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

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.

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...

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.

Back from a break

Sorry for delay in writing. I'm getting back into the swing of things. Please pray for my little family as we continue to search and follow God's will in finding a new home.

Check the updated Mass schedule. I've had to rearrange some folks due to sicknesses and other appeals. If this schedule doesn't work for you please let me know.

New Missa Cantata date is Saturday October 24th, the Vigil of the Feast of Christ the King!

More news to come.