Changes are inevitable. Whether we like it or not, we have to accept and embrace them for they are an integral part of life. After all, changes are necessary in life in order for us to grow and develop, and to move on in life for the better. Changes are what make life meaningful, and purposeful. Our physical and spiritual life, therefore, is a series of metamorphosis and transformation.
Originally printed in Latin in 1474, the "Missale Romanum" or Roman Missal is the one red book, the combined Sacramentary and the Lectionary for Mass, often used by the priest/pastor during the celebration of the Mass. It contains collection of prayers, sacred/gospel songs or chants, and instructions or rubrics to celebrate the Mass. Through the years, and with the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the missal has undergone revisions, transformations, and texts translations into various dialects/vernaculars, and languages, notably English. It became two separate books: the Sacramentary which consists of prayers, chants, and instructions or rubrics in the celebration of the Mass, and the Lectionary for Mass (the four volumes of Sacred Scripture). In 1969, the Roman Missal was first translated into English. Then, it was revised in 1975. In 2001, the liturgical commission in Rome, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, produced a document "Liturgiam Authenticum," which called for the literal translation of the original Latin texts into English and other languages and/or dialects/vernaculars. Commissioned group of Bible scholars, poets, and theologians gathered together and worked for the Missal's third English translation. On April 30, 2010, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments approved and announced "recognitio" of the third English translation. Hence, as widely-publicized in Catholic churches around the United States and other English-speaking countries, the new Roman Missal (English) translation texts will be implemented the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. (For more information about the new Roman Missal, please log on to www.RevisedRomanMissal.org.)
Yesterday, Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 (the solemn observance of Flag Day in the United States), my wife Freny and I participated in the Cluster Parishes Liturgical Ministers Reception at the (Catholic) Church of Resurrection in Portsmouth, Virginia, at seven in the afternoon/evening. Over one hundred people showed up or gathered together in the church. As parishioners and volunteer liturgical ministers (and also me being a volunteer Lector) of St. Paul's, we're happy and delighted to see/meet again our fellow liturgical ministers and old and new friends from other clustered parishes. Mr. Jeff Foster, Cluster Parishes Coordinator, welcomed us participants and discussed briefly about the church event. Rev. Father David Cupps, pastor of the four clustered parishes of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Church of Holy Angels, Church of Resurrection, all in Portsmouth, and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chesapeake), welcomed and thanked us all for our presence and participation. Then, began the celebration with our opening song of faith (accompanied on the piano by Mr. Nick Nespoli, St. Paul's pastoral musician) followed by our sign of the cross. Fr. Cupps read the Gospel which spoke about all of us, called to be the Salt and Light of the world. Cecelia Brown, a parishioner and volunteer Lector and Extraordinary Minister for Holy Communion at St. Paul's, read the Prayer of the Faithful. We participants had the opportunity to practice answering the new response to greetings by the priest/pastor when he says, "the Lord be with you..." as "And with your spirit." The reply currently used by all faithful is "And also with you" which will be used until Nov. 27, 2011. Yes, "And with your spirit" will be our new response. Well, we'll get used to it, as expected. It's just a matter of time and constant practice until we get comfortable to the changes in the Roman Missal. Then, Mr. Nespoli accompanied us to the singing of "This is the Light of Mine" in the end.
To conclude the celebration, we had a simple reception in the church's multi-purpose hall where we had fellowship, and shared food prepared by a number of volunteer parishioners of the four clustered parishes. Likewise, we had the opportunity to listen to John, a parishioner of St. Paul's, explaining or discussing, via Power Point presentation, about the booklet "Understanding the Revised Mass Texts," Second Edition, 2010, (written by Fr. Paul Turner, a diocesan priest of Kansas City). We went over the parts of the Mass, and the prayers ( like the new or revised translation texts). There was also Q (question) and A (answer) session following the presentation. Some of the clustered parishioners fielded their questions about the new Roman Missal texts revision/translation. Once in a while, during the course of the session, Fr. Cupps and Mr. Foster alternately stepped in to answer/clarify some questions posed by parishioners.
It was almost 9 pm when the successful gathering was over. Admittedly, we had a good time. Delighted and thankful I was to see and talk to our longtime friend Regina (a parishioner of Church of Holy Angels) whom we haven't seen for a while. Thanks to God, she looks great at her age!
Yes, we learned something new from the reception/gathering. We do hope and pray that we continue to remain actively involved in our parish, and that we can always reach out and make a difference in others, for the love of Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour. Amen.
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