Domestic Church Prepares for the New Missal
Practical ways parents are helping their children understand the upcoming Mass changes.
As parishes across the country get ready to implement the new English translation of the Roman Missal on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, some parents have been teaching their children about the changes at home.
Joel and Joan Recznik of Toronto, Ohio, were able to get enough cardstock copies of changes months ago from their parish for everyone in the family. The Reczniks have 12 children who range in age from 4 to 23.
“It’s a good opportunity to catechetically go deeper into what the Church prays and believes,” Joel said.
Already, they’ve learned by heart the Confiteor, one of the prayers that can be said during the Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass, and the Gloria.
In Austin, Texas, Adam and Sharon Gretencord found a good teaching supplement in the Holy Heroes series (HolyHeroes.com) for young children (the oldest of their four children is nearly 8). One CD has a section devoted to the new translation of the Mass.
“It goes through all the prayers, why we say certain things, and why we beat our chests at the Confiteor,” Sharon explained. “It’s something we’ve been listening to and also something we’ve been hearing at Mass and talking about.”
Additionally, they have adapted some facts from Ascension Press’ Epic: A Journey Through Church History, which “talks about the Council of Nicaea and where consubstantial came from,” she said. “It was a nice segue to talk to our children about where this terminology comes from and how our Church Fathers pack so much meaning in one word, and why it’s important to bring that word back.”
They are teaching the children what the new “Holy Holy Holy, Lord God of Hosts” means, too: “We are part of the Church Militant and part of God’s army, and we’re here to really proclaim the Good News and the glory of the faith and being Catholic and what that means.”
In Excelsior, Minn., Bill and Juli Currie are using their pastor Father Mark Dosh’s articles from the parish bulletin to explain the changes to their seven children, who range in age from 2 to 16.
“We have been basically reading them over a meal and talking about them,” Juli said.
Their overall reaction, like that of their parents and so many others, is positive. As Juli summed up about the new translation: “I think it’s great. I’m all for (the words) being closer to the original.”
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Register staff writer Joseph Pronechen is based in Trumbull, Connecticut.
