Bishops use electronic format for document, save thousands on mailing

Published: 2005-10-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In an experiment that could bring savings of tens of thousands of dollars in coming years, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent all bishops a proposed Lectionary for Masses With Children in CD-ROM format. Printing and mailing of the 768-page document would have cost more than $20,000, and USCCB officials estimate that they saved at least $11,000 by producing and distributing the text on compact disc instead, USCCB spokesman William A. Ryan told Catholic News Service. The bishops are to vote on the revised Lectionary for Masses With Children when they meet in Washington Nov. 14-17. If it is approved by them and the Holy See, it will replace the experimental version in use since 1993. The Lectionary is the book of Scripture readings used at Mass. The children's Lectionary uses simpler vocabulary and shortens many of the readings and responsorial psalms, adapting them to the smaller vocabulary and shorter attention span of preadolescent children.

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