Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Second Vatican Council that convened in the early 1960’s sought to bring renewal to the life of the Church and to her evangelical mission. The very first thing the Council focused on was the celebration of the Liturgy, describing it as both “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed” and also “the font from which all her power flows” (see Sacrosantum Concilium, 10).
Encouraging greater understanding of the sacred mysteries we celebrate along with greater participation of the faithful in them, the Council demanded that pastors lead and teach the people of God to enter more fully into their baptismal role as “active and conscious” participants in the Liturgy.
To that end, I am super excited to share with you that starting in Advent, the end of this month, we will introduce a new pew missal to the parish, the Source & Summit Missal, which seeks to “be a resource to help elevate the liturgy to its rightful place upon the mountaintop of the Church’s life”.
This pew missal is unique in that it seeks greater fidelity to the intention of the Council. You’ll find an easy to follow “Order of the Mass,” Mass settings (Kyrie, Gloria, Lamb of God, etc) beautifully based on the treasury of settings from our long history and tradition, a full Sunday lectionary with more sacred settings for the responsorial psalms and music for the Entrance and Communion Antiphons, a collection of prayers and devotions, and a large selection of hymns, arranged alphabetically by first line–all in one book!
Most of the “Catholic Favorites” are in there: The King of Love My Shepherd Is, Holy God We Praise Thy Name, Amazing Grace, All Creatures of Our God and King, Take Up Your Cross the Savior Said, People Look East, For All the Saints, Joy to the World, I Know that My Redeemer Lives, and so, so many more. And there’s plenty of forgotten and new treasures as well.
Even the book itself is beautiful to look at!
So be on the lookout come the first Sunday of Advent for the new Source & Summit Hymnal. I pray it enriches and enhances our liturgical prayer as a parish.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor