In the near future, area Catholics will be hearing more about two major initiatives that will affect their parishes – one Archdiocesan and one Universal. Both of these, albeit on different levels, will have profound effects on the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist.
Catholics Come Home is an Archdiocesan initiative that will include the airing of numerous, Catholic themed commercials during prime time in the Chicagoland area at the end of this year. These commercials are aimed at those Catholics who, for whatever reason, have stopped practicing their faith and will encourage them to “come home.” The Archdiocesan Office for Evangelization will soon have information and resources for parishes in regard to this initiative.
Many Catholics who have stopped the practice of their faith will see these commercials and, through the Spirit, be prompted to call a nearby parish. Others will not necessarily call a parish; he or she will simply show up on Sunday, unannounced.
Stop reading, right now, and ask yourself: If this happens at your parish, what will that person find? What will he or she experience on a Sunday at your parish?
NOW is a time to consider again, the Liturgical Life of your parish. NOW is a time to take a good, critical look at the way your parish enters into and celebrates the mysteries of our faith, most especially the Eucharist. NOW is a time to consider the various elements of the Church’s liturgy – the environment for worship, the music that helps us to pray, the state of the liturgical ministries that contribute so much to the liturgy, the state of preaching, the way your parish does or does not live daily life nourished and strengthened by the liturgy!
NOW is an excellent time to Get Back to the Basics!
The second initiative that will profoundly affect the liturgical life of every parish is the revised translation of the Mass texts – the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. Although this is not as near in the future as the Catholics Come Home initiative, it is, nonetheless, going to happen in the next couple of years.
However, we can begin remote preparation now – this is an excellent opportunity for every Catholic to deepen his or her understanding of and appreciation for the richness and the power of the Church’s liturgy. What better way to begin preparing for the revised Roman Missal?
NOW is a time for parishes to renew the commitment to celebrating the Church’s liturgy in the very best way possible. NOW is a time to once again recall our fundamental belief in the centrality of the Eucharist to our lives of faith!
NOW is an excellent time to Get Back to the Basics!
Consider a series on the basics of Catholic liturgy in your parish. Invite speakers to come and lead an evening on continued formation. Host an evening or Saturday morning of reflection for liturgical ministers and invite all parishioners. Form a study / reflection group using a Papal Encyclical on the Liturgy (e.g. Dies Domini, from John Paul II or Sacramentum Caritatis, from Benedict XVI) - ODW has a fine Study Guide for Dies Domini - www.odw.org. Register for one of the many offerings at the Festival of Faith scheduled for this October. Now is an excellent time!