Lovely Reception Event
Last Friday, we had our official reception event for all the priests, hosted by St. Joseph’s in Ferndale. I have heard from people that it was really inspiring to see all four priests together around the same altar, and to celebrate Mass with Catholic from across the county. I agree! That sense of unity – of being part of something bigger together – is very much the end goal of Partners in the Gospel. Thank you for everyone who helped and attended.
Weekly Priest Meetings
Now that we have all four priests in the county, we have started having weekly priest meetings on Fridays. We know that the ability to act together as a county must be modeled at the top, so the priests are going to strive to be in constant communication with each other. We really want to avoid situations where sacristans and liturgical ministers, faith formation folks, and everyone else are given different instructions every weekend by different priests. We appreciate your patience with us as we slowly work towards unity ourselves.
Kneeling Practices
One thing that came up during our first priest meeting was that we are seeing an inconsistency about when people kneel during the Mass. Thankfully, the Mass instructions are very clear about this.
GIRM 43. The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance Chant, or while the Priest approaches the altar, until the end of the Collect; for the Alleluia Chant before the Gospel; while the Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the Universal Prayer; and from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the Prayer over the Offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated here below.
The faithful should sit, on the other hand, during the readings before the Gospel and the Responsorial Psalm and for the Homily and during the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory; and, if appropriate, they may sit or kneel during the period of sacred silence after Communion.
In the Dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by ill health, or for reasons of lack of space, of the large number of people present, or for another reasonable cause. However, those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the Priest genuflects after the Consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.
Some of you may remember that Archbishop Brunnett took the “unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise” option, and had everyone in the Archdiocese stand after the Lamb of God, and Archbishop Sartain did not change the practice during his time. Archbishop Etienne, however, returned us to the standard U.S. practice beginning in Advent 2020. We want to be obedient to the Church and to the Archbishop, so please kneel after the “Holy Holy Holy” and after the “Lamb of God”.
Fr. Moore 