A Letter from Bishop Carlson on the Liturgy

Dear Fathers, Deacons, Pastoral Administrators, and Faithful of the Diocese:

Since my installation as your bishop more than one year ago, I’ve had the privilege to celebrate liturgy with many of you and have come to know you as a people of deep faith for the Gospel and a strong commitment to excellence in liturgy.
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In a previous May 3, 2006 letter to priests, deacons, and pastoral administrators, I already have directed the GIRM and Apostolic Letter Redemptionis Sacramentum [April 2004] be followed regarding the preaching of homilies at Mass and the recipe used for substantial bread for the Holy Eucharist as of June 25, 2006.
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The directives, posted implementation document, and the educational tools for parishes were prepared by the Implementation Committee following the November Quarterly Meeting of priests, deacons, and pastoral administrators. This letter, along with that instruction and commentary, is meant to be a helpful tool in the process to implement the GIRM in the Saginaw diocese. It is understood that each parish is unique and these guidelines will require more involvement and planning in some communities than in others. For that reason, I ask parish leaders to provide for the proper catechesis during the coming months to ensure the complete implementation of the GIRM by the First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 3, 2006 with the exception of one or two areas mentioned in the commentary that have a different implementation period.

Catholic Diocese of Saginaw Office of Liturgy information.

Some notable excerpts from the above:

Once the bread and wine are placed on the altar, the cups (for distributing the Blood of Christ) are also brought forward and placed on the altar. The priest or deacon then pours the wine into the priest celebrant's chalice and all other cups.

The Eucharistic Prayer...is to be recited by the Priest alone in full. While the Priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer "there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent" except for the people's acclamations that have been duly approved, as described below.

...All Churches, chapels or places of worship are to fully implement the posture of kneeling [during the Eucharistic Prayer] by the 1st Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29, 2009.

In parishes where sacred vessels are not in conformity with the [norms], pastoral decisions may be made in accordance with the following:
1. Parishes, chapels or other places of worship are to begin a plan for the budgeting and purchase of new sacred vessels and be in use by the 1st Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29, 2009.

The intentions [Prayers of the Faithful] are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the deacon or by a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.