24/05/2011 9:00 am
Later this year a new translation of the Mass will be used throughout the English-speaking world. Over 700 Bishops have been involved in the process of the new translation in Australia, Canada, England and Wales, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Scotland, South Africa, and the USA. Following their Spring meeting, the Bishops of England and Wales have written a National Pastoral Letter on the new translation of the Roman Missal, to be read out in parishes on the sixth Sunday of Easter, 29 May 2011.
The main points are:
Bishop Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds and chairman of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Christian Life and Worship said:
“Over the last few years the bishops have studied and voted upon the text of the Roman Missal. Now that the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome has finalised the text we are able to share this new translation with our dioceses. In our pastoral letter we acknowledge the familiarity of our current texts, identify some of the aspects of the translation which we hope will deepen people's faith and invite parishes and other communities to learn about the text and deepen their appreciation of the Mass.”
Martin Foster, Acting Secretary, Bishops’ Conference Department for Christian Life and Worship, said:
“The introduction of the new translation will be a significant moment in the life of the Church in our countries and the pastoral letter is a sign of the bishops’ desire that the parishes, communities and schools take the opportunity to learn about the translation, increase their understanding of the Mass and renew their liturgical practice.”
The Roman Missal in its new English translation will be published by the Catholic Truth Society in Autumn 2011. The full text of the Missal will be used at Mass from the First Sunday of Advent this year. The full use of the published Missal from the beginning of Advent will be preceded by the use of just the Order of Mass in the new translation from September 2011. For these three months from September to November, the Church in England and Wales will become familiar with those parts of the translations which are prayed at every Mass, and this will be accompanied by catechesis on the Mass and the new translation.
Photos of the new Missal:
flickr.com/photos/catholicism
Liturgy Office information about the new translation of the Roman Missal:
missal.org.uk
Catholic Truth Society information about the new translation of the Roman Missal:
missal2011.org