Liturgy - Sunday Worship Together
CHRISM MASS CELEBRATED IN NELSON
On the Monday before Holy Thursday, every priest in the diocese gathers with Bishop Bittman and lay men and women from many parishes in the diocese at the Cathedral in Nelson to enjoy dinner and to celebrate the Chrism Mass. At this Mass, the oils that are used for upcoming year are blessed. These oils, called "chrism" in olden times, are often plain or scented (balsam) olive oil. They include
- the oil used in the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders.
- the oil of catechumens used in the Sacrament of Baptism
- the oil used to anoint the sick in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (formerly Extreme Unction)
SUNDAY WORSHIP
From the early years of the Christian Church, Sunday has been called the Lord's Day. It is the day when God calls us together to offer our worship, especially in the Eucharist. Jesus was raised from the dead on Sunday, the first day of the week, and this is the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out on the apostles. Sunday is the day when Christians assemble to worship the God of heaven and earth. (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops)
When we, the People of God, gather to worship the Giver of abundant life …
We remember…
We listen and try to hear…
We offer and give back of the Bounty given to us…
We receive of that Bounty and give thanks…
We celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection…
We receive the Bread of Life….
And we try to bring Eucharist to our lives and our world….
Every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of His Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree.
Full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit.” (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)
More Information:
- Daily Mass Readings & Sunday Gospel Resources; Resources on the Sunday Readings.
- The Liturgical Year for Electronic Calendars
- Music appropriate to the Liturgy - from the Canadian Bishops
- Vatican II: Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
- Sharefaith - Subscription service of resources for worship, homilies, bulletins, flyers, clipart, and more.
- For more information, contact the pastor of your parish or mission or
Fr. Bart van Roijen chair of the Liturgy Committee of the diocese.
c/o the Catholic Pastoral Centre
(Psalm 111: 1)
Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister … but especially under the Eucharistic species. He is present when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt. 18.20).
(Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 7)