and eat, and to take and drink.
Some ministers have commented that it appears to them that some extraordinary ministers will choose to only distribute communion under the form of bread. It may be the case that some ministers may need to do this because of physical restrictions, or because they are taking communion to the choir gallery. In all other cases, extraordinary ministers must distribute communion under the form that they are given by the priest. Otherwise, we send a message that one form of the Eucharist is more or less important than the other, which is completely contradictory to our Catholic beliefs.
Thirdly,
This statement highlights three aspects of our practice that we need to be mindful of when we celebrate Communion, namely when the communion hymn starts, when it should end, and the importance of ensuring that music and media ministers are able to receive communion reverently and without disruption to their ministry.
Managing the start and conclusion of the playing and singing of the communion hymn requires attention and responsiveness on the part of the music ministers. It will vary based on the priest celebrating Mass and their preparation of communion at the altar, the length of the hymn, as well as the size of the assembly at that particular Mass. With practise, however, it is possible to manage this timing successfully on most occasions.
Finishing the communion hymn promptly is also important for ensuring the extraordinary ministers can serve music ministers effectively by distributing communion without unduly prolonging the clearing of the altar after communion.
CHOIR GALLERY
If there is a trained and commissioned extraordinary minister with the music ministers, then that minister should come forward to the sanctuary at the usual time and take communion to the choir gallery, then wait to distribute communion once the hymn has concluded. Otherwise, an extraordinary minister goes to the choir gallery towards the end of the communion procession. Never is the Blessed Sacrament to be left in the choir gallery for others to distribute or take for themselves.
MEDIA MINISTERS AND MUSIC AREA NEAR THE SANCTUARY
The best time to give communion is immediately at the end of the communion of the assembly.
Any vessel that contains consecrated wine should be covered with a pall or with the purificator. Never should consecrated wine – the blood of Christ – be poured from one chalice to another. As with how we minister communion to the music ministers, it is important that we are seen by the assembly to treat the Eucharist with the respect that it deserves.
Having then been nourished the table of God’s word, and the table of the Eucharist, we are sent forth to continue to live the mission of Christ through the Concluding Rites.
As part of the concluding rites of the Mass, we also send forth those extraordinary ministers who are taking communion to the sick and housebound. This ritual helps to remind the assembly of those parishioners who cannot be with us for Mass, and encourages them to keep the sick in their prayers.
While the Concluding Rites send us forth to be Christ to the world, not all of us rush out the door the first chance we get!
Many of us want some time to pray or catch up with other members of our community.
There are also some jobs still to do, to ensure that everything in the church is left safe, secure, and ready for the next Mass, whether that’s in half an hour, or not until the next day.
Part of the role of the extraordinary minister is to assist with the clearing away of the credence table after Mass. It is particularly important that this happens promptly when another Mass is soon to follow, such as after 9:00 am Mass on Sundays.
Vessels need to be purified first – which means ensuring that any remaining Blessed Sacrament is consumed, and the vessel rinsed with water, which is also consumed.
After this, the vessels are very gently washed, dried, and stored in the sacristy ready for the next Mass.
Each Mass has people who are familiar with the task and can help show you how it is done if you haven’t done it before.
Both the tabernacle and Marian Shrine are popular places for personal prayer after Mass.
Often there is a lot of movement of ministers back and forth through the group of people praying at the shrine. Sometimes ministers stop in the midst of them and have conversations. As we have asked parishioners to not pray at the shrine during Mass, we need to provide a welcoming and prayerful environment at the shrine after Mass by avoiding the area. Normally the shrine is clear of people within about five minutes.
