Bishops to vote on revised rites for worship without priest

Published: 2003-10-30

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops will be asked to approve a revised version of the liturgical book, Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest: Leaders Edition, when they meet in Washington Nov. 10-13. One of the main changes in the proposed new text is the shift of the act of thanksgiving in such services to after Communion if the service includes a Communion rite. In current practice, when there is a Communion rite the act of thanksgiving precedes it. Because the act of thanksgiving follows Communion, the revised version eliminates the current prayers after Communion that change each week. Another major change involves permission, when the rite of morning prayer or evening prayer is used, to omit the second reading of the Liturgy of the Word. The revised document includes an expanded introduction, with detailed treatment of the liturgical year, the importance of singing and the participation of the assembly.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .