New Pew Missals
Brothers and sisters,
I have been meaning to send out a letter explaining the change in projecting the liturgical texts, readings, and hymns at Holy Mass. My pastoral duties and a certain trepidation collaborated in helping me to keep avoiding it. All of the various texts at Holy Mass are under copyright laws. Some of those copyrights are owned by the USCCB, while the texts for some chants and hymns are owned by other entities. During the period of COVID, the bishops did give a temporary permission for the projection of liturgical texts at Holy Mass. However, that temporary permission expired when the restrictions were lifted.
Due to the difficulties with the budget, I did not yet have the means to address our situation. Honestly, it was at a much lower priority. The time has arrived to do something about this issue since we are entering into the new fiscal year with a completely balanced budget. We have ordered bi-lingual pew missals for those who wish to follow along. Meanwhile, the person who had been inputting all of the various texts into ProPresenter moved back to their home country. It did not seem sensible to train another person for the short period before we stopped projecting the texts at Holy Mass.
I understand, and have already heard from some of you, the displeasure of this coming change. The USCCB explains concerning copyright permissions: “The current policy of the Committee on Divine Worship is that permission is not granted to project readings and liturgical texts on screens during the liturgy. The bishops have the perspective that since so many people spend much of their time looking at screens, the Sacred Liturgy ought to be a prayerful break from that experience. The bishops also believe that screens are a distraction from what is actually taking place in the liturgy.” Ideally, we wouldn’t be using books either. Rather we would listen attentively and participate by memory and long experience. However, because sometimes the sound system is difficult or the speaker does not project or because of some other audio difficulties it is helpful to have a book that one can use to follow the liturgy. It is also helpful for visitors, guests, and especially non-Catholics, catechumens, and neophytes.
We will no longer project liturgical texts, readings, or hymns and chants during Holy Mass. In my opinion, the clear policy of the USCCB does not permit me to do otherwise. Nevertheless, I am available to listen or read any objections to this decision.
In cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Keith