By Renée St. Martin Wizeman

Following years of discussion and review, the Vatican last spring approved the new translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition. The translation, which has been described as following more closely the style of the original Latin text, is to be implemented in all parishes beginning with the first Sunday of Advent 2011.

To assist parishes with the implementation, Bishop George Leo Thomas and the diocesan Liturgical Commission have designed a process of catechesis.

“Bishop Thomas’ November 2010 column (in The Montana Catholic) described much of the approach and provided a good overview of what will occur,” said Father Ed Hislop, Liturgical Commission chairman and the pastor at Blessed Trinity Parish in Missoula.

“We view this revision of the Roman Missal as a great opportunity to provide general catechesis and renew the liturgy as envisioned in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy in the diocese.”

The catechesis is called “Do this in memory of Me,” which comes from the words of institution during the Eucharistic Prayer in the Mass.

“Those words reflect the truth that we do the work of Christ in the liturgy and in the manner we live in his memory in our day to day life as both persons and Church,” Father Hislop said.

In January, Bishop Thomas will issue a letter about the forthcoming catechesis. Bulletin inserts that describe the process will be distributed throughout parishes. “The parishes are the hinge piece to this catechesis, so that every person in our diocese has an opportunity to reflect on the various aspects of the liturgy as experienced in their parish,” Father Hislop said. He noted that the 1963 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy calls for the full active and conscious participation of the people in the liturgy, and that this catechetical series will help support that principle.

Parishes will be invited to engage in 3- minute catechesis pertaining to the liturgy after each Mass, led by the pastor, pastoral administrator or their appointee. Parishes also will provide each part of the series as a weekly bulletin insert. The catechesis series will begin on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011.

For each session, there are reflection questions to go with the 3-minute catechesis. “The questions provide an opportunity for people to remember and to reflect on the experience of their worship,” Father Hislop said. Questions may be discussed during the social gathering time after Mass, in small groups, or another fashion deemed suitable by the parish, said Father Hislop. A guide for implementation will be provided.

The diocesan Catholic Formation Services office will provide additional catechesis materials for use in parish religious education and faith formation programs.

Two prominent speakers are scheduled for the spring: Msgr. John Zenz, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, will speak on liturgical spirituality during the 2011 Chrism Day. Dr. J. Michael Joncas, a priest theologian and composer who teaches at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and at the University of Notre Dame, will present a workshop May 25-26 on theology of the Eucharist. All people of the diocese will be invited to his presentation.

In the summer of 2011, deanery gatherings will be held for all parish music ministers to discuss liturgical music and associated expectations relative to the Roman Missal. Joanne Werner, board chairwoman for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, will be the lead presenter. Werner is a native of the Diocese of Great Falls/Billings. In September, there will be a series of deanery workshops to provide parishes with materials for implementation of the Roman Missal itself and for local parish catechesis. Parishes will use the workshop materials in October and November.

During the 2012 Easter season, diocesan priest Father Michael Driscoll, who teaches at the University of Notre Dame, will lead a workshop on the art of celebrating the liturgy. Father Hislop said the workshop will include reflection on the previous year’s catechesis and the experience of the liturgy.

“The revision of the Roman Missal provides us the occasion to continue the vision and spirit of Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and for the parishes of our diocese to enhance even further the full conscious and active participation of all in the liturgy,” Father Hislop said.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 12, December 17, 2010.