Survey: Most Catholics unaware of Mass revisions Frequent Massgoers, older faithful more likely to know about new translation of Roman Missal

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Survey: Most Catholics unaware of Mass revisions
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Frequent Massgoers, older faithful more likely to know about new translation of Roman Missal
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I am sipping coffee with a friend after having just left church on a recent Sunday afternoon. She comments on the wonderful music coming from the choir that morning. I think out loud, “I wonder how they are coping with the upcoming liturgical changes … ” She pauses, cup midway to her lips, and responds in a confused voice, “The what?”
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My friend is not alone. A new survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University indicates that more than three in four adult Catholics in the United States are not aware that aspects of the English translation of the Roman Missal are about to change. She is not even alone among regular Massgoers, as the survey estimates more than four in 10 weekly attenders have not heard that the words and prayers at Mass will be changing.
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Respondents were asked if they had heard “that parishes in the United States will soon be implementing changes in the words and prayers at Mass at the direction of the Vatican.” Seventy-seven percent answered “no.” This is equivalent to more than 44 million adult Catholics who don’t know about the changes that will occur throughout the English-speaking world beginning Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent.
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The only indication I have seen has been a regular weekly insert in the Bulletin.

Not sure people are aware of what that insert “signifies”.

Could be a shock to many.

Probably would be a good idea if starting about now, the priests started preparing folks for the changes with remarks before Mass, to help get the folks adjusted, the way some leaders of song introduce a new hymn. And maybe a few words, at the homily. And not wait for the sudden first day of the new “script”.
 
Methinks CAF members are also “more likely to know about new translation of Roman Missal” … In any case, here’s hoping for a smooth transition.

…
 
I bought my daughter a quick reference guide to the mass changes as one of her confirmation gifts.

There will be some changes that will vex the parishioners, to be certain, but I feel for the priests – especially the older ones. I’m sure we’ll get a lot of stumbling over lines during Mass in the coming year.
 
Our priest here in NH spent two hours recently at a special meeting to explain all of the changes that will take place. Of course I think that our pastor is verey special in his love and caring for his parisheners…
 
I just bought the Roman Missal Companion put out by Magnificat, really good, one side has the Mass all laid out, the other page next to it is a commentary. Well worth picking one up, mine was about $4.👍

At The Grotto here in Portland, OR (Servite Shrine, Nat’l Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother) we are having a half day retreat to bring all of us up to speed. See below from our website, Fr. Driscoll from neighboring Mt. Angel is presenting the retreat:

Benedictine Father Jeremy Driscoll of Mount Angel Abbey (Oregon) is an internationally-recognized theologian and scholar who participated in the translation project in Rome at the request of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

thegrotto.org/

I’m looking forward to the retreat.🙂
 
I’m not sure what my parish is doing, but the parish where I work is another story.

Father plans to offer something for all the adults (who knows how many will attend), he’s giving a presentation about it to our catechists next weekend, and we’re deciding soon on materials for the catechists to use with the kids in Religious Ed.

People can say they’re surprised or didn’t know, but they’re probably the ones who don’t read the bulletin and/ or don’t attend Mass.
 
At our parish our priest has mentioned the new translation several times and our bulletin has a series of inserts on new parts of the translation from the Dominicans. I have a feeling more will be forthcoming from our parish priest when it comes to the new translation.

But I have a feeling that us here on CAF and the ones reading the blog are far more aware of the new translation and all the issues surrounding it and all the controversy surrounding it than the average Joe on the street.

ChadS
 
ChadS said:
At our parish our priest has mentioned the new translation several times and our bulletin has a series of inserts on new parts of the translation from the Dominicans. I have a feeling more will be forthcoming from our parish priest when it comes to the new translation.

But I have a feeling that us here on CAF and the ones reading the blog are far more aware of the new translation and all the issues surrounding it and all the controversy surrounding it than the average Joe on the street.

ChadS
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We have been hearing about it at our church for about a year…if people are listening. They have scheduled 7 different times between now and Dec. to present “A Biblical Walk through the Mass”…and have been including inserts each week concerning the different changes and explaining them. Today’s was on the change in the creed…“consubstantial with the Father” and the explanation. We have a day of formation in September which is "Launching the New Roman Missal. If people at our parish don’t know what is coming and they attend mass on Sundays…then they aren’t listening very well. We are very blessed to have a pastor who is leading his flock well:)
 
Since I subscribe to MAGNIFICAT magazine, I know of the upcoming changes for the Western Rites. The Western Rite church I attend on Saturday Evening has not yet made anything official about the mass changes. :dts:

At that, the changes are so minor that they could be covered in one sermon and one handout a couple of Sundays before Advent.🤷
 
We will see how this goes. However, I was surprised, and somewhat saddened, that Rome did not take a decisive stand regarding the placement of the Tabernacle. It seems to me that the new rules leave things fairly open, which means many Churches won’t do much of anything. I cannot fathom why we would not want our Lord to be at the very center of every Church, or as close as possible–by law/rule. Mass and our faith is about Jesus, and the Eucharist is Jesus, so imo the Tabernacle should be at the center.

I do not understand that at all. 😦
 
The bishop here has green-lighted phasing in changes starting in September. We have made a decision on our first Mass setting we are going to use and I am going to go to GIA tonight and get on order together. I have appreciated all the help I have had here at CAF to get prepped and help move along on a reasonable schedule.
 
it doesn’t surprise me that people who do not go to Mass regularly are unaware of the Mass changes. if regular Mass goers say they are unaware then there is a problem somewhere. we began talking about it as early as the end of last year and for the past several months the priest has been going over some of the changes and there has also been an insert in the bulletin.
i am looking forward to the changes.
 
irishpatrick said:
We will see how this goes. However, I was surprised, and somewhat saddened, that Rome did not take a decisive stand regarding the placement of the Tabernacle. It seems to me that the new rules leave things fairly open, which means many Churches won’t do much of anything. I cannot fathom why we would not want our Lord to be at the very center of every Church, or as close as possible–by law/rule. Mass and our faith is about Jesus, and the Eucharist is Jesus, so imo the Tabernacle should be at the center.

I do not understand that at all. 😦
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Good point.
 
7_Sorrows said:
it doesn’t surprise me that people who do not go to Mass regularly are unaware of the Mass changes. if regular Mass goers say they are unaware then there is a problem somewhere. we began talking about it as early as the end of last year and for the past several months the priest has been going over some of the changes and there has also been an insert in the bulletin.
i am looking forward to the changes.
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I am aware of it, but that is *only *because I am a CAF junkie. I expect many regular mass goers at my parish haven’t a clue yet. They haven’t gotten it from the pulpit or the bulletin, not in any form that they would have understood without already knowing about it. Knowledge requires either the grapevine, or some outside news source. But they will know soon enough. Training was in the beginning of August for various people, and they will start doing stuff probably sometime in September to be sure the parishioners are clued in.
 
sedonaman said:
Good point.
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I have great sympathy for the complexity of many issues that had to be delt with regarding the new GIRM. Yet, when it comes to the placement of the Tabernacle, that would seem to me to be an absolute no-brainer. Jesus is our Savior and God, put Him at the center behind the altar.

Most Churches cannot create the following situation for our Lord, yet it is worth a look:

flickr.com/photos/marylea/87028576/

Jesus is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He is the absolute center and summit of our faith life and the Eucharist is truly Jesus. People walking into a Catholic Church should be able–imo–to immediately see where the Lord is in order to bow their heads, genuflect, etc.

But, that’s just crazy ol’ me. 🙂
 
irishpatrick said:
I have great sympathy for the complexity of many issues that had to be delt with regarding the new GIRM. Yet, when it comes to the placement of the Tabernacle, that would seem to me to be an absolute no-brainer. Jesus is our Savior and God, put Him at the center behind the altar.

Most Churches cannot create the following situation for our Lord, yet it is worth a look:

flickr.com/photos/marylea/87028576/

Jesus is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He is the absolute center and summit of our faith life and the Eucharist is truly Jesus. People walking into a Catholic Church should be able–imo–to immediately see where the Lord is in order to bow their heads, genuflect, etc.

But, that’s just crazy ol’ me. 🙂
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i agree with you. we shouldn’t have to look for it.
 
Monte_RCMS said:
The only indication I have seen has been a regular weekly insert in the Bulletin.

Not sure people are aware of what that insert “signifies”.

Could be a shock to many.

Probably would be a good idea if starting about now, the priests started preparing folks for the changes with remarks before Mass, to help get the folks adjusted, the way some leaders of song introduce a new hymn. And maybe a few words, at the homily. And not wait for the sudden first day of the new “script”.
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We’ve been using the new words at every Mass since Pentecost since when the Australian bishops have authorised it to be phased in. I’m already beginning to forget what some of the old responses were.🙂
 
didymus said:
OSV:
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26Apr. St.Zephyrinus, PM

I, too, enjoyed the lovely church music that was part of my Catholic culture. I was part of a choir and even directed for a short while. Alas, almost all of those lovely hymns, chants and classical High Masses were expunged as a result of the Second Vatican Council. The low point for me came at my aunt’s funeral when the priest entered the church and everyone sang “Amazing Grace.” Now, that is one of many lovely Protestant hymns but Catholics have a rich repertoire of their own hymns of praise to God. There was no reason to abruptly abandon them.
 
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