The new English translation of the Roman Missal is scheduled to be implemented in all parishes in the United States on the First Sunday of Advent. Some of the spoken or sung responses and acclamations of the people will be changed from the current translation, which has been in use since the early 1970s. Most publishers of Catholic music are providing new or revised musical settings of the Order of the Mass.

During the spring meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in June near Seattle, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans, chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship, announced the decision to allow use of new musical Mass settings of the Gloria, the Holy and the Memorial Acclamations. The authorization depends upon permission of the local diocesan bishop.

The change was adopted to allow parish communities to learn the various parts of the new translation "in a timely fashion and an even pace," Archbishop Aymond said. "I ask you to encourage this as a means of preparing our people and helping them embrace the new translation."

In a June 29 letter to pastors, parochial administrators, parish life coordinators and chaplains, Bishop Paprocki said that though it was not required, he was permitting the option of gradually introducing new sung settings of the Gloria, the Holy and the Memorial Acclamations, beginning in September.

"... I leave to the discretion of each pastor, parochial administrator, priest moderator or chaplain to determine in consultation with the parish music director what is suitable given the local circumstances of the parish, chapel or other place of divine worship," Bishop Paprocki said.

Bishop Paprocki said the diocesan Office for Worship and the Catechumenate "stands ready to help the parishes and institutions with questions and concerns on the early use of these few sung texts."

Eliot Kapitan, director of the Office for Worship and the Catechumenate, said, "This permission may help Catholics deal with the complexity of new English words with new notes."

Kapitan said the permission applied only to sung versions of the Gloria, Holy and Memorial Acclamations. "The recitation of the new translations of these prayers must wait until the official implementation of the new Missal on Nov. 27," he said.

Kapitan noted that parishes with plans already in place for the implementation of the new Roman Missal are not required to begin introducing new music in September.

"Pastors and parish music ministers need to look at what is best for the people of the parish," Kapitan said. "The goal is for all to be ready to pray with the new translation of the Roman Missal on the First Sunday of Advent."

For questions or concerns, contact Kapitan in the Office for Worship and the Catechumenate at , or call (217) 698-8500, ext. 177.