Congratulations, Fr. Stephen Kenyon

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday, we welcome Fr. Stephen Kenyon who is substituting for Fr. Arjie. You might remember that last Summer, we welcomed the same person, but he was called “Deacon Stephen” at that time. I look back at last summer with gratitude for Deacon Stephen’s presence in our parish. We were in the midst of the final throws of building our new church and I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities therein. Consequently, I found myself struggling to put together any homilies. Honestly, my capacity was so diminished in this regard that I questioned my capacity to offer anything in the way of a reflection at Mass. As providence would have it, Deacon Stephen, the only transitional deacon I have received for a Summer assignment, was able to preach homilies. So, not only did I encourage it, I asked him to take over almost all of my preaching duties for the month of July, and we were all the beneficiaries of his presence and spiritual insights. I was fed and renewed by his preaching, and many of you shared the same with me. So, let us thank Fr. Kenyon for coming, once again, to help us this weekend, though not just in preaching, but in offering us the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. It is a time to be grateful for his openness to God’s calling as well as his pastoral care for us all last summer. 

Thank you Fr. Stephen for saying yes to God’s call, and welcome back to St. Anne, even if for just a weekend.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor

Liturgical Change, Part 3 The Role of the Reader in Procession in the Absence of a Deacon

Dear Parishioners,

As we continue to review our liturgy in light of the New Archdiocesan Liturgical Handbook, I would like to draw your attention to a small detail that we have implemented when we don’t have a deacon.  In the entrance procession, again when there is no deacon, the Readers processes in with the Altar Servers and Priest. When the group reaches the front of the Sanctuary, they will all make a gesture of reverence (a bow to the Altar or Genuflection when there is a Tabernacle behind the Altar).  Then all ministers will take their place. The Reader who is carrying the Book of he Gospels will enter the Sanctuary to “enthrone” or put the Book of the Gospels in the holder which is on top of the Altar. The change here is that prior, the Reader would not stop when approaching the Altar and then immediately enthrone the Book of the Gospels. The simple change is that they will wait in the front of the Sanctuary with all the other ministers when they make their sign of reverence. A note to make here is that if a genuflection is the called for gesture, then the ministers do this unless they are carrying something, such as the Book of the Gospels or Candles, or other items. I hope this helps when you notice something is a little different when the procession approaches the Altar. The reason for this change is first, the General Instructions to the Roman Missal (GIRM) call for it, and secondly it does not confuse the roll of the deacon who is the only one who approaches the Altar with the Book of the Gospels straight away upon reaching the Sanctuary, an action I had our Readers doing for quite a long time.  My bad, as they say! This is all in the efforts to keep our liturgy in conformity with liturgical norms.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor