Getting Ready to Pray the Mass

Masses this weekend will include instructions at key points on what is happening and how to fully participate. Some places call this a teaching Mass. We are going to use a script prepared by Dr. Paul Ford, a longtime seminary professor at St. John’s in Camarillo who has instructed myself and many other San Diego priests.

Our Deacons (Juan Faus & Frank Reilly) and our Deacon Candidates (Joe Naval & Junior Coronel) will be serving in the liturgical role of Commentator. They will be giving instruction and encouragement during Mass.

Last weekend, we passed out your homework, a worksheet designed to help you reflect on your prayers, works, joys, and sufferings that you will offer to God in the Mass. As a sign of your interior participation, we ask that you bring the completed worksheet into the church and drop it off in a basket near the baptismal font. This basket will be brought to the altar along with the bread and wine. If you did not pick up the worksheet, you can print out a copy here.

For the past three Tuesdays, we have given talks on the Mass. You can watch recordings of these talks by clicking the title of the talk: (1) Overview of the Mass and Singing, (2) The Liturgy of the Word and (3) The Liturgy of the Eucharist.

It is my hope that as many of you as possible will find this experience a help to pray the Mass better than you’ve ever prayed it before.