Two new translations of parts of the Ordinary of the Mass have been released by the Secretariat for the International Committee on English in the Liturgy.

The translations are not official in the sense that they may now be used in liturgical celebrations.

They have been published in order to obtain international criticism and suggestions.

Father Gerald J. Sigler, the secretary of the Committee said that next June 30 is the deadline for comments and suggestions on the texts, which were simultaneously published in New York and London. “Every attempt is being made to elicit the assistance of qualified people in each country,” he said in his announcement.

“The response to this booklet and another on psalms, prefaces and prayers, now in preparation, will in large part determine the work of creating a (unified) English version of the liturgy.”

“Father Sigler emphasized the desire of the committee for suggestions from the laity.”

The announcement stressed the ecumenical implications of the new translations and the work of evaluation.

“Other Christian churches, especially those with strong liturgical heritage, are anxious to explore with us the possibilities for a common translation of the creeds, the psalter, and the lectionary,” he said. The Liturgy Commission of the Archdiocese of Atlanta will study the new texts at its next meeting, Wednesday, April 20.

Guests will be invited to participate in the discussion.

It is planned to invite representatives of the Catholic laity, sisters and of educational institutions in the area. The Commission plans to invite members of other churches to evaluate the texts and make suggestions.

The International Committee on English in the Liturgy, commonly referred to as the Common Market, has been mandated by the Episcopal Conference of all, English speaking nations to work a common English version of liturgical texts.

The work is estimated to take three to five years.

Countries participating are: Australia, Canada, England and Wales, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, and the United States. Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, of Atlanta, and Auxiliary Bishop John J. Dougherty of Newark are the American members of the committee. Archbishop Gordon Gray of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, is the chairman and Archbishop Guilford Young of Hobart, Australia, and Archbishop George Dwyer, Birmingham, England, are vice-chairmen.

American members of the advisory committee are Fathers Godfrey Diekmann and Frederick McManus and Professor G.B. Harrison of the University of Michigan.