Society of Saint Gregory

I am now living in Ireland and I am slowly getting used to a different way of looking at the Liturgy. The feast of the Immaculate Conception is normally a Holy day of Obligation here. On the parish News Letter it said ' This year the feast of the Immaculate Conception is being celebrated on Monday ...

I really could do with some prayers here because I am being told I have to have hymns to Mary at every mass and it has to be at the offertory collection time because and I quote " the 'female' church presents the offertory gifts to the 'male' preserve of the Sanctuary and altar." This is the time ...

I am puzzled about the argument for or against the washing of the feet of women. In the Creed we say 'For us men and for our salvation.......' I am told that 'men' in this sentence means 'Men and Women' or 'people'. Does the rule about washing the feet of 12 men mean 12 men or does it mean 12 people ...

About the order of the Easter Vigil. I wouldn't like to change the order as we have it, as we read the Old Testament readings as part of our story / history as Christians, and therefore it is fitting that we read them in the light of the Pascal Candle and in the echos of the Exultet.

Yes, so do I.

I was once in a parish which did have a tea break in the middle of the Vigil. After the blessing of the fire / candle etc we processed into a dark and plain church where we had the Exultet and readings from the Old Testament. Then we all went into the school hall for a cup of tea, and when we came ...

Why not have them all - it is hard to know which ones to leave out. For the past 10 Easters I have been to the Easter Vigil in a University Chaplaincy where most of the congregation are students -We always have all the readings and all the psalms - The Easter vigil starts at 10.00pm (when it is ...

I think it is a pity that the Extraordinary Form is called Extraordinary. I know that in this case 'Extraordinary' mean 'differernt from the ordinary', but In our limited English language the word Extraordinary often means superior or amazing or exceptional (someone has an extraordinary intelect or ...

It was a really beautiful Mass - The whole liturgy was very well thought our and well prepared. The Cathedral looks great - much better lighting, heating, sound system etc. The diocesan choir (and the congregation) sang beautifully, the choice of music was really good, the Bishop was in very good ...

I have been asked to give a talk to a parish group about the Chrism Mass. I had a look in our new Missal (the middle sized one from the CTS). There is the renewal of the priesthood which is fine, but I can't find the prayers of blessing for the oils. I would have thought they would be in the missal ...

I will be coming and I sing Alto. I will be coming with Carlos who would also like to be in the choir but I dont know what part he sings.

Looking forward to seeing everyone,

Anne

Today received an email from a friend which said: 'Do you know if they are changing the Sacramentary as well as the Missal? (ie the book of prayers used at the opening and closing of Mass.) I'm looking to buy a farewell gift for my Parish and our current one is held together with Duct tape. XxxX I ...

I like the 'mini homilies' that have appeared on the home page of this web site. Is there anyone we should ask if we want to download them, photocopy them and use them - are they for general use or are there copyright issues.....??

I didn't pick up anyone being 'underwhelmed' by this years Summer School. I thought the feed back on the last day was very positive. I did question the choice of one song we sang because I have problems with some of its words, but besides that, the rest of the week was wonderful, I learnt a lot, and ...

I remember the sick, dead and 'anniversaries about this time' were being remembered in the Bidding Prayers, and we all prayed hard for L.Dead. The reader started laughing as she realised that this was the heading for Lately Dead - not the best time in the Mass to be laughing. I hve also been to ...