By Lew Gordon

“I’m all for it. It’s excellent. There was a feeling of better, deeper participation in the Mass and this, inevitably, will lead to a deeper understanding. All of us - especially the young people - will benefit from this heightened sense of community worship which the new liturgy brings into our churches.”

Nasor Mansour, Jr.

“Our masses went very smoothly. I think the satisfaction and pleasure we felt this Sunday were directly due to the intensive preparation by our pastor, Father Beltran. There were rehearsals and two ‘dry Masses’ and by the time Sunday came we were ready.”

“As more material - complete missals, etc. - is available to the people, we will feel even more personal pleasure in the Mass.”

Paul Traina

“The thing that brought the new liturgy home to us completely was when our first grader spoke up. We were sitting in the front row and, as the priest, distributing Communion, approached, saying ‘The Lord be with you,’ our young one piped up, in distinctly audible tone, ‘I heard what he said the Lord be with you!’”

“This is great. It points up the whole community sense - for young and old - of the new liturgy with its vernacular, its community sense and its family participation.”

Mrs. James Callison

“I like the new liturgical reform because it makes the Mass much simpler without detracting from the solemnity of the sacrifice. It also makes it much easier to understand, especially for converts to the Catholic Faith. As a convert I find the new liturgy less difficult than before. I also like the public manifestation of lay participation - particularly the Offertory Procession. All in all, I’m delighted and feel I’m going to have great spiritual benefit from the introduction of the vernacular.”

Leon Allain

“We were happy about it. It showed us the Mass as a community worship of the community of Christ.”

“We’re part of it. The next step will have to be an intensive period of training to acquaint all the congregations with the new observances.”

“The singing is great - part of the very best of the Christian tradition.”

Mrs. Joseph O’Gorman

“The new liturgy is terrific because it calls for a more personal effort at Mass. The English makes us realize what we have missed in the past and inspires us to greater understanding of the Eucharistic Banquet and our share in it. There is no longer any need to missal distraction; now we can follow the English and it makes everything more meaningful - besides assisting us to more reverence and prayer. About the only thing I don’t like is the singing on the way to receive Communion. I think this is more personal and the singing should be left to the choir.”

Mrs. Edward J. Manger

“The realization of actively participating in the sacrifice outweighs any regrets I may have over the passing of much of the quiet of the Mass, the Latin and the Gregorian chant. Despite a strong Catholic education, I am just now beginning, through the light shed by these changes, to really understand what the Mass is about and to truly feel a living part of that large community known as the Body of Christ.”

Mrs. John Powers

“I am all for the liturgical changes. We are little islands of prayer when we are at home or making a visit, but I think we should take our part when we worship God together on Sundays. I am happy to be part of a progressive archdiocese where we live. These changes make us more conscious that we are part of the living Church.”