“This diocese is in good shape for the mandatory use date,” Kapitan said. “The worship offices in Illinois and Indiana have worked together for the past seven years on really fine training and formation materials for various ministry groups. It has been shared with dioceses across the country and has received good reviews. These directors continue to refine these materials as new information becomes available.”

In the Springfield diocese, a diocesan core team has been meeting since January to plan for the implementation of the new missal, Kapitan said. The core team will present a 15-month formation calendar to priests during the annual clergy convocation in September.

“This calendar will lay out events for just about everyone involved in ministry at the parish level,” Kapitan said.

In addition, the diocesan Department of Catechetical Ministries will begin work next month on catechesis for the laity.

For instance, the upcoming Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference will offer an opportunity to learn about the new translation and preview changes in the familiar Mass responses.

“The DAEC has over 30 sessions dealing with liturgy broadly and the new missal specifically,” Kapitan said. “There is something for everyone. This biennial event is a real blessing to the diocese. It provides needed formation right at the beginning of our final year of preparation changes in Mass.

“Even with all of this, there is still a lot of work to be done,” he said.

The DAEC is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 7 through Monday, Nov. 8 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel, 4191 US 36 West (Wyckles Road) in Decatur.

In addition to Kapitan, members of the Roman Missal Curia Core Team are: Father Richard Chiola, Nichol DelGiorno, Father Christopher House, Msgr. Carl Kemme, Msgr. David Lantz, Father Joseph Ring and Jonathan Sullivan,