Very Rev. Michael T. Driscoll, O. Carm.

Susan Blum Gerding, Ed.D.

Quick, Easy, and Painless Introduction to the Changes in the Mass Texts for the "Catholics in the Pew." . . . And cheap, too!

Only $39.95 Introductory Price

 Download files immediately  to your computer!

Father Michael T. Driscoll, O. Carm. has been pastor at St. Jude Church, Boca Raton, Florida since 1994 and has been Director of the Office of Worship of the Palm Beach Diocese since 1995.  He was ordained in 1967 after studying theology in Washington, D.C. and has graduate degrees in French and Liturgical Studies from Catholic University, Washington, D. C.  He has taught in various seminaries including St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida and has published numerous articles and book reviews in various journals.  He also publishes a quarterly liturgical newsletter (Lex Orandi/ Lex Credendi) for the Palm Beach Diocese.  In addition to pastoral work in Florida, he has also been a pastor in Tarrytown, New York and in 2000 – 2003 was Prior Provincial of the Carmelites of the Province of St. Elias (New York, etc., Vietnam and Trinidad).

Susan Blum Gerding, Ed.D., is a retired ecclesial lay minister, wife, mother, and grandmother, most well known for her work as a pioneer in the field of Catholic Evangelization since 1979.  A convert to Catholicism, she was the Founding Editor of the Catholic Evangelist Magazine and Co-Founder of Isaiah Parish Missions, a nonprofit organization of lay/clergy teams who provided thousands of parish missions throughout the U.S. and Canada, raising over $16.9 million for the poor in developing countries.

            She has authored eleven books, one of which (Heart to Heart Evangelization) was  published in Indonesian! She applied adult education principles in writing the very well-received Implementation Process  of the U.S. Bishops’ Document on Evangelization, which she wrote in collaboration with the USCCB’s Committee on Evangelization.  Sue earned her Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry at St. Thomas University and her doctorate in Adult Education at Florida Atlantic University.  She has received many awards, including the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal, conferred by Pope John Paul II.    

            Since the death of two of her young adult children, she has studied under the National Catholic Ministers of Consolation and has become nationally known as the author of “Harvesting Our Tears,” an eight-week process for Catholic grief management support groups.        

            Fr. Michael and Sue have been friends and colleagues since 1982 when he was  a parish vicar, writing columns for Sue as the Founding Editor of the Catholic Evangelist.  Many years later, she served as Pastoral Associate under his direction as Pastor of St. Jude Church in Boca Raton. For the past ten years she has served as the  Editor of Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi.

CONTENTS & TIMING OF WORKSHOP -- 90-minutes

I WELCOME AND PRAYER (Pre-Presentation )

            Welcome and Prayer—5 minutes

            Familiarity Chart Pre-Test*--5 minutes*

            Listening Groups Assignments*--5 minutes*           Total: 20 minutes

            Index Card Survey* -- 5 minutes*

II INTRODUCTION         . . . . . . . . . Begin Slide Presentation  

            Change -- Inevitable

            Our Response to Change

            Embrace the Changes (Bp. Serratelli)*

            Learning Gaps 

            Adult Education 101

            Adult Decline in Learning

III.  BACKGROUND AND PROCESS OF CHANGES               

            Very Brief Background                                            

            Who is Responsible?                                                                                    

            Process of Change

            Goal of Translators/Review Groups                     

IV.  ACTUAL NEW TRANSLATION CHANGES  

            Greeting

            Confiteor

            Gloria

            Creed

            Preface Dialogue, Sanctus

            Acclamations

            Narrative of Institution

            Agnus Dei

            Other Eucharistic Prayers

            Best Good News” about Changes

            “Cheat Sheet” (Handout)

            Power Point Summary          End Slide Show  (25 TOTAL SLIDE SHOW)

V. POST PRESENTATION EXERCISES       Time Needed:  15-25 minutes

            Familiarity Chart Re-rating Post-Test*--5 minutes*

            Listening Group Reports/Discussion*-- 10–20 minutes (*at discretion of    facilitator.)

            Closing Prayer

TOTAL WORKSHOP DURATION:  75 - 90 MINUTES, DEPENDING UPON TIME SPENT ON DISCUSSION .

 Helpful Hints

(Excerpts from the Facilitator's Guide)

            The slide presentation briefly addresses the nature of change, but this is a foundational principle for successful introduction and catechesis to the text changes in the Mass.  It is necessary for you, the facilitator, to be painfully aware that this principle is at work in each of your parishioners prior to, during, and after this workshop. 

            The nature of change and the resistance of the Catholic laity in general to these changes must be addressed immediately.  It is extremely important that you have addressed your own feelings about these changes and can be openly honest about them with your parishioners.  Otherwise, your own credibility may be questioned.  The people in the pews are no longer “pay, pray and obey” members of the Church; they are highly educated and no longer accept change simply because “Father (or the Pope) said so!”

 “The Nature of Change” addressed as inevitable and inviting resistance, especially when the decisions are “top-down” with no input except that coming from authority. (There are also positive effects of change stressed, but it is important to address the negatives first.) Thus, the "Anonymous Index Card Survey" is designed as a non-threatening, anonymous  opportunity for people to share their feelings about the changes.

                                             Jumping with Joy?           

In presenting the changes to your parishioners, you must look at your own expectations.  Are you prepared for the fact that many, or even most of your parishioners, probably will choose not to attend a workshop on “Changes in the Mass”?

            We have not yet run into Catholic adults who have been enthusiastic about the changes in the Mass.  Have you?  Are people jumping with joy, giddy, excited, pleased, delighted when they hear that the Mass is being changed?  Are they even complacent or neutral about the changes?  Our experience is that most of them, including ourselves, initially say, “Oh no! Not again!”

            If we do not accept the fact that many Catholics are either very negative or, at best, apathetic, we will be fooling ourselves. One principle of adult education is to accept the thoughts and feelings of the learners as valid, based on their own lived experience. We do not do ourselves any favors by saying, “Oh, you shouldn’t feel that way” or, “No, you are absolutely wrong about that!” A strength of adult education is that we can learn from each other, always respecting the experiences and differences of others.

            Otherwise, we will be fooling ourselves  as we approach the task of not only introducing the changes, but of “firmly grasping the opportunity for catechesis that the changes present” which Pope Benedict XVI suggests, “hoping that the changes will serve as a springboard for a renewal and deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world.”

            With all due respect, Rome sometimes speaks of “pie in the sky.” One could say that the present political and economic environment in the United States simply does not offer fertile soil for change, growth, catechesis, or renewal.  There are two wars going on, the economy continues to sink, the budget grows uncontrollably, dirty politics have gotten out of hand, incivility reigns, unemployment soars, bankruptcy and foreclosures are the rule rather than the exception.  With all of this going on, affecting so many Americans personally, is it any wonder that today’s Catholics are going to be less than enthusiastic about  the differences in linguistic translations? Our task is not to convince them of the need for these changes, but only to introduce them to these changes  in as positive a way as possible, and then let the Spirit take it from there!

Let’s face it:

“A Linguistic Workshop Reviewing ‘Dynamic Equivalence’ As Opposed to ‘Formal Equivalence’ in Translation Workshop”

is about as inviting as a root canal.

            We are including here some possible ideas to use in advertising your workshop.  Definitively use these three key words to describe the experience:  QUICK, EASY, AND PAINLESS!  Use some of the cartoon figures we are providing (above and below) in your bulletins or posters.  Use an overall theme to publicize the workshop (i.e. “Changes Are A’Comin’” . . .  “Get Connected with the New Mass Texts,” using puzzle pieces or a cell phone illustration . . . or  “Aren’t You Glad You’re Not a Priest???” and then explain that they must learn thousands of new prayers….or “Count-Down to November 27, 2011 . . . Only 106 More Days until the New Roman Missal Mass.”  You must stir interest and let people know that this is not just a “run of the mill workshop for liturgists.”  Be creative.  Have fun with it.

Use The Slides as Bulletin Announcements!  There are 38 slides . . .about half of which deal directly with the new changes.  Copy them in your bulletins every other week or so.  (Teach them one slide at a time.)  (Use the Slide as the illustration and the narration and supplementary information on each one for the text of your bulletin. End your “ad” with “Don’t forget to come to the “Changes in the Mass Workshop on (date.)”

The Benefits of Lifelong Learning for Adults

(This is a helpful list of benefits which could be used in your pre-workshop publicity.)  The pursuit of knowledge through lifelong learning—whether it’s learning how to dance, speak a foreign language, improve your golf swing, or learn more about the changes in the Mass —has wonderful benefits for adults:

• Keeps your mind sharp

• Improves memory

• Increases self-confidence

• Offers an inexpensive way to try something new

• Gives you a feeling of accomplishment

• Helps you meet people who share your interests

• Builds on skills you already have

• Gives you a new interest that you can share with family and friends