Parish Based Catechesis
Know the Words, Know the Meaning, Know the Mystery
Introduction
The English text of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, the ritual book containing the prayers and instructions for the celebration of the Mass, has been approved by the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has determined that the first use of the revised text of the Roman Missal will be on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011.
The implementation of this new edition of the Roman Missal provides a life-giving opportunity for Latin-rite Catholics in the English speaking world to reinvigorate and recommit ourselves to participating with Christ in the celebration of his paschal mystery in the liturgical life of the Church.
Know the Words, Know the Meaning, Know the Mystery is a series of thirty-two (32) concise and engaging articles on various topics pertaining to the revised Roman Missal, as well as to the liturgical life of the Church in general, prepared as a catechetical tool for parish use.
On the web site you will find a calendar of suggested monthly topics. If this calendar is followed, the articles will be considered simultaneously by the faithful throughout the Archdiocese. Using the same calendar, these topics will also appear on the official website of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (www.archphila.org), as well as within the pages of The Catholic Standard and Times.
These articles will provide a significant opportunity for a deeper understanding of the liturgical life of the Church. Our welcoming of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal allows all God’s people to enter more fully into the sacrifice of Jesus to the Father, through the working of the Holy Spirit, which is our highest calling as members of His Body, the Church.
These articles are designed to be used in parishes, schools and institutions within the Church. Specifically, they may be used by:
• Pastors, parochial vicars, other priests and deacons
• Parish Services Directors, Pastoral Associates, Adult Faith
Formation Coordinators, Youth Ministers
• Directors of Religious Education and catechists
• Presidents, principals, school ministers, teachers on both the
secondary and elementary level
• Catholic college administrators, Newman chaplains, campus
ministers and those associated with them in leadership roles
• Superiors of Religious Communities, Directors of Assisted Living
facilities and Nursing Homes;
• Parish Pastoral Councils, Music Directors, Parish liturgical
musicians and Parish Liturgy Committees
Ideally, pastoral leaders would use these articles for the benefit of anyone who would come under their pastoral care. We offer the following concrete suggestions as a starting point for you to adapt these articles to the needs of your community.
Practical Suggestions
Pastors and priests
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Develop a parish plan to effectively utilize parish-based catechesis articles, Know the Words, Know the Meaning, Know the Mystery
• Introduce parishioners to articles and make the connection to receiving the Revised Translation through the bulletin and Mass announcements (USCCB “Ten Questions on the Roman Missal”)
• Make arrangements to insert articles in parish bulletin
• Place additional copies of articles in pamphlet rack or entrances to church
• Incorporate selected topics from the articles into your homilies
• Choose selected topics from the articles to discuss at staff meetings
• Incorporate reflection on articles as agenda item at all parish meetings
• Make mention in pastor’s column
• Prepare brief Mass announcement that would encourage parishioners to read articles
• Post links to Roman Missal information on parish web site
Deacons
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Incorporate reflection on articles as agenda item at all parish meetings
• Plan Adult Formation series based on a selection of topics from articles
• Incorporate topics into your homilies
• Emphasize the Liturgy in any opportunity to speak to parents and/or children
• Assist Pastor in developing a parish plan to utilize these articles throughout this year of preparation
Parish Services Directors, Pastoral Associates, Adult Faith Formation Coordinators
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Incorporate reflection on articles as agenda item at all parish meetings
• Distribute or discuss inserts at Nursing and Assisted Living facilities
• Incorporate inserts at parish staff meetings
• Provide parish meetings for introduction of revised texts
• Coordinate small faith sharing groups to read, reflect and discuss articles
• Encourage all leaders of parish organizations to incorporate articles into meetings throughout the year
• Introduce catechumens and candidates to Revised Translation using articles when appropriate
• Reach out to inactive Catholics (letters, phone, door to door). Invite them to adult faith formation series based on Revised Translation and articles
Directors of Religious Education
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Send catechists to archdiocesan workshops and invite them to share what they have learned with other catechists
• Discuss an article at each faculty meeting that leads to a discussion on how each grade level can better encourage students to understand and participate in the Mass
• Incorporate reflection on articles as agenda item at any other PREP meetings
• Post a link to parish, archdiocesan, USCCB Roman Missal web sites on PREP web site
• Invite pastor, liturgy director or other presenter to address parents at sacramental preparation meetings, introducing the Revised Translation of the Roman Missal
• Send articles home to parents (weekly emails, monthly newsletter, take-home packet) and encourage them to read and reflect. Create a reflection question that parents could discuss with their children
School Principals
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Send teachers to archdiocesan workshops and invite them to share what they have learned with other faculty members
• Discuss an article at each faculty meeting that leads to a discussion on how each grade level can better encourage students to understand and participate in the Mass
• Invite pastor, liturgy director or other presenter to address a meeting of the home and school association to introduce the revised translation of the Roman Missal
• Send articles home to parents (weekly emails, monthly newsletter, take-home packet) and encourage them to read and reflect. Create a reflection question that parents could discuss with their children
• Bring awareness of Archdiocesan Roman Missal web site to faculties so they can review and absorb the message, so they can share it with those entrusted to their care
• Post a link to parish, archdiocesan, USCCB Roman Missal web sites on PREP web site
Youth and Young Adult Ministers
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Send leaders to archdiocesan workshops and invite them to share what they have learned with other leaders
• Use articles as a springboard for reflection and discussion at youth group meetings
• Create additional reflection questions geared towards youth and young adults
• Include a liturgy related question/reflection on parish social network
• Plan a retreat that focuses on a specific selection of articles
Newman Chaplains and Campus Ministers
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Send staff and leaders to archdiocesan workshops and invite them to share what they have learned with other leaders
• Make articles available to students through email attachments or web site link
• Create a question for reflection that is geared towards college students
• Bring together small groups to reflect and discuss an article/group of articles
• Plan a retreat that focuses on a specific selection of articles
Liturgy Committees and Music Directors
• Take advantage of formation opportunities to familiarize yourself with revised translation (for workshop schedule, go to:
• Send liturgical ministry leaders to archdiocesan workshops and invite them to share what they have learned with others in their ministry
• Encourage all liturgical ministers to read and reflect on articles each week
• Use the reflection provided on each article at the beginning or end of choir rehearsal, musicians formation session or cantor formation session
• Incorporate articles as formation portion at all liturgy committee meetings
• Create and maintain “Liturgy Column” in parish bulletin that reinforces and makes practical the article topics
• Coordinate Day of Reflection for liturgical ministers based on a specific selection of articles
Parish Councils, Committees and Organizations
• Encourage all members to read and reflect on articles each week
• Incorporate reflection on articles as agenda item at all meetings
• Feature a quote from one of the articles accompanied by a comment encouraging members to read the articles
Superiors of Religious Communities
• Encourage membership to familiarize themselves with the spirit of the instructions in the revised translation of the Roman Missal
• Take advantage of educational opportunities provided in their respective dioceses
• Share with their collaborators in ministry the resources they have found helpful
