Baltimore parish offers 'stop-and-go' Masses to explain each step

Published: 2003-11-04

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Why do Catholics celebrate Mass on Sunday? Why is the Mass divided into the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist? Why is the body and blood of Christ held up three times during Mass? These may seem like questions all Catholics should be able to answer about how they worship, but a surprising number cannot. To better inform the people of his parish -- as well as other Catholics and even non-Catholics -- about the significance and background behind the celebration of Mass, Franciscan Father John Pfannenstiel, pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Baltimore, has developed a "stop-and-go" Mass in which he pauses to explain the different parts of the liturgy as they occur.

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