AMERICA: CANADA: MUSICAL GUIDELINES FOR CANADIAN CHURCHES WITH NEW MISSAL

RELEASE ARCHDIOCESE TORONTO: 1. We have been informed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) that both the English translation of the revised Roman Missal and General Instruction (GIRM) will take effect in dioceses throughout Canada on the First Sunday of Advent (November 27/28, 2011). Archbishop Collins has authorized that parishes may begin to learn the new, sung mass settings and employ them in the liturgy as of September 25, 2011. Other than these settings, the newly translated prayers (collects, prefaces, etc.) of the Missal may not be used without specific permission before the First Sunday of Advent.

2. Four musical settings have been approved by the Bishops for use in Canada: three commissioned by the CCCB and the “Chants of the Roman Missal” by the ICEL (International Commission on English in the Liturgy). Thus, in addition to the setting which will be found in the Missal, the CCCB also approved these settings as presented in “Celebrate in Song”:

"Mass Setting A" by Fr. Geoffrey Angeles,
"Mass Setting B" (Mass of the Holy Family) by John Dawson,
"Mass Setting C" by Michel Guimont.

To help provide a spirit of unity and collaboration for all those involved in assisting our parishioners in full and active participation in the Eucharist, we are inviting parishes to utilize two settings during the first year of implementation of the new Roman Missal. We must be fully aware that all other settings presently being used are not to be employed in the parishes after the First Sunday of Advent because they do not reflect the new translation. This will be a significant change for choirs and cantors.

You are invited to choose from a) ICEL Chants setting and b) one of the approved three CCCB sung settings. You can hear the settings by visiting our resources page of the Archdiocesan Roman Missal site:www.archtoronto.org/romanmissal/resources.htm.

This will allow parishioners, music ministers and clergy to collaborate on teaching and implementing musical settings that will become familiar to congregations at all masses. Please note: all the mass settings presently being used at parish liturgies need to be replaced by the new authorized settings effective the First Sunday of Advent 2011. The desire for a unity of musical settings in your parish may be challenging but your guidance and encouragement will make this exercise of decision-making a positive moment in liturgical renewal.

4. We are aware that parishes have received other musical settings, including those from the United States. In order to foster unity, we ask all parishes to use the mass settings from the CCCB for the first year of implementation. Your cooperation is appreciated in adopting this approach in your parish.

Thank you to all those who participated in the recent workshop related to the music settings presented in “Celebrate in Song” and approved for use in Canada. More than 450 people were in attendance for the gathering, a wonderful response to the first of many planned sessions with parish musicians..


The communication also included a link for those parishes wishing to delve into more in depth study this summer regarding the Roman Missal, with suggested resources available to review at www.archtoronto.org/romanmissal/resources.htm.

You can be assured that parishioners will be hearing plenty of information about the new translation this fall, with bulletin inserts, pew cards, catechesis and other "hands on" information regarding this historic moment of evangelization and catechesis for North America.

The important thing for all to keep in mind is that we're not just changing some of the words that are used in the celebration of mass, we hope the experience will provide an opportunity for Eucharistic renewal, to allow all Catholics to reflect on how we can all engage in more active participation in the pinnacle of our faith journey as we gather as a faith community each week.

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