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Liturgical Change Coming For IHM Masses

    Dear Parishioners,

    LITURGICAL CHANGE COMING FOR IHM MASSES
    THE STANDING POSTURE

    It is always good to plan and think ahead. So this pastor letter is to prepare us that the entire diocese will unite in a liturgical posture of standing

    • After the Lamb of God,
    • For the singing of the entire communion song, and
    • During the complete distribution of Holy Communion to all.

    This will begin on Saturday, April 27th, 2019 at the 4:30pm Mass.

    Therefore, only when the last person receives communion all may sit or kneel, not before, nor after one individually receives Holy Communion.

    For years we were taught to “be with Jesus” after the reception of Holy Communion. That teaching was done in a time period where communal “participation” in the liturgy was minimal and personal piety and devotion were proper.

    Today, active participation is integral in the liturgy and in this new posture change for us, the participation is about actively “SINGING”! We will unite in personal piety and devotion when the entire song is finished.

    I will reiterate that our new Diocesan Bishop has observed the posture differences as he celebrated Masses in the churches throughout the diocese and simply asked the Diocesan Liturgical Commission what this was all about. It was explained to him that while in 2003, The International Liturgical Commission promulgated this world-wide posture as explained above, in our diocese many parishes DID NOT COMPLY to those new norms, and, sorry to say, ours was one of them.

    I am asking that we begin to UNITE with the new norms of 2003 for the standing posture and comply with the Diocesan Bishop’s request. I do not want to make this difficult for anyone as I do understand one’s personal piety after receiving Holy Communion, but, I want us to be obedient, with knowledge about the WHY, and be liturgically current.

    I would be heart-broken if our IHM parish became stubborn to this change where some of us don’t remain standing. Change is always difficult.

    Please see this linked document 0331097Flyer_WhatIsLiturgy that explain this new standing posture. Different teachings will be in our bulletin for the next three weeks.

    Many blessings,
    Father Jim

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