A page proof from the new edition of the Roman Missal.

Parishes gearing up for launch of new Missal

By 
  • June 29, 2011

TORONTO - Toronto Catholic parishioners will be getting a sneak peek at the new Roman Missal in their parishes as early as this summer.

A number of parishes will be preparing their flocks for the third edition of the Roman Missal which is set to launch in Canada on Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent.  

Msgr. Brad Massman, pastor of St. Paul’s Basilica, said the parish’s musicians are already taking courses in preparation for the new Missal. And parishioners will receive more information this summer through parish announcements.

“We’re going to talk to people about the new Missal. It’s a good time to refresh all of us as far as the Mass is concerned,” said Massman.

According to the new Missal, the structure and order of the Mass will not change, but there will be new texts for prayers and new observances for saints in the Church calendar. Other additions include a Mass in thanksgiving for the gift of human life and an extended vigil for Pentecost.

An example of some changes to the people’s responses include: “And also with you” will be replaced with “And with your spirit,” in keeping with a more faithful translation to the original Latin text. Also, Catholics will return to the Nicene Creed which is already in use in some Toronto parishes.

“(On) the creed, it’s not only introducing changes but to try to get people to live more vigourously and respond. There are a lot of countries where you can’t say I believe in God,” Massman said.

Meanwhile, St. Michael’s Cathedral is in the planning stages of introducing the new Missal gradually, says rector Fr. Michael Busch. Busch said parishioners will be informed about the new responses on Sept. 25, with the help of the choirs of St. Michael’s Choir School. Parishioners will also have access to a “pew card” of the new responses to be distributed by the archdiocese, Busch said.

As an additional resource, parishioners can turn to the “Celebrate and Song” produced by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. It contains the new texts of prayers and 40 hymns not found in the Catholic Book of Worship III. The CBW will still be used during Mass.

The Toronto archdiocese has set up a web site with information about the new Roman Missal. For more information, see www.archtoronto.org/romanmissal.

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