Parish Mission & Latin Mass

Dear Parishioners,

You may have seen the article and photo of our church on the front page of the Daily Pilot this week. It showed Fr. Philip celebrating the traditional Latin Mass with the relief in our sanctuary as a background. Now that we have begun celebrating the “extraordinary form” of the Mass (Pope Benedict’s term), I would like to share some reflections with you.

Photo: Christopher Wagner / Daily Pilot

First of all, let me dispel any concerns regarding the use of this form of Mass here at St. John the Baptist. While we are happy to provide this form of the Mass, we also wholeheartedly adhere to the liturgical changes initiated after the Second Vatican Council. We will always continue to have Masses in the revised rite in English and sometimes with Latin parts such as the Sanctus and Agnus Dei.

Secondly, I would invite you to assist at the traditional Latin Mass if you have not done so already. If you are under 40 you may never have seen Mass celebrated in this way. You will find that the basic structure is the same as the “ordinary form” with which we are all familiar. There is an introductory section with prayers, followed by readings and a homily. Then there follows a preparation of the bread and wine, a Eucharistic Prayer and a Communion Rite, and finally a concluding rite. The difference is that each part seems to flow into the next with the choir singing the Latin parts as a background.

Thirdly, in order to participate in the traditional Latin Mass, it is strongly urged that we use a booklet or a hand missal in English and Latin so that we can follow the parts, stand, sit, and kneel at the right times, and make the responses. We are ordering more Latin/English booklets and hope to provide enough for everyone. On another news topic, we welcome Fr. Wolfgang Seitz as our annual parish mission preacher this week. I hope you will make time to attend the mission either in the morning or evening this Monday through Friday. See elsewhere in this bulletin for the complete schedule

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand