As I mentioned in my bulletin column last week, there are a few liturgical updates and reminders I would like to offer in light of comments I've received in general, at our Listening Sessions, and in view of the National Eucharistic Revival. These remarks focus on our unity as a family in Christ as a Church, fostering a welcoming environment, and deepening our respect and reverence for the liturgy. The liturgy is the work of Christ who sanctifies us in Word and Sacrament. We collaborate with Christ's work at Mass by opening our hearts to His work and participating fully in His Paschal Mystery. Therefore, our worship becomes immensely fruitful when we do what the Church ask of us in all reverence, docility, and obedience to Christ.

Livestreaming. We will continue to livestream the 8:00 am Mass at St. Mary's as a benefit for the sick, homebound, those with significant health risk factors or care for someone who is immune-compromised. While livestreaming Mass here or elsewhere can be spiritually uplifting, remember that it is not a substitute for being physically present at Mass. As we come out of the pandemic, we will need to make sure we are coming to Mass in person as the Church intends, and only utilize livestream when it is impossible to come to Mass in person.

Timeliness. Please make every attempt to be in your pew before Mass begins and stay until the closing hymn is finished. As a family in Christ, we need to make it a priority to be together for the whole Mass each week for our own benefit and for the benefit of our parish family. We all know emergencies happen from time to time, but patterns of coming late and/or leaving early can easily become bad habits that harm us spiritually. If you do arrive after Mass begins, please wait in the back of church for a pause in the prayers or readings before making your way to your pew as a gesture of respect for those praying.

Communion Postures. Since 2003, the Diocese of Cleveland has retained the same policy for postures during the Communion Rite which directs the faithful to remain standing beginning after the Great Amen until communion has been distributed to everyone in the church. At that time, the communion song ends and a period of sacred silence begins. People may sit or kneel at that time and do not need to stand until the Blessed Sacrament is reposed or the priest is seated. While this policy is intended to unite us in common posture, it isn't meant to be rigidly imposed so that those who wish to sit or kneel at another time would not feel free to do so. The priest at Mass may gesture to be seated when sacred silence begins.

Bells. We will instruct servers to ring the bells only during the consecration and not during the epiclesis. This will allow the congregation to hear the words the presider is speaking during epiclesis as he calls forth the power of the Holy Spirit into the offering of bread and wine.

Gospel Book. Starting in September, the deacon, or a lector in the absence of a deacon, at Mass will process in with the Book of the Gospels.

On a closing note, I want to thank all of our liturgical ministers who serve at our Masses throughout the year. Your service helps make the Mass a truly transformative encounter with Jesus. It really does take a village of humble disciples to do this! I would ask us all to pray about how the Lord might be calling us to give of our time to help at our parish in some capacity, especially in a liturgical ministry. Feel free to reach out to me or one of our clergy to learn about areas of need and how you might be able to serve