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On the weekend of September 14 and 15, Fr. Anthony and I will be doing four “teaching Masses.” What is a teaching Mass? A teaching Mass is just what it describes, a Mass in which the celebrant will explain the liturgy as we go. Sometimes, these liturgies may take a little more time than normal, but they can also be very enlightening for people of all ages.
Everyone is certainly welcome to attend any of these liturgies, but they will be very different from what you are used to. We will begin Mass by explaining our vestments and what they mean and what a procession is, how we do it, then continue on through the Mass explaining the various things that take place that you may not notice or even think about. The significance of the gestures, the words and actions will bring the Mass alive for you.
I often compare this to the idea of football or hockey. If you go to a football game or a hockey game and you don’t understand what is going on, what the rules are or why players are running in different directions, then you are not going to get much out of the game. The experience may be less fulfilling for you than for a fan who knows every little detail. So it is with the Mass. We can’t fully enter into the beauty of the sacred liturgy without a greater knowledge of the significance of what is going on. Liturgy means the work of the people. But if the people are not enlightened and informed, then they are not really participating and then it’s not the fullness of the liturgy that it could and should be.
The Teaching Masses will be on Saturday, September 14th at 4:00 pm at either St. Camillus (Fr. Anthony) or St. Vitus (Fr. Mac), or Sunday morning’s 9:00 am Mass at St. Vitus (Fr. Mac) or the 11:00 am Mass at St. Camillus (Fr. Anthony).
Mass Attendance at either site is required for all students in Faith Formation as well as their families. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
God love you,
