A common program of liturgical practices has been established by the Archbishop of Atlanta, the Bishop of Savannah, and the administrator of the Diocese of Charleston. This action by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, Bishop Thomas F. McDonough, and the Right Reverend Monsignor Joseph L. Bernardin will affect all of the parishes and Catholic institutions in the state of Georgia and South Carolina. A directory setting out guidelines for uniform liturgical practices will be published by each diocese and distributed to all priests.

Basing themselves on the prescriptions of the Vatican Council’s Constitution on Sacred Liturgy, the Liturgy Commissions of Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston have worked closely together to find the most effective means of promoting the liturgical apostolate. The introduction of English into the administration of the Sacraments of September 14 and into the celebration of Mass on November 29 has been set as common policy by all these diocese.

Active participation by the laity in the celebration of Mass was one of the principal goals of the Ordinaries of Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston. To this end, prescriptions have been set out for full use of spoken “dialogue” and congregational singing at Low Mass. The employment of laymen as readers of the Scripture selections and as commentators during the Mass was recognized as a necessary element of full participation.

The position of the celebrant facing the congregation during the Mass has also been set as an important step toward full and effective participation. In existing churches this will frequently mean the erection of temporary altars, which will be approved by a member of the liturgy commissions. In new churches, the sanctuary will be constructed with a free standing altar of sacrifice in order to allow Mass facing the congregation. The design of the altar will be kept in strict conformity with the nature of the Mass as a banquet.

In accordance with the Constitution on the Liturgy, the importance of the homily as a part of the Mass liturgy has been stressed. The homily will be followed by a form of the Prayer of the Faithful, a series of petitions for various needs of the Church, the civil government, the diocese and the particular parish. Included in this prayer will be petitions for individual members of the parish who have a special need of prayer, for example, those recently deceased and those who have been recently baptized or married.

Stress is also placed on the necessity of an adequate public address system in all churches. Microphones are to be used so that the congregation may easily hear both the readings and the homily from the lectern and also the audible prayers at the altar. This was considered particularly important since, after the introduction of English, the celebrant will recite or sing in common several parts of the Mass.

Copies of the Guide for Liturgical Practices were distributed to priests of the Archdiocese of Atlanta by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan at a clergy conference held at the Cathedral of Christ the King on September 15.