NARRAGANSETT—It was almost as if the changes brought about through the introduction of the new Roman Missal had happened months ago, instead of on the first Sunday of Advent.
The congregation at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish was nearly in unison as they returned Father Francis Kayatta’s greeting with “And with your spirit.”
Even the Nicene Creed, with its references to “all things visible and invisible,” and “begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father,” flowed smoothly.
But then, something happened.
Like the narrator of a play suddenly realizing they had mistakenly read from the script the stage directions meant solely for the cast, the congregation stumbled and ground to a halt while they sought to acclimate themselves to what they were reading from the prayer cards placed at each pew.
It was at the point where shaded instructions accompanying the text of the revised Creed asked that worshippers bow as they recited “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.”
“It was a pregnant pause,” Father Kayatta later noted of the delay, but overall, the pastor was very pleased with the way his congregation adapted to the changes in the Missal.
“The preparation was very good,” he said of the work his music ministry and the faithful had done to prepare for the most significant changes in the Mass since the time of Vatican II.
He said he didn’t think it would take worshippers too long to be able to fully participate in the Mass without the aid of the prayer cards.
“We’ll leave them in the pews, but people will become comfortable with the changes.”
Raymond Volpe, a parishioner residing a short distance from the church—which sits just a few blocks from the ocean—said he favored the changes to the liturgy.
“It’s beautiful. It brings a more accurate rendition of the Mass,” he said.
He admitted some things would take getting used to. Having been born during the time of Vatican II, he has offered the same responses during Mass thousands of times.
His wife Suzann felt the changes were for the better as the church seeks a more authentic interpretation of its Latin beginnings.
“It energizes more people in the Mass, she said.
Bill McCrave attended Mass along with his wife Patricia. The two lived in the area until retiring to Florida. They are back visiting for Christmas and enjoyed the opportunity to attend Mass at their former church.
“It will take a little while to get used to the changes, but transition is a part of life,” McCrave said.
Eric Hagstrom, 14, said it wouldn’t be difficult to adapt to the new responses.
His mother Lori said she felt prepared for the changes.
“It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be,” she said. “It’s pretty much the same.
St. Lucy Church, Middletown
At St. Lucy Church in Middletown, parishioners were well prepared for the revisions to the liturgy.
According to Father John W. O’Brien, pastor, parish staff began to discuss the changes about a year ago. Pew cards were distributed in mid-November to familiarize communicants with the changes, and new musical responses were introduced earlier in the fall.
Parishioners also attended a five-part video series focusing on the revisions and their biblical interpretations.
“It was well appreciated,” Father O’Brien said of the instructional presentation.
“Our congregation is a willing and able-bodied congregation that likes liturgy and likes to be liturgically appropriate,” the pastor continued, adding that the St. Lucy parishioners embraced the changes with “acceptance, interest and joyful participation.”
After celebrating one Mass with new revisions, Father O’Brien noted, “it went smoothly.
“The changes that the congregation make are all in the missal,” he emphasized, describing the revisions to communicants’ responses as “minor.”
In his homily, Deacon John Croy told worshipers “many areas have been identified for improvement” in the former English tradition that “was not a strict translation.”
For example, he said that many rich metaphors and spiritual images contained in the Latin version were not as apparent in the former English translation, and “many theological terms and concepts present in the original text were not as clear in the English version.”
Deacon Croy said the change in the wording of the penitential rite, in which communicants declare, “that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault” (while simultaneously striking the breast three times), expresses sinfulness and sorrow with “greater emphasis” than the former translation which read “that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do.
“The new translation carries a much more profound sense of contrition and humility in our approach to God, whom we dearly love, than did the former English translation,” Deacon Croy said.
Jameson Harding, 14, a freshman at Portsmouth High School and an altar server for six years, said that the revisions were not difficult to learn.
“At first, I really didn’t understand why we were making these changes then I realized it was the right version we should have been using,” Harding said. “I don’t think there are big changes.”
Harding said he gained a deeper appreciation for the revisions by attending LIFE (Learning in Faith Experiences), a faith formation opportunity in which parishioners of all ages come together to share common life and faith experiences in intergenerational and age-specific groups.
“We discussed the changes a couple of times, which made it easier,” Harding acknowledged, admitting that he is still trying to memorize the revisions.
Longtime St. Lucy parishioner Barbara Ames said that she was inspired by the words found in the new translation that gave her a deeper appreciation for the liturgy.
“I felt so connected to the Mass,” she said. “I truly love the new wording.”
St. Francis de Sales, North Kingstown
Father Andrew Messina, assistant pastor at St. Francis de Sales, North Kingstown, said that he was delighted with how his parishioners adapted to the changes this past weekend.
“They followed along very well,” he said. “There are a couple things we will have to learn over time and that’s perfectly fine. I thought they did great.”
For parishioners who maybe felt it was a rough first day, Father Messina recommended studying the new text and continued prayer.
“What I've suggested in my homily this weekend was to really give this thought and prayer. The church didn't do this arbitrarily. They see real value in having made this change. It is beneficial for all of us to study it and pray about its deeper meaning. That will bring us closer to the Lord.”
Bethany Deacutis, a St. Francis de Sales parishioner, said that she knows that there may be some stumbling with the new translation for a while, but in a few months or so everyone will be quite comfortable with the revisions in the text.
“I really enjoyed my first Mass with the revised Roman Missal,” she said. “I was able to attend a talk that explained all of the changes to the new translation of the English Mass and it really helped me understand the richness of the new translation.”
Her favorite “change” is “Lord, I am not worth to receive you under my roof, only say the word and my soul shall be healed,” Deacutis shared.
“It reminds me that Christ is coming under my “roof” and that only He can give me the grace to begin to be worthy to receive Him in the Eucharist,” she explained. “I also love that it is more clear that there is a connection to that prayer with scripture and the centurion from Mark's Gospel that approaches Jesus for healing.”
St. Joseph Parish, Scituate
Sunday morning Mass at St. Joseph Church in the village of Scituate greeted the new Missal, music, and Mass prayer changes with extremely positive reviews.
A smiling Dennis Charland admitted he required his reading glasses at Mass for the first time in memory. “I needed my cheaters today, so I could keep up with the new language, responses and prayers. I like the changes; they remind me of my childhood as an altar boy in the early 60s, right here at St Joseph’s Church.”
Father Roger Houle deftly related his homily to the new changes.
“In Mark’s Gospel we are warned to keep our eyes open for his coming; to be ready, to pay attention,” he said, addressing the congregation. “So as we embraced these changes in the Mass, we have a choice to be optimistic and pay attention. This provides each of us a chance to refocus on the words, as the words are so important. The Liturgy should not be routine. We are to treat it with the love, respect, and devotion it deserves. These changes give us all an opportunity to rediscover our intimacy with God.”
The pastor’s words resonated with many in the congregation.
Deborah Garafalo finds the changes return the celebration of Mass to a more meaningful place.
“I am so pleased with the changes,” she said. “The Penitential Act really makes me recall my faults and I particularly enjoy the return of some formality to Mass.”
Jan Stinchfield and her son Toby followed along in reading the prayer cards together.
“I like it,” said Toby.
Jan agreed, admitting the new words and prayers at Mass are a good thing.
“It is beneficial to have to pay closer attention at Mass,” she said.
Three generations of the Pahl family present at Mass also agreed the new Mass is a positive spiritual experience.
Choir member, Ann Pahl, noted, “It makes you stop, listen and process the words. It is a positive change.” Stephanie Pahl expressed dismay at “messing up” on the response: “And With Your Sprit.” Yet, she remains confident she will be up to speed very soon. Her mom Julie agreed.
“It will take some practice,” Julie Pahl said.
With reports from Brian Lowney in Middletown; Laura Kilgus in North Kingstown and Carol Costa in Scituate
