Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference ask for Vatican help on Litergical alterations!

(Southern African Catholic Press Releases )

Article by Marc Aupiais

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Details of message, sent to us at: 15:37 today, by the Bishop's Conference:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Fr Chris Townsend < townsend@sacbc.org.za >
Date: 2009/3/4
Subject: SACBC: Secretary General's Clarification on the Implementation of the new English Language Text of the Roman Missal in Southern Africa.
To: (excluded by South African Catholic (us))

Contents of message:
"Statement by Fr Vincent Brennan SMA, Secretary General of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference.

Pretoria

Immediate

4 March 2009



STARTS>



Clarification on the Implementation of the new English Language Text of the Roman Missal in Southern Africa.



On Wednesday 28 February 2009 the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI received a letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

The letter asked that the current implementation of the new English Text of the Roman Missal be halted until the process had been finalised internationally and all English-speaking churches could implement the new translation at the same time.

Normally a recognitio given by the Congregation approves a text for implementation at a time determined by the Bishops’ Conference. In this case, the recognitio approved the text but only for Catechesis of the people and the preparation of music for the Rite and not for immediate implementation.

The Bishops’ Conference has explained the situation to the Vatican and has requested that their decision be allowed to stand. They await Rome’s response.

In the meantime the President, Archbishop Tlhagale, and the Bishop in Charge of Liturgy, Bishop Risi, have requested that Churches that have implemented the changes should continue to use them until a response has been received from the Holy See. Churches that have not implemented the changes should not do so until further notice.

The Bishops regret the confusion that may have arisen. They ask for patience and they pray that the misunderstanding that has arisen will not take away from the prayerful and joyful celebration of the Mass in English. They wish to point out that the only issue in dispute is the date of implementation, not the text itself.



Fr Vincent Brennan SMA

Secretary General.



ENDS>



Issued by Fr Chris Townsend on behalf of Fr Vincent Brennan SMA. All Media Queries to



Fr Chris Townsend

Information Officer

Office for Communication and Media.

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)

P.O.Box 941 Pretoria 0001 South Africa

Khanya House - 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, 0001

Tel: +27 (0)12 323 6458

Fax: +27 (0) 12 326 6218

Mobile: +27(0)82 783 4729

www.sacbc.org.za

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