Perth bishop expects widespread acceptance.
By Anthony Barich
Bishop Donald Sproxton is confident the new Mass Missal to be released in 2011 will be widely accepted and used despite conflicting views among Perth clergy last week.
Several priests voiced concerns at an August 21 forum about the more complex nature of the new translations, while one senior Perth priest said that he believed many priests in the Archdiocese would not use the new Missal, as many of them already change the liturgy as it is.
Bishop Sproxton told The Record: “I don’t necessarily think that will happen,” especially once priests are formed by the preparatory sessions that the National Bishops Commission for Liturgy is currently planning.
“I know that priests will have reservations about certain parts of the changes, but from the past of knowing how well they’ve put things into action for us, I’ve got confidence that once they understand they’ll be quite happy to go along with it,” he said.
Bishop Sproxton said the process of studying and enacting the new translations would deepen and renew priests’ appreciation and understanding of the Mass.
“We get so used to doing things,” he said. “We read the introduction to the Missal many years ago and we sometimes assume that what we’re doing now is exactly what the instruction was saying. Little things can creep into the way we do things; we forget, and that becomes our habit of celebrating.
“It’s very good advice to every priest to every year go back to the Introduction to the Missal and re-read it and make sure what we’re doing is the way we should be celebrating the Mass.”
Fr Paul Turner, a US facilitator from the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) that has spent most of the past 10 years re-translating the original Latin texts of the Mass, addressed Perth priests on changes to the Order of the Mass at the Vietnamese Catholic Community Centre in Westminster on August 21. He responded to priests’ concerns by saying “we as priests owe it to the Church to do a good job with these texts”.
“We love the Mass, we love our people, we want to have a good liturgy; if we take the time to get to know these prayers well and really pray them from the heart, I think we can do it,” he told The Record.
Of particular concern at the forum was perceived less ‘inclusive’ language such as ‘for us men and for our salvation’ in the Nicene Creed that was left in despite many bishops recommending the word ‘men’ be removed.
Ballajura parish priest Fr John Jegorow told The Record that “the gender question is a big one for people today”.
“I don’t think people are making that distinction, and in some parts that will cause problems, because the women Religious orders already are very strong in this, so we’re just inflaming the situation that should be hosed down.”
Another concern was that the Vatican was ‘picking on’ the English-speaking countries, with little regard for the reality on the ground in parishes.
However, Fr Turner said the English translation has strayed more from the original Latin than any other language’s translation has, and confirmed that all major and minor language groups would also be re-translating their own texts.
Perth Deacon Paul Russell said he believes some of the language used in the current liturgy is “of a lower register than would have been helpful”, and is excited by the fact that the new translations will much more closely reflect the scriptural references.
He said deacons would also have an important role to play as the mediator between the priest enacting the changes and the people querying them, “walking in the two worlds between the secular normal person and the role of the clergy”.
Fr Jegorow said “most of us (priests) are pretty obedient” and that “I don’t think there’ll be a huge revolution” of priests not saying the new Mass.
“It’s not going to be easy. It’s hard enough trying to convince people that the Mass is relevant and meaningful,” he said.
“Maybe we need a greater education of people. I think people have no idea of symbolism and ritual in their lives as a lot of it has disappeared. Two years gives us time as priests to get our heads around it, but it’s going to take all of that time. Using homilies will be the only way (explaining the changes to parishioners) it can be done, using overheads and going back to basics. There doesn’t seem to be a good reason for some of the changes.”
City Beach parish priest Fr Don Kettle believes the changes will be smooth, as parishes have technology at their command like putting footnotes on overheads.
“I think people will welcome the changes and it will be fairly smooth, as long as we’ve got that unity from parish to parish, that we’re all doing the same thing at the same time,” he said.
Applecross parish priest Fr Peter Whitely, who was a seminarian when the current Missal was introduced in 1969, told The Record that there was also negativity back then, “but it’s grown with us, its part of the language now”.
“I believe that much of this will be the same and will be gradually accepted,” he said.
Perth Vicar General Mgr Brian O’Loughlin said that “people are naturally resistant to change”.
Aussie bishops approve texts, ready by 2011
Australia’s bishops have already approved the entire Missal and are confident that it would be ready for use in 2011.
The bishops have approved the ‘Grey Books’ – the entire texts in addition to the Order of the Mass, including prayers for the observances of recently canonised saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Votive Masses and Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Intentions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass. They have also approved a series of texts specific to Australia like the feast of Mary MacKillop, Anzac Day and Australia Day, and other prayers that apply to Australian conditions like drought and flood.
These will be put forward for comment at a National Liturgical Council meeting in September then referred to the bishops’ conference in November, before seeking the formal approval from the Vatican, who will then accept it or make further recommendations. Fr Peter Williams, executive secretary of the Bishops Commission for Liturgy, said: “We have always worked on the basis that the new Missal would come into use by the start of 2011, and I still think that’s feasible.”
US bishops launch website on new Mass translation
Entire new translation of the Order of Mass and comprehensive explanations on new site.
Washington DC (CNA) – After years in the making, the English translation of the new Roman Missal is nearing its completion and is now awaiting the final approval of the bishops and the Vatican.
In an effort to begin educating the faithful and clergy on the new translation, the US bishops launched a special website on August 21.
It includes background material on the process of the development of liturgical texts, sample texts from the Missal, a glossary of terms and answers to frequently asked questions.
Bishop Arthur Serratelli, who chairs the bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship, welcomes the faithful to the new site in a video, saying, "In the years since Vatican II we have learned a lot about the use of the vernacular in the liturgy and the new texts reflect this new understanding."
Describing the translation, Bishop Serratelli says: "The new texts are understandable, dignified and accurate.
They not only strive to make the meaning of the text accessible for the listener, but they also strive to unearth the biblical and theological richness of the Latin text."
The process of translating the new Missal began in 2003 and has been ongoing since then.
Now that they have studied, reflected and adjusted the translation for five years, the bishops are expected to conclude their review and approve the final portion of the translated texts at the end of this year, the USCCB said in a press release.
Following the approval of the bishops in November, the translation will require a final approval (recognitio) from the Holy See before the texts can be published and used in the liturgy.
Speaking in the video, Bishop Serratelli explains that he sees this time of waiting as an opportunity for the faithful to learn and prepare.
"We have a great opportunity during this period not only to learn about the changes, not only to learn about the revised texts, but also to deepen our own understanding of the Liturgy itself," he said.
"We encourage priests, deacons, religious, liturgical ministers, all the faithful to avail themselves of the information that we are making available."
The website dedicated to the new translation can be found at: http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal.