Divine Worship & Sacraments

1:30-2:30pm ONLINE

Oct 29, Dec 4, Jan 15, Feb 27

Join us for a series of online gatherings on different aspects of Christian initiation for parish ministry leaders.  Each will feature formation, discussion, and a chance to share best practices.

Tues, Oct 29: Sacramental Recordkeeping

An exploration of the updated archdiocesan Sacramental Records Handbook with a focus 

Weds, Dec 4: Purification & Enlightenment: A Lenten Retreat

How to make these 40 days a Lenten retreat for the Elect and candidates rather than just a last-minute “catchup” on catechesis.

Weds, Jan 15: National Statutes: A Deep Dive

A close and careful look at the new National Statutes on the Catechumenate and their implications for adult initiation ministry going forward.

Thurs, Feb 27: Marriage Issues & the Catechumenate

Pastoral and canonical approaches for ministering to inquirers and catechumens in irregular marriages.

Register once and you’ll be invited to all of them (the login info will be the same).

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What is your role within the Family of Parishes?

Pope Francis declared 2025 to be a Holy Year, a jubilee for the Church.

The theme of the Jubilee Year 2025, “Pilgrims of Hope,” is uniquely captured in the prayers, readings, and options of the Mass for the Holy Year. They stress the themes of pilgrimage and hope. Incorporated into Christ, the faithful are a Body of believers, filled with hope. They look forward to the Lord’s coming in the present and at the end of the ages, an expectation which gives them an eternal vision and moves them to make pilgrimage to God and neighbor.

Approved by the Holy See on May 13, 2024 in eight languages, the Mass for the Holy Year may be used in the liturgy for the duration of the Jubilee, celebrated in the dioceses of the United States from December 29, 2024 to December 28, 2025. It contains three formularies, a set of Lectionary readings, five sets of tropes for the Penitential Act, and four sets of introductions, responses, and conclusions for the Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful).

General Info on the Jubilee Year 2025

Implementation Dates Set FOR Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and National Statutes

Decrees have been promulgated for the new translation of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and the newly revised National Statues for the Christian Initiation of Adults, both to be available soon in English and Spanish.

Texts will be available for purchase on November 1, 2024.  First use is possible on December 1, 2024, and the National Statutes will take effect.  Use of this ritual book is mandatory beginning Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE OCIA/RICA:

  • The revised OCIA/RICA retains the identical arrangement and numbering as the current USA editions, and the appendices remain.
  • Terminology has been refined to better clarify titles, e.g., “inquirer,” “catechumen,” “elect,” and “candidate.”
  • New sample introductions are provided for use by the celebrant in the combined rites, making clear the distinctions between groups.
  • The combined rites for Easter Vigil also now include texts for the baptism of an infant (adapted from the Order of Baptism of Children) since the Missal and other liturgical texts provides for this possibility.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL STATUTES:

  • The 1988 version of the National Statutes for the Catechumenate contained 37 paragraphs and included not only particular law for the United States but also norms contained in the ritual text or the universal law.
  • In their study of the statutes, USCCB Committees directed that they be shortened so that they are truly legislative, complementary to the universal law, and unique to this country.
  • The new National Statutes for the Christian Initiation of Adults contain only 18 Norms.
  • The statutes will be printed in the ritual and study editions the OCIA /RICA (in English and Spanish, respectively).
  • Three USCCB Committees are in the process of developing a compendium on the OCIA/RICA which will include the 1988 National Statutes…, indicating their source in the ritual text or universal law.

Read the Highlights of the New National Statues

National Statutes Highlights

COMPARE OLD AND NEW NATIONAL STATUTES

Compare the old version of the National Statutes with the new version and learn more about what the changes mean

2024 vs 1986 National Statutes

OCIA (English) and RICA (Spanish) ritual and study editions are available at a discount through the ODWS SHOP

  • Ritual editions in English and Spanish
  • Study edition

MTG FOR Initiation Coordinators (Sept 24)

Mtg for Initiation Teams 2024Sept24

Video Recording

STAY tuned for more information about workshops and other formation sessions Fall 2024!

Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery outside Mass to Be Implemented on the First Sunday of Advent 2024

After a standard editorial review process by the Secretariat of Divine Worship, along with additional dialogue with the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, a timeline has been set for the implementation of Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery outside Mass (HCWEMOM), and was issued on January 25, 2024 in a decree of promulgation by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, USCCB President.

The Holy See confirmed HCWEMOM for liturgical use in the United States on March 7, 2023; the text was received by the USCCB the following month. Several U.S. adaptations were then approved, almost all of them found in the Order of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction in chapter III.

The goal of the adaptations is to harmonize the book with existing customs for Eucharistic Adoration in this country, for example:

No. 92 – a rubric has been added to officially permit the priest or deacon to wear a white cope for Exposition;

Nos. 93 and 97 – the lyrics of the traditional hymns O salutaris Hostia and Tantum ergo Sacramentum, in Latin and English, have been inserted; other Eucharistic hymns may continue to be used;

No. 96 – clarifying instructions have been added for praying the Liturgy of the Hours during Adoration, especially Morning and Evening Prayer;

No. 99 – the text of the Divine Praises has been inserted for use during Benediction;

No. 100 – in addition to saying an acclamation, the people may alternatively sing a hymn as the minister withdraws after Benediction.

Optional use will be permitted as of September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The obligatory-use date of HCWEMOM has been established for the United States as the First Sunday of Advent, December 1st.

Pre-Orders Now Available!

Order your new ritual book now through the ODWS shop and it will be shipped to you as early as Aug 1.

NEW!

Eucharistic Reservation

Fr. Paul Turner has written a companion to the new ritual book, also available at a discount through the ODWS online shop.

As you consider the liturgical calendar for 2024, please be aware of the following:

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) falls on a Saturday this year, a circumstance which has been more thoroughly treated in the January 2013 BCL Newsletter. On Friday evening, All Saints Day is celebrated at the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, though, for pastoral reasons where it is the custom, Evening Prayer II of All Saints may be followed by Evening Prayer for the Dead. On Saturday evening, priests should anticipate the Mass of the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time at normally scheduled anticipated Masses, though the Mass of All Souls’ Day may be used outside that usual schedule. At the Hours, Evening Prayer I of the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time is used in individual recitation, though Evening Prayer for the Dead may be used in celebrations with the people.

Since December 8, 2024 is the Second Sunday of Advent, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred to Monday, December 9; the obligation to attend Mass, however, does not transfer. While Funeral Masses are not normally permitted on this day, they may take place this year since Immaculate Conception is not a day of precept (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 380). The Optional Memorial of Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, December 9, is omitted.

LITURGICAL CALENDAR 2025

For assistance with any issues related to the liturgical calendar, please contact the Office for Divine Worship & Sacraments.

In-person and online formation and training for new and veteran extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion will take place each spring and fall.  Please share these opportunities with EMHCs in your parish and those looking to join this ministry.

Thurs, Oct 17, 7-9pm, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (Milford)

Tues, Oct 22, 1-3pm, Mercy Hospital (Anderson) 

  • This session will focus especially on ministry to the sick, hospitalized, and homebound

Weds, Oct 30, 1-3pm, Online

Mon, Nov 4, 1-3pm, Online 

  • This session will focus especially on ministry to the sick, hospitalized, and homebound

Weds, Nov 6, 7-9pm, St. Paul Church (Englewood)

EMHC Registration Form

Workshop registration for new and experienced Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC).

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