Letter from Msgr. Schaedel for bulletin of August 6, 2000

Dear Parishioners,

You’ll note in this week’s Criterion the lead article is about “changes” in the way Mass is celebrated. The article is very good, but I think the title is a bit misleading. The “changes” are important, but nothing earth shattering.

For one thing, these slight revisions only apply to the “English Mass” or what we call the Novus Ordo, (“new order”). The Latin Mass follows the Ordo of 1962. It is not subject to change. That’s one of the many advantages people cite about the Latin Mass.

The occasion for the Criterion article is the soon to be released revised sacramentary. The sacramentary is the book with all of the prayers and directions (rubrics) for the celebration of the Mass. It’s the large red book the server holds for the priest or that’s placed on the altar for the celebration of the Mass. The other large red book used at the pulpit is the lectionary. It contains only the Scripture readings used at Mass.

The Latin Mass has both of these books combined in what we call the missal. The worship aid we use at the English Mass is a “mini-missal” or missalette because it contains both the prayers and the readings, but only for a certain number of weeks.

The Novus Ordo contains an expanded selection of Scripture readings and more options for the prayers of the Mass as compared to the 1962 ritual. These additions simply make it too bulky to put into one large book. (It is bulky, because I have one.) Hence, the missal became two books: sacramentary and lectionary.

At any rate, as I said above, these “changes” are very minor and basically are clarifications of rubrics in the earlier sacramentary (1975) which seemed vague and were often misinterpreted. Don’t expect any major changes.

Here at Holy Rosary, we will implement these changes just as they were intended to be implemented. That’s the way I think it should be. I guess some people could accuse us or me of being “rigid” or not very “creative.” No, I just think it’s the height of arrogance or pride for me or any other individual to tamper with the Sacred Liturgy as it is given to us by the authority of the Church. The Sacred Liturgy is for the people; it’s not “my show.”

Last month we welcomed the “Crossroads” Pro-Life Group of young people from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. A second collection was taken up to benefit their work on behalf of the unborn. We have received a thank you letter from Sister Diane Carollo, our archdiocesan Director of Pro Life Activities, thanking us for our generosity. Sister notes that every parish that received the Crossroads Group “returned glowing reports abut these outstanding young men and women of Faith who spoke about the dignity and sanctity of human life.”

By the way, this week’s issue of The Criterion had a listing of all of our archdiocesan parishes and their responses to the various second collections for the missions throughout the years. Naturally, I sat down to compare Holy Rosary with the others. I am delighted at our response. We have every reason to be proud of how we support these second collections. Especially during Lent, you notice I’m not shy about adding second collections. People don’t have to give anything; I leave that decision to you. But we even outdo many parishes much larger than we are. Thank you!

Sealed construction bids for our new elevator are due at the parish office by Friday, August 11. This project is made possible because of your generous support of last year’s Legacy of Hope, From Generation to Generation campaign. Remember to keep your pledge payments up! We hope to cover most of the cost from this campaign, but will probably need some additional gifts before we can actually begin.

Let me remind everyone again about the major liturgical celebration of the Great Jubilee here in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. “Celebration in the Spirit of Hope” is Mass to be celebrated at the RCA Dome on Saturday, September 16, at 2:30 p.m. (This Mass will fulfill your Sunday obligation that weekend. We will not have an evening Mass here that day.)

Twenty-five bishops from around the country and most of the priests of the archdiocese will celebrate this Mass along with Archbishop Buechlein. Last week’s bulletin contained an insert asking for volunteers to assist with this Liturgy: choir member, ushers, guides, etc. If you wish to volunteer or have some questions about it, contact David Walden at the parish office.

The fourth week of the Novena to the Holy Spirit leading up to our celebration of the Great Jubilee appears in today’s bulletin and in this week’s Criterion. Please pray for the success of our celebration.

Faithfully yours in God’s Providence,

Msgr. Schaedel