Pope Francis urges choirs and singers to help the community sing, not replace its voice

Pope Francis invites choirs and singers around the world to promote the Church community’s participation and prayer during liturgical celebrations, rather than replacing its voice.
Speaking at the 3rd International Meeting of Choirs, the Pope warned choirs against the temptation of letting their talent outshine the Church community, discouraging the people in the pews from actively participating during Mass.

“You are the musical animators of the whole congregation. Don’t take its place, depriving the people of God of the chance to sing with you and bear witness to the Church’s communal prayer.”
The Pope encouraged musicians and singers to study and prepare so that they can accompany the liturgy well, and not be tempted to draw attention to themselves: “Please, do not be a ‘prima donna!’” he said.

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Celebrating Advent and Preparing for Christmas 2018

Advent is fast approaching, and with it a new liturgical year – Year C.
“Advent has a twofold character: for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered; and likewise when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period for devout and expectant delight.”
(Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 39)
Have a look at the Seasons page of this site for links to resources for Advent and Christmas liturgies.
CAFOD’s interactive online Advent calendar has a reflection and prayer for every day of the season to help us reflect on issues of global justice as we prepare for the coming of Jesus.
In advance, we wish you every blessing during the forthcoming joyful season of stillness, waiting and expectation.

Society of St Gregory Summer School 2019

The Society of Saint Gregory summer school 2018 has just taken place, and here is advance notice of the 2019 summer school which will be held in our diocese
at Worth Abbey,
from Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th August 2019.
As 2019 marks the 90th anniversary of the society, the theme will be
Celebrating Jubilee.
The keynote speaker will be Paul Turner, with Martin Foster as Director of Liturgy and Martin Barry as Director of Music.
Watch this space and the SSG website for further details as they become available, but make a note in your diary now!

Liturgical Calendar 2019: Year C – the Year of Luke

The new liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent,
2nd December 2018.
The Calendar notes on the Liturgy Office website provide information about feasts and seasons and the Cycle of Prayer intentions.
Further details to follow from the Liturgy Office, including monthly pages for the liturgical year.
The Liturgy Office also explains why the Solemnity of St George will be celebrated on Tuesday 30th April 2019.

Also, see the Seasons page for information and guidance on celebrating the seasons and feasts of the liturgical year.

A useful resource is the UK edition of Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities Year C. It may be ordered from the Diocesan Bookshop.

Rite of Induction of a Parish Priest

At this time of year we pray especially for all those priests who are moving parish, that God will guide and bless them abundantly during this period of transition and in their ministry in new pastures. We pray too for all the parish communities involved.

For parish priests, secretaries, MCs, etc., here is the diocesan Rite of Induction of a Parish Priest – in Word format for you to include in an order of service – along with sample Intercessions. If you need help or have any questions, please contact us.

Mary, Mother of the Church

Earlier this year, Pope Francis decreed that the ancient devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Mother of the Church, be inserted into the Roman Calendar. The liturgical celebration, B. Mariæ Virginis, Ecclesiæ Matris, will be celebrated annually as a Memorial on the day after Pentecost.

Liturgical information is available on the Liturgy Office site – already given to many of you in advance of today’s celebration, but provided on this page for future reference as well.

Mass Proper: Votive Masses: Our Lady, Mother of the Church (RM p.1411)
Proper Preface: Mary, Model and Mother of the Church
Office: (Translation to be prepared by ICEL)
Lectionary: (The first reading(s) is taken from the Votive Mass for Mary, Mother of the Church, The remaining texts are new to the Lectionary and a translation of the necessary parts will be prepared by ICEL.)
Votive Mass of Mary Mary Mother of the Church (Lectionary III, p.841) might be used until the new texts are available.

Season of Lent

Check the Lent section of the Seasons page for resources to help with liturgy planning during Lent. The Season of Lent leaflet from the Liturgy Office is very useful as a starting point and source of background information.

“The annual observance of Lent is the special season for the ascent to the holy mountain of Easter. Through its twofold themes of repentance and baptism, the season of Lent disposes both the catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. Catechumens are led to the sacraments of initiation by means of the rite of election, the scrutinies, and catechesis. The faithful, listening more intently to the word of God and devoting themselves to prayer, are prepared through a spirit of repentance to renew their baptismal promises.”
(Ceremonial of Bishops, 249)

How to celebrate the Scrutinies without scaring the Catechumens! (From Team RCIA)

“How do we explain the scrutinies to the catechumens without scaring them?” That was a question Team RCIA received recently.
The structure and beautiful prayers of the rite don’t seem frightening, but perhaps we’re put off by the titles scrutiny and exorcism, which have been handed on to us from the ancient catechumenate of the third and fourth centuries.
Read more about this from Team RCIA, an article with historical background from Paul Turner, and another reflection on the Scrutinies.
And see the RCIA section of the Rites page for more links.

Psalm for 1st Sunday of Lent

For those of you who use Paul Inwood’s setting of Psalm 24 (25), “Remember, remember your mercy Lord”, here is an alternative refrain to reflect the Psalm response in the Lectionary for the 1st Sunday of Lent, Year B.
Use it in conjunction with the existing verses as found in Laudate, Celebration Hymnal and other resources.

Rite of Sending for Election

Here are texts from the RCIA for a parish celebration for Sending Catechumens for Election and Candidates for Recognition by the Bishop, ahead of the Rite of Election in Arundel Cathedral (Saturday 17th February at 2.30pm).

On the Rites page, you can find RCIA resources for Lent, including texts for celebrating the Scrutinies (on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent).