Work of the People

 As you know, the Easter Vigil must begin in darkness. Click here for more information on why. Read more...

A prayer before preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner
(based on Luke 10:27, 38-42)

Lord, you know all the things
that still need to be done—
the cooking and cleaning,
the preparation and anticipation, Read more...

Good and gracious God,
we praise you and thank you
for bringing our brother/sister, N., home.
We have missed him/her
and have prayed for his/her safe return,
and you have heard our cry. Read more...

Suggested homiletic and catechetical points to prepare the assembly for the new English translation

October 9, 2011: 28th Ordinary, Year A – “For many”

Parable of the wedding feast (Gospel reading) Read more...

Suggested homiletic and catechetical points to prepare the assembly for the new English translation

October 2, 2011: 27^th Ordinary, Year A – introduce briefly the new texts

“Have no anxiety at all” (second reading) Read more...

I have to admit, God,
that sometimes it’s hard
to even call your name.
On those days I can’t help but think
that if you had been there,
I wouldn’t be here—

—Here in a world where
a picture, a place,
a smell, a sound
brings me back to that awful day
when everything changed. Read more...

In addition to the recommended liturgical resources found at the USCCB website for remembering September 11, Bishop McGrath has approved the following recommendations for use at Masses this Sunday, September 11, 2011, in commemoration of the tenth anniversary. Read more...

As we approach the 10th anniversary of September 11, here is a prayer you can use to bless those who are first-responders among your community. The text is adapted from the "Blessing of Organizations Concerned with Public Need," from the Book of Blessings, #587.

  Read more...

I know lots of great parishes are planning to catechize or have been catechizing the assembly about the upcoming changes to the English translation of the Mass. But sometimes, their efforts go a bit awry in that often, they tend to merely "insert" catechesis into the Mass without connecting it to anything else in the Mass. Some examples of this I have seen are: Read more...

All music coordinators, singers, and instrumentalists are invited to a workshop and reading session led by GIA composer and liturgical musician, Tony Alonso. Tony will facilitate a formation session for music ministers on the impact of the new English translations, and he will lead us in singing through many of the available GIA settings of the new English transla Read more...

I know that some of you are anxious about introducing the new music settings for the Roman Missal. But here are two points that might help relieve some of your worries.

First, there are only three acclamations that are changing in the new English translation: Read more...

In coordination with Jim del Biaggio of the Cathedral Gift Shop, the Office for Worship is offering the parishes, schools, religious houses, and worshiping communities of the Diocese of San Jose the opportunity to advance order the new Roman Missal at specially discounted prices. Read more...

As we continue to prepare for the implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal this November, Bishop McGrath continues to emphasize that this year, our 30th anniversary as a diocese, is an opportunity for liturgical renewal in the Diocese of San Jose. Read more...

For a limited time, the worship aids for the Vespers liturgy and the Mass of Ordination of our new auxiliary Bishop will be available for download here. Don't forget too, that the Ordination Mass will be livestreamed over the Internet starting this Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 1:30p. The Mass begins at 2:00p.

  Read more...

Most of us have probably never been to or seen the ordination of a bishop. Here are some notes about the symbols of this very special liturgy, taken from the praenotanda (the instructional notes at the beginning of every liturgical ritual book) of the Rite of Ordination of a Bishop, paragraph 26: Read more...

Here are two opportunities to assist with the music ministry for the liturgies of ordination for Bishop-Elect Thomas Daly. Read more...

Bishop Patrick McGrath asks that the following intercession be added to the General Intercessions for the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, April 22, 2011. This intercession has been formatted to match the pattern (either sung or spoken) of the intercessions that are found in the Sacramentary. Read more...

Jerry Galipeau, Associate Publisher at World Library Publications, and national author and speaker on liturgy and the catechumenate, asks the question whether or not it is good liturgical practice to ask the assembly to be seated for long Gospel readings, such as those for the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Read more...

My name is Tim O’Malley, and I am the director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy in South Bend, IN.  Each year we put on a conference on a liturgical theme relevant to educators and pastoral ministers, both lay and ordained.  This year, our theme is Formed for the Liturgy, Reformed by the Liturgy.  The conference is taking place at Notre Dame from June 20-22.  Read more...