Getting back into the Spring of things

February:

Please note that we will not have a February 20th trip. We will make it up to Tryon this year sometime during the Easter Season. (April/May)

Postulants will have a review session for rubrics and the test on February 13th. Please ensure that you are taking the time to train at home. All Postulants will then take the written test and skills test on February 27th with Fr. Reid.

March:

First Missa Cantata of the year will be held in March for the Annunciation. We're looking for volunteers for all positions.

If there are any social opportunities or events you want to do, please submit suggestions. We're all ears...

Fire up for the Holy Spirit

I'd like to thank all the servers and their families for all of the efforts during the last few months. Many people were very grateful for the Ascension Missa Cantata, and that type of Mass takes a good bit of preparation. Thanks to all the servers who assisted with this Mass:

AJ Ohlhaut, Brady Ostendorf, Peter Rusciolelli, Sam Dehority, Will Borin, Harry Ohlhaut, Nathaniel Rusciolelli, Luke Bruck, Joseph Bruck, and Griffin Walsh.

The next High Mass will be on Tuesday July 26th. It will be a first for St. Ann's this year as it will be a new feast for a High Mass, the Feast of St. Ann, and it will be a Solemn High Mass! Fr. Reid has rounded up some help to make it happen. It means some new rubrics for the servers to learn, but it will work.

Check out updated Mass and training schedules and be sure to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit for Pentecost this week.

Lenten update

Lent is upon us. I hope everyone got their ashes yesterday and has begun Lenten practices by now. I have some news for the entire group so here we go:

Next training session is this Tuesday March 15th from 4:15 to 5:45. Please be prepared for the training prior to arriving. Go over your Mass cards and your roles for the Missa Cantata. Just so there is no confusion, attendance is going to be considered when assigning roles for the Missa Cantata's this summer.

There will not be a Missa Cantata for the Annunciation this year on March 25th as there is no priest available to celebrate it. It is still a Holy Day of obligation, so make sure to attend Mass.

The next Missa Cantata will probably be in May for the Ascension. I expect Fr. Reid will want to do at least two to three Missa Cantata's between May and July so we'll be focusing on that in training.

Fr. Reid has mentioned a few things that need to be addressed: If you are not going to show up to Mass as assigned, then I need to be informed no matter what. We've had some team players help out, especially Will Borin and Joseph Mack, but it is the original server's responsibility to be aware and to manage to be at Mass. Second, Fr. Reid has mentioned that servers are arriving late to help set up for Adoration. Servers are REQUIRED to be at St. Ann's by 4:30 pm to set up for Adoration on Wednesday and by 5:45 pm to set up for Saturday evening Mass. This comes from Fr. Reid and it is a matter of obedience on the server's part. Lastly, when servers extinguish the candles, please let the smoke extinguish prior to replacing the glass chimney and wipe the chimney after Mass. We'll review this at training.

The April Mass Schedule is out but the training schedule will need to wait as I'm waiting for my April schedule from work at this time.

Fr. Reid did commend the servers and their hard work. Keep up the good work.

Photo credit: The Catholic Traveler

Immaculate Conception Missa Cantata

Amidst the Advent wreaths, Jesse Trees, and other seasonal happenings, we have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary next week!

Details:
- All servers who are assisting will need to be at St. Ann's on Wednesday December 8th by 6 pm. Mass begins at 7pm.
- There will be an hour of Adoration preceding the Missa Cantata from 5 to 6 pm. Fr. Reid is asking for a volunteer to assist serving that hour of Adoration.
- There will be Adoration after the Missa Cantata. Fr. Reid is asking for a volunteer to assist serving the intial 10 minutes of that Adoration time. Communicate to me if you want to volunteer.

Line-up
MC: Brady O.
Th: Ben B.
Ac1: Joe B.
Ac2: Joseph M.
Bb: Luke B.
Cb: Michael K.
Tb 1: Joseph Y.
Tb 2: TBD?
Tb 3: Nathaniel R.
Tb 4: AJ O.
Tb 5: Thomas Mathis
Tb 6: Griffin Walsh
Alt: Harry O. , Peter R.,

End of the Year...Liturgically speaking

I hope everyone has recovered from the last Missa Cantata and is ready for the next one! Wednesday December 8th at either 6:30 or 7 pm (waiting back from Fr. Reid on the time.) Prior to Fr. Reid scheduling the Missa Cantata, I had scheduled to see my in-laws in Spokane, WA, so I won't get the joy of being there, but I think with everyone's help, it should go smoothly. More details at Monday's training session.

Our ministry has been invited by Fr. Ferguson FSSP to assist as servers in a Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family on Sunday January 9th at 4:00 PM in Greensboro at Our Lady of Grace Church. A Solemn High Mass has clerics for the MC position, but we would fill in the rest. We've already done most of the training for it with the Missa Cantata, and the Deacon and Sub-Deacon perform many of the roles our servers usually do in a Missa Cantata. Fr. Reid has given us permission to assist with this Mass, and I will be asking/recuiting for volunteers for positions on Monday.

We are going to have our first ranking ceremony for the Postulants and the servers. I need families to vote on which date would be best for everyone to attend. Fr. Reid has said he would prefer not to have the ceremony after a Missa Cantata, so I'm offering a few choices you can pick on the blog. Info on the tests and requirements for advancement to be provided on Monday.

I've updated the Mass Serving Schedule one the blog, and do not forget to study for the Our Lady of Fatima quiz on Monday.

Just in case you missed it...

Missa Cantata tomorrow: Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be there by 11:30 AM ready to help set-up.

Be ready to participate in a rare and awesome event.

Mass Schedule Updated

I had some time to update the Mass Schedule for our servers for September and October. This schedule will be finalized on 9 pm Monday, August 23rd. Please contact me if you see any issues. Please note all of the wonderful Marian Feasts in September and the Missa Cantata at the end of October for Christ the King.

Please preview the schedule on the side bar to the right.

Sacred Heart Weekend

We have confirmation for this weekend:

• Saturday AM Mass at St. Vincent de Paul at 9:00 AM
• Drive to Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, NC arriving by 11:00
• Training with Fr. Ferguson and Noah Carter from 11:00 to 1:00pm
• Bring your own lunch, a large cooler with ice will be in my car. We'll eat lunch on the Church grounds.
• Arrive back at St. Ann's in Charlotte between 2 - 3 pm
• Be back at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury on Sunday June 13th by 3pm

We'll have extra space in cars on Saturday. If you need a ride on Sunday, we can coordinate that as well.

The Mass schedule has been updated as well. Training schedule to be updated soon.

The new servers will be joining us at the next training session on Monday, June 21st. Please pray for them as the first few months are challenging as we all remember. More to come...

Evening post in between shifts

I'm busy but here's some updates:

• Will Borin and Sam Dehority have volunteered for tomorrow's MEF and Children's Benediction. Please be there by 4:00pm to set up quickly for the kids and then finish setting up afterwards before the regular Holy Hour.
• I'm trying to organize a training session for the Missa Cantata in Salisbury and here's what I've come up with so far: Fr. Ferguson FSSP and Noah Carter (DoC Seminarian) will be available on Saturday June 12th around lunch time in Salisbury. The next day is the Missa Cantata. Can we make it? Can we carpool? Please give me feedback so we can make this great experience work.
• This weekend: seminarians/ordinands become priests = huge! Friday night they have a Holy Hour for the Ordinands at St. Pat's. Saturday 10:00 AM at St. Marks for the Ordination. Then 10:30 on Sunday at St. Ann's for soon to be Fr. Rossi's first Mass. New priests (baby priests as my wife calls them) don't come around every day. I highly recommend that everyone show up and support these men. Pray for them.

More info to come...stay tuned

Get ready...

I got an email from seminarian Noah Carter, who will be staying in Charlotte for a bit, complimenting the servers on the Ascension Missa Cantata. He told me he saw the pictures and they looked beautiful. I read his email, and I thought, "What pictures?" Then I got on to the Diocese of Charlotte website and saw this:

Missa Cantata from David Hains on Vimeo.

Our little group has already been asked to serve a Missa Cantata this summer at another parish (more details to come). We've got a new class of servers coming this month and after this publicity, expect more.

Bottom line: God is telling us that we're doing good. Stay focused and disciplined, and let's keep up the good work!

See you Saturday at the party!

Training Time Change

Sorry for the late notice everyone. This Monday, the Missa Cantata run-through will be from 5 - 7 pm. That's 5pm to 7pm which is an hour earlier. This change is to accomodate Fr. Reid's schedule. The late notice is my fault as I've known for over a week now. That being said, I still expect the servers to have reviewed their roles for the Missa Cantata to be prepared for Monday evening at 5:00 pm.

Don't forget about the Summer Server Party at the Borin's. All Latin Mass servers and their families are invited to attend. It's on Saturday May 22nd at 6:00 pm.

I also need to add a friendly reminder that parents need to be aware of when they are supposed to show up for their role in Protecting God's Children. We've had some very gracious help with some parents volunteering to stay when others didn't make it, didn't find a substitute, and didn't notify me. Please remember that if we do not have an extra adult, training will be immediately cancelled.

More to come...

Finishing up April and May

We are officially planning the Ascension Missa Cantata Rehearsal for Monday May 3rd from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at St. Anns. The Schola will be there as well. As with the last training session, we may have to swing the time to accomodate Fr. Reid's schedule, but as of now 6:00 PM is the set time.

Moreover, we have the results back for the pool party and the official scheduled date, time, and place is: Saturday May 22nd at 6:00 pm at the Borin's Residence. More information will be provided.

Please remember that the next server training will be at 4:45 PM at St. Anns this coming Monday April 19th. See you there!

Annunciation Missa Cantata Update

So finally the next Missa Cantata approaches. Here are some updates for everyone:

• Monday March 15th practice begins at 5:30 pm! It's been moved earlier to accomodate Fr. Reid's schedule. Everyone needs to be on time, please. Please comment, email, or call to confirm that you have received this news.


• At the end of the Missa Cantata, the servers will process out of the Church, receive the blessing from Fr. Reid and return to the altar rail to pray the St. Michael the Archangel prayer. The schola will be singing the Salve Regina that we sing at the end of practice prior to our arrival at the altar rail.


• Homework essay: 200 word essay that is due on March 22nd addressing the following: How does God answer your prayers? Please give an example of an instance when you felt your prayers were answered. Please also include a quote from a Saint, Pope Benedict XVI, or a previous Pope about prayer.

Server Cards and Homework

Finally I offer you the combined server cards for the Missa Cantata at St. Ann's. During the next two weeks leading up to the next training session, I expect the servers to peruse the cards and point out all kinds of errors and mistakes. Anyone else may do the same.

Lastly homework that is do by the next training session is to have read all of the propers for the Annunciation from the 1962 Missal and be ready for an oral quiz at the training session on March 1st. Don't have access to the propers? Just let me know and I'll point you to the right direction.

Final line up for Annunciation Missa Cantata:
Cross Bearer: Chris Borin/Sam Dehority
Thurifer: Joseph M.
Boat bearer: Luke Bruck
Ac's: Brady O and Benjamin B
Torch bearer's:

1. JP Mack
2. Joseph Yellico
3. Griffin Walsh
4. Will Borin
5. Joseph B
6. Thomas Mathis

Annunciation announcements

If it wasn't official before, it is now; Thursday 25th at 7:00 pm Fr. Reid will offer a Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Annunciation at St. Ann's. I sat down with Fr. Reid this week and he accomplished a lot for the MEF at St. Ann's:

1. Hundreds of dollars of new cassocks have been ordered and will be at St. Ann's within 5 weeks. (Yes Luke, we ordered an 11 just for you.)
2. The Spring Mass schedule has been hammered out and is available on the side bar.
3. The Server training schedule has been completed and is available on the side bar. Please note the Monday March 15th training session with the Schola and hopefully Fr. Reid for a Missa Cantata rehearsal. It is imperative to make that training session.
4. An additional Missa Cantata may be planned for Thursday May 13th on the Feast of the Ascension which we did last year.

Let me know if mistakes have been made on the schedules or how I can help you in your ministry.

Piano = no practice today

Sorry for the late notice, but there will not be any practice today. On a better "note," my little family got an upright piano for the cost of moving it. On a worse "note," the piano fell on my leg while moving it. But the piano is fine, so don't worry.

My leg swelled up a bit, but rest, ice, compression dressings, and elevation have brought it down a good bit. I will need to rest it today and therefore practice gets cancelled. I've notified many of the server families, but please call someone if you talk with them regularly just to make sure they're aware.

Otherwise, the text Missa Cantata is officially scheduled for Thursday March 25th, the Annunciation. More details to come. I'll also work on the schedule, and we'll reschedule todays training for another time.

Please use this opportunity to go over the Latin and practice rubrics for the Low Mass. Have a happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Missa Cantata Officially Canceled

Greetings from Spokane, WA! So, I've been emailing with Fr. Reid back and forth for the last few days. Yesterday evening, Fr. Reid called the ball and canceled the Missa Cantata on the 24th. The major rationale for the cancellation was the delay in getting the marble installed. Apparently there won't be a guarantee that the entire Sanctuary will be available, and while rubrics allow for flexibility in a Novus Ordo, there's specific requirements for a MEF where the entire Sanctuary needs to be accessible.

Fr. Reid has expressed deep regret in this decision, but he feels it's the most appropriate given the circumstances. We must trust in the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ and look forward to the next Missa Cantata which has yet to be rescheduled.

This news, while disappointing, is actually good news for a number of reasons:

1. We'll be able to train in a completed Sanctuary for the Low Mass and a future Missa Cantata without guess-work on how things might turn out.
2. We'll be able to schedule training sessions and rehearsals in advance, avoiding the confusion of last minute scheduling based on the availability of the Sanctuary and Fr. Reid.
3. We won't be rushing to get everything in order the day before the Missa Cantata.
4. The completed Sanctuary will truly provide the appropriate setting for the TLM with the completed altar, ambo, and altar rail.

I have to take a moment and thank the servers and their families for all of their work for the past few weeks. It was intense and short of one more training session to see how the Sanctuary would look and polish off some details, it was going to be a great Missa Cantata.

We will still have the training on Friday October 23rd from 4:15 to 5:45 pm as previously scheduled but will cancel the training on Monday October 26th.

Please note that while this blog will send posts out via emails, it is important to check the blog because emails can be deleted or overlooked and pertinent information may be missed. Posts will always be accessible on the blog.

New schedules will be out hopefully in the next few days. Please feel free to call or email me tomorrow.

3 sessions left to go...

Great training session today. Even with construction still going on, we did well. Please note that our rehearsal with the Schola and possibly Fr. Reid will be in one week on October 12th from 6:15 to 8:00 pm. I will make the final decisions on positions this Friday (4:15 to 5:45 pm) at the end of training that day. I will be testing the four possible Ac's first thing on Friday and I'll also be testing for Tb #1 and Tb#2. The group present will vote on the top 2 Ac's and top 3 Tb's. I get to choose from there.

Current thoughts after todays training:
Th: Joseph Mack
Ac's: Brady O., David R., Ben B., Joseph B.
Bb: Luke Bruck or Griffin Walsh
Tb's: JP Mack, Sam Dehority, Joseph Yellico, Griffin Walsh, and whoever isn't an Ac.
Cb: Chase M, Nate S., or David R.

I need to thank Sam Dehority for being willing to serve at the last minute this past Saturday and step up as Ac1. Fr. Reid said things went well. I appreciate that kind of teamwork in our ministry.

Study hard...pray hard.

Photo credit: John Stephen Dwyer

Tighten up

It's time to buckle down. We have four training sessions left before the Missa Cantata, and three of them will happen over the next ten days. Due to the number of servers missing practices, (beyond their control), I'm waiting to see what happens for the Ac's and Tb's. Moreover, with the flu running around, I'm expecting for some last minute sickness. I'm hoping for full health going into the end of the month.

Here's my current thoughts on positions:
Thurifer: Joseph M. (Brady O. as alt)
Ac's: Brady O., David R., Ben B., Joseph B.
Bb: Luke Bruck
Tb's: JP M., Joseph Y, Griffin W., Nate S., and whoever isn't an Ac.
Cb: Chase M. (Corey A. as sub)

Please note that I will be gone from Oct 13th - Oct 20th and then working the 21st and 22nd. We'll have a practice on Friday October 23rd to finalize things so please don't miss that session. I can be reached, but we won't be having training during this time. This means that for this Missa Cantata, servers are going to need to practice at home a lot for their position and alternate positions.

If anyone can serve tomorrow night (Saturday Oct 3rd) at 6:30 pm with Thomas Mathis please let me know. I'll be working, but I'll get my messages regularly. Stay tuned.

New Sanctuary is up and running!

Tonight we'll have the first MEF in the new Sanctuary. There's going to be a lot of guess work as to where items will be and how we will run the MEF, but it will all work out and glorify the Lord.

Now that we're finally in the new Sanctuary, I've been able to finalize the Mass and training schedules for October. Please visit the links to the side and get the dates in your calendars. Please note that there's a chunk of October where there will not be training as I'll be in Spokane, WA for a family wedding. Therefore there's a number of training sessions close together for the servers to get used to the Low Mass in the new Sanctuary and to prep for the Missa Cantata.

This week there will not be practice. It is my hope that everyone and their families can attend the Eucharistic Congress this weekend. For servers, it's a great opporunity to witness the Diocese worshipping and adoring the Lord in the Eucharist. Moreover, a Norvus Ordo Pontifical Mass is always worth witnessing. Before the Mass on Saturday, St. Ann's Schola which serves at the Missa Cantata, will sing at the Eucharistic Congress. Please support those who will be supporting us.

Photo Credit: Lauren Rupar