At the start of our new liturgical year, Sunday, November 27, 2011, we will begin to use a new translation of the Roman Missal (formerly called the Sacramentary). This third edition of the Missal was approved by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000, and follows the original directive of translating the liturgical texts: "The vernacular ... ought to be within the grasp of all ... the language should always be worthy of the noble realities it signifies, set apart from the everyday speech of the street and the marketplace, so that it will affect the spirit and enkindle the heart with love of God". The new texts provide a more literal and authentic translation from Latin to the English language, and will be implemented throughout the world, wherever English is used as a liturgical language in the Roman Catholic Mass.
As a way of introducing these changes, we have written and placed a series of articles in the parish bulletin that detail and explain the changes in the Mass responses and prayers. These weekly inserts, which will begin on September 18, 2011, are provided to you as a way of coming to a greater understanding of our Catholic liturgy, become familiar with the changes, and to help all of us pray at our best.
Each week's article, titled "Welcoming the New Texts of the Mass", may be accessed by opening the indicated link below. They will be made available to you as they are issued for each Sunday. (Click on the title below)
| September 18, 2011 | 1. An Introduction to the Changes |
| September 25, 2011 | 2. Why the New Translation? |
| October 2, 2011 | 3. Introductory Rites |
| October 9, 2011 | 4. Introductory Rites - The Gloria |
| October 23, 2011 | 5. The Creed - Part I |
| October 30, 2011 | 6. The Creed - Part II |
| November 6, 2011 | 7. The Eucharistic Prayer |
| November 13, 2011 | |
| November 20, 2011 | 9. Questions and Comments |