Carmel Bulletin, 6 October 2013
[The] purpose [of the Introductory Rites] is to ensure that the faithful, who come together as one, establish communion…
General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), article 46
When we begin to celebrate Mass, we have already made a deliberate choice to be there. We have entered the church, engaging in one of the first actions of the assembly that participates in the celebration.
We come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Our motivations for coming can vary as well. Sometimes we come with a true desire to celebrate. At other times we come seeking hope, comfort, or a sense of belonging. Some of us may feel like our faith is strong, while others may be struggling, looking for answers or seeking reassurance.
Yet despite this broad diversity, we come together, united by our faith in Jesus Christ. Whether we get here early, or scrape in just in time (perhaps having furiously fed and dressed the kids, and bundled them into the car, hoping we’ll get a parking spot somewhere near the church), we share “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). We remind ourselves of this when we bless ourselves with holy water; waters which we passed through at our initiation into the Church, passing like Christ from death to new life.
We come together as the Body of Christ in thanksgiving, to renew ourselves through the Eucharistic celebration that is the source and summit of our lives as Catholics.
At the end of this month, on the weekend of 26-27 October, we will celebrate Sunday Mass, guided by brief explanations of the various rites of the Mass and our role within them. You can also learn more online now at www.olmcwenty.org.au/themass.
Liturgy 