Pentecost Sunday – A – May 31, 2020 I grew up in a diverse neighborhood, hearing several languages other than English on a daily basis. So it’s wonderful to see parish communities embrace multicultural elements in their Pentecost liturgies. As … Read More
To form a singing parish, parishes need to plan all year long for singing best and most at the highest celebration of the year. That means singing all year as rehearsal for the Triduum. By the time we get to … Read More
Body and Blood of Christ Twice today we hear how God fed the Israelites with “a food unknown to you and your fathers.” We see something similar in the Gospel when the Jews were dumbfounded at Jesus’s strange offer to … Read More
I remember a time when there was no Triduum. There was Lent, which started on Ash Wednesday and went all the way through Holy Saturday. And then there was Easter Sunday, when I once again got to eat chocolate and … Read More
Most Holy Trinity Have you ever lost yourself dancing? I don’t mean the uninhibited detachment of “dance as if no one is watching,” but the kind where the music beats inside you, coursing in rhythm to the blood in your … Read More
The time to begin planning Triduum is right after Triduum. That’s right — after. Begin with an evaluation of the Triduum just celebrated. Ideally, you would evaluate the entire Triduum, but parishes new to year-long Triduum planning may only have … Read More
The Ascension of the Lord The solemnity of the Ascension draws our focus back to seeing Christ with the eyes of our hearts. With Thomas on the Second Sunday of Easter, we trained our eyes to see Christ’s presence in … Read More
Seventh Sunday of Easter – A – May 24, 2020 If you’re one of those lucky places in the United States that do get a Seventh Sunday of Easter, you’ll also have a chance to observe a novena in preparation … Read More
For communities that want to involve the whole community in worship, the guiding principle has to be that all liturgy is centered on the Triduum. The Triduum is the climactic three-days of the liturgical year that begins with the Mass … Read More
Sixth Sunday of Easter – 17 May 2020 Acts 8:5-8, 14-17. Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20. 1 Peter 3:15-18. John 14:15-21. Not Orphaned! Because the risen Lord and the Spirit of Truth are always with us, we are not … Read More
Sixth Sunday of Easter – A – May 17, 2020 When encouraging people to evangelize and be public about their Christian faith, some will quote a verse from today’s second reading: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Easter – 10 May 2020 Acts 6:1-7. Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19. 1 Peter 2:4-9. John 14:1-12. Chosen, Royal, and Holy. Jesus tells the disciples during the Last Supper that they know the way – to God, to … Read More
Liturgy flows. It can flow like a stream on a summer day, or it can flow like molasses that has just been pulled from the refrigerator. How well or badly liturgy flows depends upon the skills of the pastoral leaders … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Easter – A – May 10, 2020 Although the term is never used in today’s first reading, it is traditionally seen as the Catholic origin of the diaconate. Lately, many theologians, committees, and leaders have been discussing … Read More
What will happen when we are finally able to gather again for public liturgy? Will people return with such great anticipation and excitement that they will participate in the liturgy at deeper levels than ever before? Or will it be … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Easter – 03 May 2020 Acts 2:14a, 36-41. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. 1 Peter 2:20b-25. John 10:1-10. “I Am the Gate.” Doorways and gates can protect those within. This is the image of Jesus today – … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Easter – A – May 3, 2020 It’s only human nature to feel defensive when someone calls you out for something you did wrong. When this happens to me, I am so quick to explain myself and … Read More
How do you praise God in a time such as this? As Easter people, that is our call. Certainly our tradition of lament is one way, for even our outrage and outcry at God’s seeming absence are confessions of faith. … Read More
As I write this, the parishes in my area of the country are entering the fourth week of the stringent shelter-in-place regulations required for stemming the COVID-19 pandemic. And it looks like we could be under quarantine for at least … Read More
Third Sunday of Easter – 26 April 2020 Acts 2:14, 22-33. Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 1. 1 Peter 1:17-21. Luke 24:13-35. Mystagogy on the Emmaus Story. (“Mystagogy” = to be led to, to encounter mystery.) Two dejected disciples, abandoning … Read More
Third Sunday of Easter – A – April 26, 2020 I’ve learned to be a functional introvert, forcing myself to say hello to strangers and trying not to wiggle out of a conversation too quickly. I do it not because … Read More
Second Sunday of Easter (or of Divine Mercy) – 19 April 2020 Acts 2:42-47. Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24. 1 Peter 1:3-9. John 20:19-31. Unrestrained by Locked Doors. Locked doors are not good enough for keeping the Risen Jesus from us. … Read More
The suspension of our normal liturgical life has caused two general reactions. On the one hand, there has been an effort to energize Christian households as domestic churches, resourcing them for the celebration of full, conscious, and active participation in … Read More
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord – Sunday, 12 April 2020 At the Mass during the Day Acts 10:34a, 37-43. Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23. Colossians 3:1-4. OR 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8. Sequence – Christians, to the Paschal Victim. John … Read More
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord – Saturday night, 11 April 2020 At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter Genesis 1:1–2:2. Genesis 22:1-18. Exodus 14:15–15:1. Isaiah 54:5-14. Isaiah 55:1-11. Baruch 3:9-15, 32–4:4. Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28. … Read More
Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) – 10 April 2020 Isaiah 52:13–53:12. Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25. Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9. John 18:1–19:42. Who Would Be So Obedient? Jesus would – even unto death! This high … Read More
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper – 09 April 2020 At the Evening Mass Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14. Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. John 13:1-15. Who Washes Feet During Supper? Jesus did it first – something only servants and slaves … Read More
Second Sunday of Easter It’s true that “seeing is believing.” But it depends on what you’re looking for. Before he would believe, Thomas needed to see concrete evidence of what the other disciples attested, “We have seen the Lord.” Seeing … Read More
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – 05 April 2020 Procession: Matthew 21:1-11. Mass: Isaiah 50:4-7. Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24. Philippians 2:6-11. Matthew 26:14–27:66. Being Humble. Jesus Christ shows us how to be humble today. So humble, that he … Read More
This article was co-written by my friend, Terry Burrows, and me. Terry is the associate director of catechesis for the Diocese of Monterey. As we search for ways to stay connected to each other and our faith practices, many are … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Lent Some church leaders have proposed that the solution for stemming the rise in the number of those leaving the Catholic church is more rigorous, undiluted teaching of the faith. They call this evangelization. However it’s really … Read More
Available in English here Para los cristianos, el domingo es un día como ningún otro día de la semana. Creemos que es el día de la fiesta original; el día del Creador; la Pascua semanal; el primer día; el octavo … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Lent – 29 March 2020 Ezekiel 37:12-14. Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. Romans 8:8-11. John 11:1-45. Dying with Christ; Dying to Self. Even when his friends are disappointed with him and his disciples misunderstand him, Jesus is … Read More
In the United States as well as many other regions, we are in the midst of a health crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak. And that in turn has led to a spiritual crisis of sorts. Most dioceses in the … Read More
The Annunciation of the Lord, Solemnity – Wednesday, 25 March 2020 Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:1. Psalm 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 11. Hebrews 10:4-10. Luke 1:26-38. Still Paying Attention. Unlike Joseph, Mary engages in conversation with the angel. She ends up saying Yes, … Read More
Disponible en español aquí For Christians, Sunday is unlike any other day of the week. We believe that Sunday is the original feast day; the day of the Creator’s work; the weekly Easter; the first day; the eighth day; the … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Lent – 22 March 2020 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6. Ephesians 5:8-14. John 9:1-41. Seeing Christ. Even the blind man in today’s gospel sees Christ – and does what he is told … Read More
Large numbers of dioceses in the United States are banning communion from the cup for the faithful at Mass. While the reason given for the ban is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it seems to me that there … Read More
Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Solemnity – Thursday, 19 March 2020 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16. Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29. Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22. Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a. OR Luke 2:41-51a. Paying Attention and Looking for … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Lent He stood on the street corner in his tattered coat, and I knew right away who and what he was. Sure enough, as I mentally tried to force the light to turn green, I heard, “Spare … Read More
Third Sunday of Lent Beyond water, there’s a deeper image that runs throughout today’s readings: the hardened heart. The joyful hearts of the Israelites that had sung and danced by the seashore now were hardened by thirst. Their stony hearts … Read More
Third Sunday of Lent – 15 March 2020 Exodus 17:3-7. Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9. Romans 5:1-2, 5-8. John 4:5-42. Drinking in Christ. Let us not grumble like the people in the desert. For we stand in the grace of God … Read More
Second Sunday of Lent – 08 March 2020 Genesis 12:1-4a. Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22. 2 Timothy 1:8b-10. Matthew 17:1-9. It Is Good to Be Here. God says to each of us today: I will bless you; live a holy … Read More
Second Sunday of Lent Last week we explored how mystagogy is a lifelong discipline for all the faithful. At its core, mystagogy asks: What happened? What does it mean? What will I do now? As we continue through the Year … Read More
First Sunday of Lent – 01 March 2020 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7. Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17. Romans 5:12-19. Matthew 4:1-11. Keep Grace Upfront. Transgression and sin play a big part in the garden of Eden story. So does grace – … Read More
First Sunday of Lent It may seem strange to talk about mystagogy in Lent. But mystagogy is something all the faithful are called to do all the time. The United States bishops said that “mystagogy represents the Christian’s lifelong education … Read More
Ash Wednesday A few years ago, it felt like all of California was burning. Massive wildfires broke out up and down the state and burned for weeks. The fire that destroyed the town of Paradise in Northern California roared for … Read More
Ash Wednesday – 26 February 2020 Joel 2:12-18. Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17. 2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Lent Is Preparation. The gospel reminds us about these guides for Lent: (1) give alms in secret, (2) pray … Read More
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – 23 February 2020 Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18. Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13. 1 Corinthians 3:16-23. Matthew 5:38-48. “The Lord is kind and merciful” [Psalm 103]. Jesus still teaches on the mount today. He moves … Read More
A few years ago, the Pew Research Center reported that 28% of U.S. adults don’t attend church on Sunday because they don’t believe. So let’s imagine there are 1,000 Catholics in your parish boundaries who are not coming to Mass. … Read More
I want to tell you about my “Peter, feed my sheep” moment. You remember the story. For the third time, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter is getting a little ticked off because a.) Jesus already knows the … Read More
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 16 February 2020 Sirach 15:15-20. Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10. Matthew 5:17-37. Attending to Law. Both civil and Church law give us standards to guide our thought and behaviors. Outward acts … Read More
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time The dialogues and acclamations are the church’s first preference for what is sung at Mass (see last week and “Sing to the Lord,” 115). But how do you choose everything else? You probably already know … Read More
Pope Francis doesn’t often talk about liturgy, but when he does…wow! Last year he said this about the need for liturgical formation: We know that it is not enough to change the liturgical books to improve the quality of the … Read More
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 09 February 2020 Isaiah 58:7-10. Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Matthew 5:13-16. Being Salty. In old Roman times, soldiers were paid in salt (it is the root word for “salary”). We are … Read More
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Liturgical music communicates the story of the mystery of Christ, and the assembly in whom the Spirit dwells is the principal storyteller. The primary way they tell that story is by their “fully conscious, and … Read More
In 1996, I went to a movie theater in San Jose, California, to see Fargo. Fargo, as you probably know, is a black comedy focused on the investigation of a car salesman who hires two bumbling criminals to kidnap his … Read More
The Presentation of the Lord, Feast – Sunday, 02 February 2020 Malachi 3:1-4. Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10. Hebrews 2:14-8. Luke 2:22-40. Christ Is Present. Hebrews announces what we know: Jesus Christ had to become like us in every way … Read More
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time We’ve been reviewing principles for choosing liturgical music, starting with the “story” that liturgical music supports, which is the mystery of Christ revealed through the liturgical year. Now let’s look at the people who tell … Read More
The Presentation of the Lord Several feasts and solemnities interject a specific focus of the paschal mystery into the steady pace of Ordinary Time. This Sunday is one of those feasts. Occurring 40 days after December 25, for some cultures, … Read More
Father Augustine was sluggish getting ready for Mass. The strain of last night’s Easter Vigil—his 34th or 35th; he couldn’t remember—had significantly weakened him. But he had to celebrate Easter morning with the neophytes. After his brief homily, the catechumens … Read More
We said earlier that there are three levels of liturgical participation: what happens, what gets accomplished, and why we do what we do. These three levels overlap, and everyone present is participating at all three levels all the time. But … Read More
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Last week, we explored the flow of the liturgical seasons Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter. In between these seasons are 33 to 34 weeks that make up Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time is not a liturgical season like … Read More
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Resources like GIA Quarterly are useful for helping you choose music. But you also want to understand the liturgical principles that will guide your choices. We’ll explore these over the next few weeks. Choosing liturgical … Read More
In a previous post, we talked about how our liturgical ministry changes the world. We change the world by changing hearts. We change hearts by celebrating liturgy so authentically that it reveals the very nature of God and God’s love … Read More
If you’ve been preparing liturgy or music for a while, the details of the Christmas Day liturgies and the Christmas season may seem pretty familiar or even rote. If you feel this way, reviewing the basics of this season can … Read More
To the point It is no coincidence that the opening words of John’s Prologue proclaimed at Christmas, “In the beginning” (Jn 1:1), are the same words we hear at the Easter Vigil in the story of Creation from Genesis. John’s … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Advent – 22 December 2019 Isaiah 7:10-14. Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6. Romans 1:1-7. Matthew 1:18-24. To Dream and to Act. The promised Second Coming of Christ is assured in the reality of the first. This birth of … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Advent If you know any Filipinos in your community, you might have noticed a star-shaped lantern decorating their home during Advent and Christmas. These parols (“lanterns”) are usually made of bamboo frames covered with paper and tinsel. … Read More
Once upon a time, I knew a young priest who didn’t really like presiding at liturgy. He did a good job when he did preside, and he preached pretty well. But what he really wanted to do, what he said … Read More
Third Sunday of Advent – 15 December 2019 Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10. Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10. James 5:7-10. Matthew 11:2-11. Who Is the Messiah? When even the land sings God’s praise, how can we not do the same? When God comes … Read More
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Feast – Thursday, 12 December 2019 Patronal Feastday of the Americas Zechariah 2:14-17. OR Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab. Judith 13:18bcde, 19. Luke 1:26-38. OR Luke 1:39-47. A Rose Filled Cloak. Roses in winter, a miraculous image … Read More
Third Sunday of Advent Throughout Advent you might already have been singing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Or perhaps you have been waiting for today, Gaudete (“Rejoice”) Sunday, or for December 17, the traditional time the church begins singing the … Read More
I was almost seven years old the first time I experienced Mass celebrated in English. My memory is fuzzy, but I looked up the date—First Sunday of Advent, 1964. In a previous post, we looked at some of the circumstances … Read More
Second Sunday of Advent – 08 December 2019 Isaiah 11:1-10. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17. Romans 15:4-9. Matthew 3:1-12. A Changed Mind Fosters a Changed Life. Who would want to be accused of being part of a brood of vipers? … Read More
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Last year, the Immaculate Conception fell on a Saturday. This year, December 8 is Sunday! Now what? Sunday is always a holy day of obligation. The Code of Canon Law … Read More
First Sunday of Advent – 01 December 2019 Isaiah 2:1-5. Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9. Romans 13:11-14. Matthew 24:37-44. Coming That Is Certain Yet Unknown. We begin a new liturgical year today, focusing on the parousia, the “end time”, … Read More
Second Sunday of Advent By this time of year, the election campaign season in the United States will be in full swing. If it’s anything like recent years, it will be ugly, brutal, and on full display across our media … Read More
First Sunday of Advent When digital planners and calendars weren’t yet the norm, I always looked forward to the ritual cracking open of my brand-new liturgical calendar ordo and my pristine dayplanner to make my first calendar entry for the … Read More
My grandmother’s kitchen was the kind of place where the family would gather when we went to visit. The kitchen was too small for all of us, but it was where Grandma spent most of her time. So if you … Read More
When a young nurse named Sheila was asked about her religion, she said: I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. … Read More
Thanksgiving Day Most of us never get personal handwritten letters in the mail anymore. Instead, our postal mailboxes are filled with bills, ads, and end-of-the-year solicitations, and our electronic mailboxes numb us with spam, more ads, and work. In this … Read More
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe The proclamation today of Jesus’s crucifixion reminds us that this solemnity of Christ as King of the Universe is not what one imagines is appropriate for royalty. Here, we have no trumpet … Read More
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time In our line of work, it can be easy to fall into a spirit of pessimism, crankiness, stress, or general worry. Especially this time of year, when the pressures of the secular calendar, our home … Read More
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Much can distract us from the main point tying today’s readings together. The gruesome torture and killing of seven brothers and their mother might lead us down the path of talking about religious persecution, or … Read More
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time My friends think my house is always neat and tidy. That’s because I only invite them over after I’ve spent hours cleaning up the mess and hiding everything else in closets, the oven, and behind … Read More
Solemnity of All Saints / The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed One of our most underused treasures is the Litany of Saints. Most of us pray it only at the Easter Vigil, unless there are no baptisms and the … Read More
To discover why we sing at Mass, we have to understand “sacrament.” We tend to think of sacraments as objects that we get. There are seven of them, and we get them at important moments in our lives. “Sacrament” has … Read More
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time I used to believe that I was nothing like the Pharisee in today’s parable—righteously smug as he measured his piety against the “rest of humanity”—until I realized I loved the liturgy more than I loved … Read More
On September 30, 2019, Pope Francis declared in an apostolic letter that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God” (Aperuit Illis, 3). This letter and the … Read More
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time I spent three months in Panama City, Panama, trying to learn Spanish. There are parts of the city that cater to tourists, where streets and sidewalks are clean and trash is swept up daily by … Read More
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Being grateful to God is the core of our faith. We see this embodied in the great prayer of thanksgiving, the Eucharistic Prayer, which is described as the “center and highpoint of the entire celebration” … Read More
Miriam collapsed on the seashore, her 86-year-old legs burning with pain and covered with mud. After seven days of evasive maneuvers on limited rations, she and her people had been trapped between the vast sea in front of them and … Read More
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time When I was eight, I joined the choir at my parish in Los Angeles because I was certain a talent scout would discover me and make me a star! I’m sure none of you had … Read More
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time There is a painting by 20th-century American artist Osvaldo Louis Guglielmi at the Milwaukee Art Museum titled “The Christening.” When I first saw it, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. It’s not particularly … Read More
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time A common liturgical rule that almost every community breaks at some point is having a person serve in more than one liturgical ministry within the same Mass. You won’t find any liturgical book that specifically … Read More
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time What about the ninety-nine sheep in today’s Gospel? Did they rejoice when their wayward companion came back? Or had they thought they had been ridden of him once and for all? An easy approach to … Read More
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time In the Rite of Ordination of a Priest, as the bishop hands over the bread and wine to the newly ordained, he says to him, “Understand what you do, imitate what you celebrate, and conform … Read More
Mrs. Johnson sat at the Baldwin upright and played three notes in a row that sounded like the NBC chimes. Knees locked, hands clenched at my sides, I tried to match the sounds with my quavering voice. “Again,” she said. … Read More
One year, after my parents moved to a new state, I went to visit them for the Christmas holidays. We went to Mass on Christmas morning at their new parish. I was a little surprised at how poorly people sang. … Read More
If Julia Child is not a saint, she is at least a “blessed” in my book. She changed how Americans understand meal sharing, and meal sharing is central to our lives as Catholics. What Julia Child and the TV chefs … Read More
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Want to know the best way to get a better sense of what your parish is really like? Sit in a place you’re not used to sitting. Or sit in the very back pew, or … Read More
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s first reading presents us with an image of the diversity of God’s people, gathered from every nation and language. Many of our parishes in the United States are blessed with diverse communities of people, … Read More
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Women’s roles in society and in the church have taken on a new meaning in the last few years. With the #metoo movement and a new awareness of how women have … Read More
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus’s words today don’t bring much comfort. But our comfort isn’t the goal of faith in Christ. Following Christ will call us to do many uncomfortable things. Recall some of the gospels we’ve heard these … Read More
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time We can obviously read today’s readings with an eye toward the end times when Christ will return in glory. However, as people of faith living in the time between Christ’s Ascension and Second Coming, we … Read More
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Many of us whose primary work is in service to the church may never find ourselves rich in earthly treasure. And yet, there still is a warning for us in today’s parable of the rich … Read More
Before the Second Vatican Council, it would have been unusual to hear people in the assembly singing. Although official church documents encouraged the assembly to sing, much of the music was in Latin. An even greater barrier, however, was a … Read More
When we gather for Mass on Sunday, the church expects a high standard of celebration: In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which … Read More
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time In these summer months, your parish might be preparing to celebrate the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. This rite ritualizes an unbaptized seeker’s intention to follow Christ and the church’s acceptance of … Read More
After Mass one Sunday, one of the worshipers was so moved by the music that he went home and wrote this in in journal: How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your … Read More
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Poor Martha! She’s always compared to Mary who seems to have done nothing to attend to the needs of dinner, and we laud Mary’s choice as though feeding one’s guest while the food was hot … Read More
In parish ministry, we often have opportunities to celebrate a communal liturgy that is not the Mass. These may be small group meetings, a school gathering, or a workshop setting where the assembly wants to pray something more than just … Read More
Body and Blood of Christ In the Gospels, we often see Jesus put word and action together, where his action embodies his words. We see this most clearly in the Johannine Gospels whenever he said, “I am,” such as when … Read More
The 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time In one of the Facebook groups I participate in, a friend posed the question, “How do I get my parishioners to be more hospitable?” People offered suggestions like scheduling hospitality teams, training ushers, asking … Read More
In a previous post, we discussed the quest for sacred silence in the liturgy. In contemporary worship, the rubrics of the church call for times of sacred silence. And very often, this rubric is ignored because either parishioners are unaware … Read More
We have all seen signs like “Do not litter” or “Keep off the grass.” These signs exist because people are littering and walking on the grass. The church has a “sign” like these. In a variety of forms, it says, … Read More
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time In communities where there are adults and children of catechetical age preparing for baptism, the church dismisses them before the Creed when they are present at Mass. This dismissal of catechumens is part of their … Read More
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time This week our nation celebrates Independence Day. The Sundays that surround that holiday sometimes become a testing ground for music ministers and liturgists. Should you include patriotic songs and other national symbols into the Mass … Read More
When I was a kid, I belonged to a Boy Scout troop sponsored by my parish. One of my favorite events was Scout Sunday. All of us would get dressed up in our uniforms, and we would march into church … Read More
Most Holy Trinity With the Father and the Son taking “top billing,” the third Person of the Trinity sometimes gets left out from our liturgical focus, relegated to being imagined simply as a bird or confined only to Pentecost and … Read More
Pentecost How do you picture the Holy Spirit? We can imagine a haloed bird hovering or “tongues as of fire.” We can sense the Spirit as wind in its many forms: breath, breeze, gusts, air. But how do you describe … Read More
While I am sure it is not true at your parish, most Masses I participate in tend come apart at the communion rite. A liturgy can be going along just great, and then the wheels fall off the liturgical bus … Read More
Ascension This Ascension, let us focus less on where Christ went and more on what Christ did. Christ entered heaven’s sanctuary that we might “have confidence of entrance . . . by the new and living way he opened for … Read More
Seventh Sunday of Easter As we near Pentecost, some parishes may be preparing to incorporate various languages and cultural elements into the Mass. Many of these communities are already multicultural, so intercultural worship is a necessity for their unity. On … Read More
Recently, an article addressed to priests who improvise at Mass appeared in America magazine. I agree with a lot of the points the author made, but the article itself didn’t seem to offer much practical advice. The overall point was … Read More
Sixth Sunday of Easter Some parishes give the choir a “break” during the summer. Rest is important. Even God rested! But we might rethink this practice of giving music ministers a formal break from the Sunday Mass. One reason is … Read More
Following on a previous post, I want to look at how parish music leaders can help turn Ordinary Time liturgy into an extraordinary experience of worship. There are two essential keys to making this happen: Yearn for the assembly to … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Easter While everyone else is starting to look forward to summer, we’ve only come to the halfway point of Easter! Especially because Easter Sunday came so late this year, we might start to feel a bit like … Read More
As we approach summer and that long stretch of Ordinary Time Sundays in the liturgical calendar, we can take a fresh look at what “ordinary” worship should be like. In the liturgical calendar, “ordinary” refers to the order of the … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Easter At the 2016 national meeting of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, Mark R. Francis, CSV, said in his keynote: “Liturgy in our multicultural church needs to help us get over the presumption that our particular … Read More
Third Sunday of Easter Eating is a small, good thing in a time like this” (Raymond Carver, “A Small, Good Thing,” Cathedral, 1983). This line in the final scene of Carver’s short story is the turning point toward reconciliation and … Read More
I have never been to Notre Dame in Paris. Still, my heart breaks for all of us. (Download this prayer in English and French here.) Une Prière pour Notre Dame en Paris A Prayer for Notre Dame in Paris … Read More
Many years ago, attended a regional theater matinée of Shakespeare’s Richard III. As I settled into my center seat, I heard a small commotion behind me. A bus-load of middle school students began filling in the back rows. Richard III … Read More
Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) In Easter, the newly baptized begin to experience the world and their faith through the lens of the sacraments they have celebrated. They hone this new perception in the Sunday Masses of the … Read More
Last month, I asked many of you to complete an online survey that included a question about your biggest challenge. Sixty-five people responded to the survey. Of those, twenty people (about 30%) listed communications issues as the thing that caused … Read More
As I write this, we are two days away from Opening Day. If you are a baseball fan, you immediately know that by “Opening Day,” I mean the day regular season Major League Baseball begins — usually during the first … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Lent We approach the summit of this annual ascent to the holy mountain of Easter. Let us, as music ministers, reflect on how we have served the people of God in this ministry of prayer and proclamation. … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Lent We come to the midway point of Lent on this Laetare (“rejoice”) Sunday. And what rejoicing do we have today in our readings! Having squandered all he had, the prodigal son finds a banquet prepared for … Read More
Third Sunday of Lent Starting this Sunday, the church celebrates the first of three scrutinies for the elect—adults and children of catechetical age who will be baptized this Easter. These rites use the readings for year A even in years … Read More
Second Sunday of Lent In today’s readings, God’s presence is revealed within darkness. Only when night fell did the Lord appear to a terrified Abram to make the covenant with him and his descendants. From the very cloud that had … Read More
When I was about six or seven years old, my mother made a big bowl of popcorn and sat down on the couch with me and my two brothers. CBS was airing The Wizard of Oz, and we watched it … Read More
Everyone who shows up at Mass next Sunday will be looking for a good story. They may not say it that way. They may say they are looking for some quiet time with God; or as sense of community; or … Read More
First Sunday of Lent The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy describes Lent’s twofold nature: “[B]y recalling or preparing for baptism and by penance, it disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the word of God and devote themselves to prayer, … Read More
Ash Wednesday In his last public address before dying from cancer in 1996, Joseph Cardinal Bernadin urged his flock in the Archdiocese of Chicago to live in unity with Christ and with one another, saying, “A dying person does not … Read More
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16). As a liturgical musician, I often … Read More
Some days… Some days I just want to go home and pull a blanket over my head. I care about liturgy — a lot. I believe liturgy changes us. And when we are changed, we can change the world. But … Read More
I think most of us would agree with the statement the liturgy requires humility — until it is required of us. I remember the first liturgy committee I formed after I was hired as a parish liturgist. The pastor had … Read More
The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Next Sunday, catechumens around the world who have been deemed ready for initiation will be sent to their local cathedral to give their names to their bishop and thus be chosen for baptism this … Read More
Yesterday someone from my homeowners association taped a flyer to my door listing 16 things we’re not supposed to flush down the drain, including bandage wrappings, car oil, paper towels, and toys. I assume the reason they did that is … Read More
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Last week we talked about avoiding historicizing the Triduum. When we try too hard to reenact the past, showing what we believe it to have looked like in the Upper Room, in the garden … Read More
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time As part of your preparation for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, be sure to read or reread the “Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts” (Paschale Solemnitatis), issued by the … Read More
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time It’s less than four weeks to Lent, but don’t let that distract you from your long-term advance planning of this year’s Triduum because what you do during Lent can become part of your Triduum … Read More
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time It feels far away, but today marks ten weeks to Holy Week. If you haven’t already, now is the time to prepare for the Triduum. For the next several weeks, let’s look at a … Read More
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Sometimes I hear liturgical ministers say something like, “I’m not doing anything at Mass today because I wasn’t scheduled.” I’ll even hear something similar from clergy if they’re not concelebrating or assisting at the … Read More
The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Members of the church are incorporated into an order, giving them particular rights and responsibilities. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) describes this incorporation as an ordinatio. We’re familiar with the English use … Read More
Readings for Christmas Day, Mass at Dawn The story of Christmas does not end with the angels’ song glorifying God. Here we see the shepherds’ response to the revelation given to them by that heavenly host. They “went in haste,” … Read More
The Fourth Sunday in Advent A popular late Advent custom among some Hispanic communities is Las Posadas, which means “the inns.” For nine evenings, starting on December 16, neighborhoods remember the journey of Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and Joseph as … Read More
The Third Sunday of Advent I was surprised to find reviews of my local church on Tripadvisor one day. The reviews read a lot like others for must-see tourist sites, but they also reiterated a truth: People won’t remember what … Read More
The Second Sunday of Advent In today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we hear: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day … Read More
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Because the Immaculate Conception falls on a Saturday this year, you’ll likely get some questions asking if it is still a holy day of obligation. So it’s a good time … Read More
The First Sunday of Advent It’s easy at Advent to become a bit overzealous with our rubrics around these four short weeks. Of course we should encourage one another to observe the distinct spirit of Advent and not let too … Read More
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Good kings, rulers, and leaders testify to the truth. They speak the hard words no one else wants to say, and they see beyond the superficial and temporary to utter the profound … Read More
Readings for Thanksgiving Day On this day, many will gather with friends and family at table, and will want to mark that time with some form of meal blessing. Unless a family is already used to praying at home together, … Read More
Readings for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Bad news sells. Just turn on the TV, scroll through your social media feed, or check the show times for the latest dystopian, nature striking back, zombie apocalypse blockbuster. One recent media … Read More
I don’t think we can understand liturgy until we understand that it is a storytelling process. And then we have to understand the story liturgy tells and what the story does. Why understanding liturgy as “story” is so important It … Read More
Readings for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time I used to work for a bishop who took great pride in his homilies. He would type them out then mark the places where he planned to pause and the phrases he … Read More
Readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. How clearly Jesus distills the law. Yet, every so often our behavior might teach that love of God and neighbor don’t actually have to … Read More
Solemnity of All Saints / The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) Death is never easy to face, so we avoid it. We keep aging at bay with creams and dyes and never talk of preparing for death. … Read More
Readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time On back to back Sundays, we hear Jesus ask, “What do you want me to do for you?” Last week, James and John sought glory; this week, Bartimaeus seeks healing. The same … Read More
Friendship is such a precious gift. When one finds a good friend, we find a pathway to God. I had written this blessing as a birthday gift for a good friend a while back. May it be a gift for … Read More
Readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time James and John get put in a bad light because of their request in today’s Gospel. How dare they seek glory by asking for places at Jesus’s side! However, Saint John Chrysostom, … Read More
Where were you when you got your first iPhone (or iPhone knock-off)? In 2007, Steve Jobs forever changed how we think about phones. At that moment, three kinds of people engaged with the new phone. Techies The techies got out … Read More
Readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Rules can be hard to follow. On the other hand, they sometimes are too easy to break. We’ve all encountered a coordinator who goes absolutely “by the book” with no leeway for … Read More
Readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time I hate to admit it, but I am a bit of a hoarder. I’m nowhere near the level of hoarding you see on reality shows where the health department and dump trucks … Read More
Readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Before they are baptized, an adult celebrates the ephphatha rite. In it, the presider touches the person’s ears and lips and says, “Be opened that you may profess the faith you hear, … Read More
One of my biggest gripes is the use (or misuse) of the “teaching Mass.” To me, it feels like preparing a feast for your beloved — perhaps for a significant anniversary or to celebrate a big promotion — and then … Read More
Sarah, a lifelong Catholic, was feeling a little awkward and confused. She had invited her friend, Julie, to go to Mass with her. Now they were having coffee after the liturgy, and Julie had asked why Catholics did all that … Read More
Readings for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Each of us probably has a story behind our name. On this solemnity, we hear the wondrous backstory of the naming of John the Baptist. I know it’s … Read More
Readings for Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year B Blood is such a visceral thing. Seeing it out in the open usually means something is wrong. Blood simply is not meant to be outside of … Read More
Readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year B About Liturgy Homilists often dread preparing the homily for this Sunday’s solemnity because it is so easy to get caught up in trying to explain either a mathematical conundrum … Read More
When a pastor or other staff person leaves a parish, it is often a time of sadness, but also an opportunity to send them with our prayers and God’s blessings into whatever new community or ministry God is calling them. … Read More
Readings for Pentecost Sunday, Mass during the day, Year B I would like to suggest that today’s popular image of Pentecost as the “birthday of the church” is not helpful. The problem comes when we start to associate the symbols … Read More
Readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension, Year B About Liturgy Why do some places celebrate Ascension on Thursday while others move it to the following Sunday? The Synoptic Gospels give us the tradition of placing the Ascension forty days … Read More
Mark Twain once wrote, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” In liturgy, if you are trying to get lightening to strike, … Read More
Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship knows that loving another person is as much about daily reconciling as it is about feeling love. Perhaps that is why Jesus today … Read More
In my first year of college, just 15 years after the close of Vatican II, I volunteered to be a communion minister at our campus ministry center. I had served as a communion minister in high school, but only at … Read More
The first time I realized that the Church has something to say about the dignity of work was when I first read Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes and Pope John Paul II’s Laborem Exercens. Those documents helped me see that … Read More
Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B About Liturgy We know well that to be disciples we are to be witnesses for Christ. Yet we are also called to be witnesses for one another, speaking on behalf of … Read More
This is an excellent summary of why we do not have eulogies in Catholic funerals. The speaker is Fr. Bill Burke, Director of the National Liturgy Office of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
You won’t find his feast day on your liturgical calendar, but four days after tax day in the U.S. is always a great day to remember this apocryphal saint. And to paraphrase what we say about good stories, all saint … Read More
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B One unfortunate outcome of connecting the image of the Good Shepherd from today’s Gospel so heavily to priesthood is that the Fourth Sunday of Easter has at times been overshadowed by … Read More
One of my first jobs after college was in campus ministry. The Newman House was an actual house just off campus. It was also the residence for the priest-director. The most memorable feature of the house was its red door. … Read More
Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year B About Liturgy Let us continue our mystagogical reflection on the symbols of Easter. We see in today’s gospel the risen Christ ask for something to eat, and he eats what is … Read More
Why do people go to Mass? Why do you go to Mass? If you ask people — or yourself — that question, you will likely hear that people are in church to receive comfort, to be with friends, to receive … Read More
Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, Year B We’ll never know if Thomas put his finger into Jesus’s nail marks or touched the open wound at his side. John’s gospel today never says he did, although many artists have … Read More
Prayer When You Have Nothing Left to Give Lord, I have nothing left to give. I’m exhausted and worn out. Yet so many still ask for more. Grant me that last ounce of strength that sustained you on the cross … Read More
As liturgists, we can sometimes fall into the sin of rubricism disguised as reverence. However, we cannot follow the Gospel by becoming legalists, nitpicking the rules and measuring piety by the number of rubrics followed. Rather, we only truly obey … Read More
Readings for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B At the height of public protest in the United States against a travel ban that seemed to be targeting Muslim countries, the Lectionary readings that Sunday spoke of justice, mercy, … Read More
Readings for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B A note: Several events converged this week that have caused me to add a note to the commentary for this Sunday’s readings. First, I received in the mail the poster … Read More
The Gathering Song is one of the most important pieces of music of the Mass. This is because it sets the whole tone for the liturgy in a similar way that the overture sets the mood for an opera or … Read More
I was invited to give the reflection at Morning Prayer for the Diocese of Reno annual diocesan conference last Saturday, January 6, 2018. It’s always a wonderful gathering with excellent speakers and an enthusiastic assembly. Monique Jacobs and her team always … Read More
Stare at a Christmas tree sometime. Or step back from your front door and take another look at your Christmas wreath. Once you get past the initial thought of “yet another Christmas season,” what do you see? Do you see … Read More
As we enter into the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, right on the heels of the shortest Advent possible, here are two offerings that might sustain you if you find yourself weary and depleted from all you do … Read More
Reflecting on the Gospel and Living the Paschal Mystery To ponder and pray: Christmas is a season for traditions. We return to familiar rituals of our childhood. We renew the bonds of friendship through customs of gathering and greeting. And … Read More
Dear friends in Christ, Christmas is always a beautiful time to be with the people we love both at home and in our church communities, and I pray that these upcoming days of Christmas are filled with peace and grace … Read More
About Liturgy The gradual nature of seasons: Our secular calendar marks the days one season ends and another begins. Yet in our daily life, that line is not as sharply defined. Fall colors gradually turn to winter cold as, day by … Read More
