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– Lenten Schedule –
Expressing What We Believe:
Liturgical Changes at St. JamesNovember 8, 2010
Greetings!
As we head into this very busy time of year, I want to keep you up to date with all that is being done at St. James.
On the weekend of November 20th & 21st we will be installing all new liturgical ministers and blessing those recommitting to their Baptismal Call to this ministry. Additionally, there will be some slight changes you will see throughout the liturgy that will bring St. James in conformity with the Universal Church. We need to have the experience, the practice and worship of the Eucharist, be the same from parish to parish. The Bishop has asked each parish to review the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and adapt those clearly stated practices the Church had always declared. These outward expressions of faith reflect what we believe as a united Catholic community. For example, I am sure you have noticed the wonderful job that our altar servers are doing in their adaptation of some of the changes taking place.
This will all come together on the first Sunday in Advent, November 27th & 28th. I ask for your patience and understanding as we adapt this few modifications. There are some changes we will incorporate through our postures and gestures within our worship space as well as within our liturgy. I will attach a copy of these to this email and post it on our website. It is very important that we be aware of the importance of the reverence we show within our worship space, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and in the context of our celebration of the Word and Holy Eucharist. Within our liturgy you will see slight changes in how we process into Mass, the placement of the Book of Gospel, bowing during the Creed, standing immediately after the celebrant washes his hands, kneeling after the Lamb of God, and the distribution of Holy Communion to the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in the sanctuary prior to you receiving Communion.
I assure you, there will be many blessings that we will experience through these changes. When we understand why we do what we do it becomes part of us and helps us in our prayer. I would like to thank our liturgy committee, particularly Sheila Austin, and our seminarian Chris Seibt in assisting us in all of these changes. Special thanks to Chris for his extraordinary insight into the liturgy and in helping us to make these changes.
During the weekend of November 13th & 14th we will have a second collection for our St. James Evangelical Outreach Ministry programs. I recognize this is the time of year many of us are asked to give to worthy causes. I ask you to consider a donation to the very programs many of our parishioners work hard to provide to those in need. Money collected will go to continue and expand upon ministries to the Oxford Street Inn, outreach to the homeless people living in “camps” and under bridges, Southside outreach efforts, including reaching out to the Bishop Foery Foundation by providing soup to 150 people once a month, St. Lucy’s End of the Month Meal Ministry, Dorothy Day House, and the Chadwick Residence.
Your donations help offset the cost of sandwiches, hot meals, sock and foot care supplies, hair ministry equipment maintenance, greeting cards and writing materials, toiletries, assisting individual needs as they arise, bus tokens for appointments and job interviews, holiday donuts and coffee, Southside cookouts, popsicles and bottled water during the summer, coffee and soup canteens during the winter months, food serving equipment, and general supplies. Your support here at home to operate our outreach programs not only helps to meet basic needs but also provides the very opportunities in which Christ’s presence is shown.
November 20th & 21St is our Thanksgiving Bake Sale following all Masses. This is a wonderful opportunity to take care of your holiday baking needs while supporting St. James Church. Sister Carolyn needs many volunteers ahead of time to make pies, cakes and cookies for the sale. Please contact her if you can help.
Also on November 20th & 21st, we will have our sign-up for the Christmas Project. This is a special tradition here at St. James. The Christmas Project helps families that are in need including those at Chadwick Residence and Dorothy Day House. Many will benefit from your support and experience added blessings at Christmas.
November’s Family Mass will be Sunday the 21st at the 8:15AM liturgy. Our 5 & 6th grade Religious Education classes will participate in the Mass as greeters, lectors, readers of petitions and gift bearers. I urge all families to come together as we celebrate our youth and reflect on the importance of worshiping together.
Thanksgiving Day Mass will be at St. Anthony’s on Thursday, November 25th at 10AM. Bishop Robert Cunningham will celebrate Mass for us as we join together as a community of parishes to give thanks for the abundant blessings we receive each and every day.
During the month of November, be assured of my prayers for all of your departed loved ones. As we pray for those that have died, I ask for your prayers for all the priests and religious that served our parish community and have been called home to the Lord.
In Christ,Reverend John D. Manno
>Liturgical Postures and Gestures: Click to view and print PDF
4845 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13205 • Rectory 315-469-7789 • web@stjamessyr.org