OFFICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP

MAY 2014

NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS

FOR THE OFFICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP

Website:	www.odwphiladelphia.org

Contact information for the Office for Divine Worship

Phone:	215-587-3537

Email:	Worship@adphila.org

Reverend Gerald Dennis Gill, Director

fr.dgill@archphila.org

Contact information for the Office for Liturgical Music

Phone:	215-587-3696

Email:	jromeri@archphila.org

Dr. John A. Romeri, Director of Liturgical Music

Mrs. Mary Ann Johnson, Program Coordinator and Secretary

majohnson@archphila.org

LITURGICAL CALENDAR ITEMS

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Sunday, May 11, 2014

The American observance of Mother’s Day should in no way detract from this Sunday’s celebration of Easter. A petition in the Prayer of the Faithful and the possible use of the Prayer over the People found in the Book of Blessings, nos. 1724-1728, provides for a suitable liturgical inclusion of Mother’s Day.

Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. A petition in the Universal Prayer for vocations to Holy Orders and the Consecrated Life is fitting today.

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is a Holy Day of Obligation.

THE EASTER SEASON, DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED MOTHER AND THE MONTH OF MAY

May is a traditional time to give special honor to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially with May Processions and May Crownings. When these processions and crownings are combined with the celebration of Mass, it is more fitting for them to precede the celebration of Mass or follow the Communion Rite of the Mass. On the Sundays of Easter, the celebration of Easter is primary when there are devotions in honor of the Blessed Mother.

LOOKING AHEAD AT LITURGICAL CALENDAR ITEMS IN 2014

SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS

Saturday, November 1, 2014

All Saints Day is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year.

Weddings can be celebrated during Mass on the Solemnity of All Saints. The liturgical music, Mass formula and Lectionary texts are those of the Solemnity of All Saints. The Rite of Marriage is celebrated as usual following the homily. The Nuptial Blessing takes place as usual. The Solemn Blessing from the Rite of Marriage may be used instead of the Solemn Blessing for the Solemnity of All Saints.

CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

The Office for Divine Worship has the responsibility for direction, guidance and support of pastors and those who collaborate with them in the formation of adults for Christian Initiation. Additional information on Christian Initiation for adults can be found on the website for the Office for Divine Worship, under the heading Christian Initiation.

RECEPTION OF BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS (CANDIDATES)

INTO THE FULL COMMUNION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults allows for people baptized in another Church or ecclesial community, although never treated as catechumens, to benefit from the doctrinal and spiritual formation for the unbaptized. Additionally, the use of the Combined Rites for catechumens and candidates gives the candidates an important sense of the Sacred Liturgy and participation with the Church leading to Confirmation and Communion. However, many candidates do not require a full program parallel to the catechumenate. Therefore, the directives provided in the US National Statutes for the Catechumenate for reception into full communion (see nos. 30-37) should be increasingly observed.

The rite for the Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church is found in the ritual book, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (see RCIA, nos. 473-504). Preparation and celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation for baptized non-Catholics are an essential element of their Reception (See RCIA, no. 482).

Reception of Candidates and Valid Baptism and Conditional Baptism

All non-Catholic Christians seeking full communion must be validly baptized. The following norm is to be observed in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with regard to the reception of candidates into full communion with the Catholic Church:

Baptism is the doorway to all of the Sacraments. Therefore, the sacred minister needs moral certitude that a person was baptized with the Trinitarian formula and the triple water pouring/immersion before other Sacraments are celebrated. This moral certitude requires more than the evidence of a baptismal certificate and must be the case in each individual circumstance. Such moral certitude can often be readily obtained through inquiry with the candidate. When moral certitude is lacking, a conditional Baptism is necessary (see Canon 869 and National Statutes for the Catechumenate 37).

Additional information on valid baptism and conditional baptism can be found on the website for the Office for Divine Worship.

CONFIRMATION FOR ROMAN CATHOLIC ADULTS

The ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation for baptized Roman Catholics is the Bishop. Typically, this occurs during the pastoral visit of the Bishop to the parish. Every effort should be made to prepare Catholic Adults for Confirmation to participate in the parish celebration with the Bishop.

Additionally, Archbishop Chaput will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2014 during the 6:30 PM Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. The candidates for this sacramental celebration are baptized Roman Catholics who have been properly catechized for Confirmation (and if needed, for the reception of First Communion). Information about this celebration for pastors and those who assist with the formation and reception of the Sacraments of Initiation has been distributed by e-mail, to all parish Liturgy Contacts, parish Christian Initiation Coordinators, and DRE’s, and can also be found on the website of the Office for Divine Worship.

If for some serious reason, a school age baptized Roman Catholic is unable to be confirmed by the Bishop during his pastoral visit to the parish, then this candidate, with the permission of the pastor, may be presented for the Sacrament of Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday. The pastor’s permission is to be included with the registration forms to be sent to the Office for Divine Worship.

A pastor who foresees the genuine pastoral need to confirm an adult baptized Roman Catholic can do so only with the specific delegation of the Bishop (see Canon 882 and National Statutes for the Catechumenate, nos. 28-29). Archbishop Chaput gives this faculty to all priests of the Archdiocese to confirm Roman Catholic Adults on any occasion from Palm Sunday through Pentecost Sunday. This delegation is required for the validity of the Sacrament in the case of a Roman Catholic candidate. If you have any questions about this faculty, please contact the Office for Divine Worship. There is no need for an additional letter requesting this faculty during the period specified by the Archbishop.

MASSES FOR THE NEOPHYTES AND ALSO A PENTECOST CELEBRATION

During the Easter Season

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults provides helpful guidance for the pastoral care of the newly baptized adults at Easter:

# 247	Since the distinctive spirit and power of the period of postbaptismal catechesis or mystagogy derive from the new, personal experience of the sacraments and of the community its main setting is the so-called Masses for neophytes, that is, the Sunday Masses of the Easter season. Besides being occasions for the newly baptized to gather with the community and share in the mysteries, these celebrations include particularly suitable readings from the Lectionary, especially the readings for Year A. Even when Christian initiation has been celebrated outside the usual times, the texts for these Sunday Masses of the Easter season may be used.

# 248	All the neophytes and their godparents should make an effort to take part in the Masses for the neophytes and the entire local community should be invited to participate with them. Special places in the congregation are to be reserved for the neophytes and their godparents. The homily and, as circumstances suggest, the general intercessions should take into account the presence and needs of the neophytes.

# 249	To close the period of postbaptismal catechesis, some sort of celebration should be held at the end of the Easter season near Pentecost Sunday; festivities in keeping with local custom may accompany the occasion.

WORKSHOPS FOREXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS

OF HOLY COMMUNION FOR SPRING 2014

All Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to have an appointment letter from the Archbishop.

Pastors and chaplains are encouraged to send new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the archdiocesan formation sessions. Current Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are also welcome to these sessions.

Pastors and chaplains are reminded to inform the Office for Divine Worship if they conduct their own formation and to send to this office their request for new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Request forms can be found on the Office for Divine Worship website. Letters of Appointment from the Archbishop will then follow.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are appointed for a three-year term and for the place where they are commissioned. Terms may be renewed if agreeable to both the pastor/chaplain and the minister.

Pastors are reminded to conduct the commissioning of new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion according to the rite found in the Book of Blessings, Chapter 63.

The schedule of Archdiocesan Workshops for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

will be posted on the website of the Office for Divine Worship by July 1, 2014

MATERIALS FOR LECTORS WHO USE LARGE PRINT OR BRAILLE

Please contact:

National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD)

415 Michigan Avenue, NE, Suite 95

Washington, DC 20017-4501

202-529-2933; 202-529-2934 (tty)

www.ncpd.org

Xavier Society for the Blind

212-473-7800

Xaviersocietyfortheblind.org

REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL HOLY OILS

If during the year, additional Holy Oils are needed for sacramental use, please contact the Rector at the Cathedral, 215-561-1313.

OTHER POINTS

Below are responses to inquiries to the Office for Divine Worship:

Permission is granted by Archbishop Chaput for a Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist on Saturday, May 3, 2014, the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles. Permission of the Ordinary is necessary to set aside the liturgical observance of a feast. This permission is granted since many parishes have the custom of the celebration of First Holy Communion on the first Saturday of May and the Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist is more fitting for that occasion.