Bulletins
May 15, 2016
Download the Bulletin as a PDFFive weeks ago I asked you for feedback about the possibility of the priest and deacon standing at the front of the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer, similar to how they lead prayers at Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In shorthand this is referred to as “facing East” or in Latin ad orientem. Here is an image of Pope Francis offering Holy Mass at a side altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in this manner:
You were very responsive, for which I am grateful. Some of you wrote letters. Many of you sent me emails. I lost track of the number of comments I have received outside church. Dozens of you weighed in on Facebook. Of all the many replies that came my way, one family, one couple and two individuals expressed a negative reaction. Fortunately, there has been enough time to speak in person with each benevolent messenger of caution. All but one now have a much more favorable opinion of the matter. It helped that we all had an opportunity to be present with Fr. Gary Selin offering Holy Mass ad orientem during the parish annual retreat. Some very helpful reminders came out of those conversations.
We will take steps to augment the sound system, which seems to be a never ending saga. For the benefit of parishioners and visitors alike we will prepare a pamphlet for the vestibule literature rack explaining the theological significance of the priest facing ad orientem. In the meantime you can explain it to your guests very simply. When Christ is addressing us, the priest faces the people. When Christ is addressing God the Father, the priest is facing the Cross.
We can expect our special Mass on the evening of Corpus Christi to mark the beginning of this turn toward the Lord.
God bless you.
Fr. Christopher J. Pollard
