The New Roman Missal

Today, I had the chance to chat with a couple of our neighboring pastors, and I was really surprised that they hadn't heard about an important workshop coming to our diocese, indeed to our own backyard, at Monmouth University in August. It's a workshop sponsored by FDLC and the BCDW (Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship) on the implementation of the new Roman Missal. It's going to be one of 20 workshops like this to be offered all over the country.

I think that it's really important for all of the priests of the Trenton Diocese, and of New Jersey to take advantage of this workshop. We will have top-notch presenters and leaders of the FDLC present at this event, including Bishop John M. Smith of the Trenton Diocese, Archbishop Donald Reece from Jamaica, Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, NJ and the chair of the BCDW, and Msgr. John Burton, the Executive Director of the FDLC will be present at this workshop. All should be able to share some valuable insights into the new Missal, as well as insights into effective preparation techniques to help with the much-needed catechesis that we'll need to do as pastors and church leaders.


Here's a link to the info about the workshop here in Trenton in August:

http://www.fdlc.org/Roman_Missal/RM_13.htm

Check this out!

Not sure what to think of this!

I wouldn't feel comfortable singing a song like this, if I were being installed as a new Bishop of a diocese....

...but that may be why I'll never be considered for being a Bishop!

Let me know what you think of this!

Take up your Cross

We hear in today's Gospel: "Take up your cross....and follow me." Powerful words.


What are the crosses in YOUR lives? What are you "bearing"? Use the Comment line to let me know.

A new Co-adjutor Bishop for Trenton!

Today, at a 10:00 a.m. Press Conference held at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Trenton, it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI has named Rev. David O'Connell, C.M. as the Co-adjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton. Bishop-elect O'Connell, the recent President of the Catholic University of America, is no stranger to the Diocese. He attended high-school in Princeton, his religous community has some foundations in our diocese, and he was planning a sabbatical at the Jersey Shore!

So much for sabbatical plans!

We welcome the new Bishop to the Diocese of Trenton, and we look forward to walking with him in the future years.

A Big Day Later Today!

In the Diocese oF Trenton, we're expecing BIG NEWS later today. There is scheduled a 10:00 a.m. Press Conference in Trenton.

Lots of rumors are floating around.

For my money, I'll bet that they are going to announce the naming of a Coadjutor Bishop for Bishop John. M. Smith. Bishop Smith is due to submit his resignation on his 75th birthday later this month, so tomorrow's events aren't totally unexpected.

Tune in to the Vatican website for official news regarding the new appointment.

Let's pray for each other as we enter this new chapter!

In Christ's peace,

Fr. Gene

Coach Brian Kelly at the Jersey Shore!

Tonight, the Notre Dame Club of the Jersey Shore held its annual Universal Notre Dame night. The guest speaker from campus was the new head football coach, Brian Kelly. Coach Kelly was very gracious, and upbeat, and personable...somewhat different from experiences over the past few years. I had a chance to meet with Coach, and I assured him of our club's support, and my own personal prayers for he and his family as they begin this new, exciting chapter in their lives.
A special word of thanks has to go to all of the Club Officers: Jason Korth, our president; Kerrie Wagner, our vice-president; Bill and MaryJane Reilly; Mike and Sarah Shipman; Megan Jones, John Crilly, and all those who pitched in to make this evening a great and memorable night. After tonight's event, our club will be able to make a significant contribution to the scholarship fund, which helps students from our area attend the University.

Again, thanks to everybody who made this a great event! Go Irish!

Pentecost -- The Birthday of the Church

"The inner nature of the church is now made known to us in various images. Taken either from the life of the shepherd or from cultivation of the land, from the art of building or from family life and marriage, these images have their preparation in the books of the prophets.

The church is, accordingly, a sheepfold, the sole and necessary gateway to which is Christ. It is also a flock, whose sheep, although watched over by human shepherds, are nevertheless at all times led and brought to pasture by Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and prince of shepherds, who gave his life for his sheep.

The church is a cultivated field, the tillage of God. On that land the ancient olive tree grows whose holy roots were the prophets and in which the reconciliation of Jews and gentiles has been brought about and will be brought about again. That land, like a choice vineyard, has been planted by the heavenly cultivator.

Often, too, the church is called the building of God. This edifice has many names to describle it: the house of God in which God's family dwells; the household of God in the Spirit; the dwelling-place of God among humans; and especially, the holy temple. This temple is compared in the liturgy to the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. As living stones we here on earth are built into it. It is this holy city that is seen by John as it comes down out of heaven from God when the world is made anew."

CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
VATICAN II

Preparing for Pentecost - 2

"God's City: that image has long gathered to itself massive human hopes. Would that there were a city, with all the intensity and vigor of the great cities that have centered human life and attracted human imagination and made order out of the human experience of geography, but now whole, sheltering and welcoming all, healing, luminous with God's presence, with the Spirit of God.

Such a city would be where God dwells.

Well, say Augustine and Luther and much of the Christian tradition, to taste the meal is already to find oneself entering into the city. The exchange of the meal--we bring wretchedness and are given blessedness--is the commerce of the city.

But is it for us?

Come to the table. The gift of the meal is the word of Christ--"My body, my blood for you" -- which may be kept, kept in the heart, held, the risen one still speaking there. Those who receive it become the very dwelling place of God. Where God dwells there is the city. Eat and drink. In the visible word which is the bread and cup, you are gathered with all the redeemed little ones into the city of the Lamb."
GORDON LATHROP

Preparing for Pentecost

"You are a fire always burning but never consuming; you are a fire consuming in your heat all the soul's selfish love; you are a fire lifting all chill and giving light. In your light you have made me know your truth. You are that light beyond all light who gives the mind's eye supernatural light in such fullness and perfection that you bring clarity even to the light of faith. In that faith I see that my soul has life, and in that light receives you who are Light."

CATHERINE OF SIENA
FOURTEENTH CENTURY

Getting ready for Pentecost

This weekend, we celebrate the end of the great Easter Season with the great feast of Pentecost!

Wear something red to Mass!

Don't be surprised if we pull out all of the stops, and you smell nice incense, we have extra people in the processions, and great music!!! Get ready! You may hear a very new call to spread the Good News!

If ye love me

A classic rendition of a wonderful hymn for these last days of the Easter Season. Enjoy!

Getting ready for Sunday Mass

Check out this video, and put it on your "favorites." This site is a great place to help everybody to get ready for Sunday Mass!

Something Joyful for the Easter Season

Just a joyful little video. I'm new to the whole concept of "mob-dance" but it looks like a lot of fun.

Now I hope my neice Jessica applies to Ohio State for her college years.

A Prayer for Priests

This past year has been designated the "Year for Priests," and I have been remiss in sharing some resources that have been developed in this "year."

However, a very good resource comes from my friend and colleague from the Archdiocese of Boston, Rev. Austin Fleming, the pastor of Concord MA. Austin has his own blog, and I often borrow from him.

One of the best things he has on his blog is a Prayer for Priests that he posts on Friday mornings. With thanks for his friendship and example, I reproduce his prayer for you:



A Prayer for Priests

Gracious God, loving Father,
font of every gift and good,
make of priests for us we pray:

men of faith, men of love,
humble servants of your Word,
prophets of your Spirit’s grace;

men of hope, men of peace,
strong defenders of the truth,
heralds of your holy gospel;

men of prayer, men of praise,
guardians of our sacred rites,
of the scriptures and tradition;

men of changelessness and change,
men who follow you each day,
when and where your Spirit leads;

men of tenderness and strength,
comfort for the sick and weary,
shepherds leading home the lost;

men of counsel, men of wisdom,
gentle guides for the confused,
lights along the darkened path;

men of mercy, patient men,
understanding and consoling
of the grieving and abused;

men of justice and compassion,
reconciling and forgiving,
men of healing in your name;

men of sacrifice and honor,
single minded in your service,
set apart to do your will;

men of holiness and joy,
men anointed by your grace,
men ordained to serve as Christ.

Make us one with them in faith
and in Christ your only Son
in whose holy name we pray.

Amen.

New Info on the Roman Missal

Please be sure to check out the webpage for the U.S. Bishops for up to date information on resources for the implementation.

Here's the first of a series of "Bulletin Inserts" for use in parishes to help in catecesis on the new Roman Missal:

The Worshiping Assembly at Mass
The celebration of Mass is a corporate act, an act of the whole assembly gathered for worship. All the particular ministries serve this corporate function (GIRM, no. 27). In the Mass, the Church is joined to the action of Christ, the high point both of the action by which God sanctifies the world in Christ and of the worship that the human race offers to the Father, adoring him through Christ, the Son of God, in the Holy Spirit (no. 16). We are joined to this divine action through baptism, which incorporates us into the risen Christ. This action, which lies at the center of the whole Christian life (no. 16) is not initiated by us but by God acting in and through the Church as the body of the risen Christ. It becomes our action only to the extent that we give ourselves to this mystery of redemptive worship. The liturgy is designed to bring about in all those who make up the worshiping assembly a participation of the faithful both in body and mind, a participation burning with faithful, hope, and charity (no. 18). To the extent that we are able to participate in this way, the work of redemption becomes personally effective for each of us. By such participation, the General Instruction says, we make the actions and prayers of the liturgy our own; we enter more fully into our personal communion with Christ's redeeming act and perfect worship (see no. 54, 55, etc.).

In the celebration of Mass the faithful are a holy people, a chosen people, a royal priesthood: they give thanks to God and offer the Victim not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him and learn to offer themselves. They should endeavor to make this clear by their deep sense of reverence for God and their charity toward brothers and sisters who share with them in the celebration (no. 95). They should become one body, whether by hearing the word of God, or joining in prayers and liturgical song, or above all by offering the sacrifice together and sharing together in the Lord's table (no. 96).

Because the whole liturgy is a corporate act of the gathered assembly (GIRM no. 34; Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1144), there are certain parts of the Mass that are to be done by the whole assembly, the congregation of the faithful and all the ministers, in order to express the corporate nature of this act. Through these actions, the entire congregation of the faithful joins itself to Christ in acknowledging the great things that God has done and in offering the sacrifice (no. 78). These acts include:



Listening with reverence to the readings of God's word (GIRM no. 29);

Engaging in the dialogue of prayer through acclamations, greetings, and responses to spoken and sung prayers (no. 34-37) in a tone suitable to the text (no. 38);

Joining in an action through common postures and gestures (no. 42);

Participating in communal silence (no. 45);

Because of their baptismal dignity, letting themselves be included in the offering symbolized by incensation (no. 75);

Participating in the greeting of peace as a sign of ecclesial communion and love for each other (no. 82);

Participating in specific spoken prayers and other texts, namely:

the formula of general confession during the penitential rite (no. 51);

the profession of faith (no. 67-68);

the general intercessions (no. 69);

the Lord's Prayer (no. 81);

the prayer of humility before sacramental communion (no. 84);

Participating in the offering during the Eucharistic Prayer, which is spoken or chanted by the priest, but in which all should join as the Church to offer the "spotless Victim to the Father in the Holy Spirit" and "offer themselves and so day by day to surrender themselves, through Christ the Mediator, to an ever more complete union with God and with each other, so that at last God may be all in all" (no. 79f);

Participating in liturgical song, because singing is a way of expressing both the corporate nature of the act of worship and the intense union to be achieved between God and the Church in Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is a union so intense and total that it is described as a union between lovers whose nature is best expressed vocally in song (no. 39). Singing is also an act which unifies and focuses the individual (no. 39), thus encouraging that "participation in body and spirit that is conscious, active, full, and motivated by faith, hope, and charity" (no. 18). These songs and acclamations are normally to be sung, in whole or in part, by all the participants:

opening liturgical song (no. 48);

Kyrie (no. 52);

Gloria (no. 53);

Responsorial psalm (no. 61);

Gospel acclamation (no. 62);

Song at the preparation of gifts (no. 74);

Sanctus, memorial acclamation, and Amen (no. 79, 151);

The Lord's Prayer (no. 81);

Lamb of God (no. 83);

the optional psalm, canticle of praise, or hymn after communion (no. 88).

For those who are properly disposed (no. 80), full, active, and conscious participation is expressed in partaking in the Holy Communion of the Lord, receiving in the one bread consecrated at this Mass the Lord's body and blood, in the same way that the apostles received them from Christ's own hands (no. 72.3).

Back from Notre Dame

Back from the meetings of the Alumni Senate at Notre Dame. Good times. I learned lots of great things about the new "Social Media" outlets available today.

Highlight: I got to meet the new Football coach, Brian Kelly! We had a very nice "reception" in the Press-Box of the Football stadium, and in the midst of it, we had a nice talk from Coach Kelly, and then a great question and answer time.

As Coach was leaving, I planted myself in front of the doorway, in my full Roman Collar and black suit. I told coach that we were looking forward to hosting him at the Jersey Shore,....when he asked where the event was going to be. I told him, "In Long Branch."

He says, "I've got a good friend with a restaurant in Long Branch...you ever hear of 'Avenue?'"

I say: "Hell yeah. It's a great restaurant! The best on the beach in Long Branch."

After that, he got pulled away by Chuck Lennon, the Dir. of the Alumni Association, but I felt that I had made a connection.

Anyway....he'll be here in NJ on Sunday, May 23 at the Ocean Place Hotel/Resort in Long Branch for our annual Universal Notre Dame Night. Cocktails, Dinner, and program with Coach Kelly for $100. Call me if you want/need more info!

Fr. Gene: 732 904 2012

Bread, Wine, Milk and Honey

In the early church, at the Liturgy where new members were initiated, besides bread and wine being blessed and consecrated and given to the newly baptized, St. Hippolytus tells us that a cup of milk mixed with sweet honey would be blessed and given to the neophytes. Apparently, the symbolism was to remind the newbies of the sweetness of life in Christ, their newly-found "Promised Land" that they enjoyed because of their recent baptism.


From St. Hippolytus:

"The deacons then preent the oblation to the bishop. He gives thanks with regard to the bread, which represents the body of Christ; he gives thanks also with regard to the cup, in which the wine is mixed that represents the blood poured out for all those who believe in him. He also gives thanks with regard to the mingled milk and honey, which represents the fulfillment of the promise God made to our ancestors, a promise signified by the land flowing with milk and honey and fulfilled in the flesh of Christ which he gives us and by which believers are nourished like little children, for the sweetness of his word changes the bitterness of our hearts into gentleness. Finally he gives thanks with regard to the water for the oblation, to signify purification, so that the interior and spiritual may receive the same effect as the body. Let the bishop explain all this carefully to those who receive it."

Ah, Bread for the Journey!

"In the act of creating bread, an honest loaf, an object with a presence, a fragrance, a substance, a taste, some would say even a soul, the baker has changed grain and flour and liquid into an entitiy. She or he has taken yeast, a dormant colony of living plants, and released and nurtured them in embryonic warmth, has sprinkled in sugar on which yeast thrives, has sifted in flour that builds the cellular elastic structure that holds the tiny carbon dioxide bubbles that raise the framework of the house called bread. And in that house is love, and warmth, and nourishment, and comfort, and care, and caring, and taking care, and time gone by, and time well spent, and things natural, and things good, and honest toil, and work without thought of reward, and all of those things once had, now lost in a country and a world that has rushed by itself and passed itself, running, and never noticed the loss."

YVONNE YOUNG TARR

Holy Thursday Homily from Notre Dame

The homilist at the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday at the University of Notre Dame is traditionally the Provincial Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The current superior is the Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C.
I will be back on campus next week for the Alumni Senate meetings, and it will be good to reconnect with my old friend, Fr. Tyson.

Happy Easter to L.A.!

Congratulations to our friends in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles! They have a new coadjutor-Archbishop! The successor to Cardinal Mahony is Archbishop Jose Gomez!

I really admire the process that Cardinal Mahony undertook as he approached his 74th birthday....he asked Rome to name a coadutor Archbishop to be with him in his last days as Archbishop of L.A., and then to succeed him with a real working-knowledge of the archdiocese. Such an action really shows that Mahony truly is a humble man, and a gentleman. Would that we had more bishops in the U.S. like Roger Mahony!