Teaching the lessons of the Mass
By James McEvoy
Staff Writer
PISCATAWAY — As part of its newly created Echo Enrichment series, the Office of Catechesis offered a special “teaching Mass” program to show how parishes can help their parishioners to worship more fully.
The teaching Mass, which included step-by-step explanations of the celebrant’s actions at various points in the liturgy, was presented Sept. 9 and 12 in the chapel of the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center.
Cecelia P. Regan, director of the Office for Catechesis (previously the Office of Religious Education), said the purpose of a teaching Mass is to provide catechetical ministers with a “hands on experience that they can implement in their own parish.”
Regan said that one of her goals as director of catechesis is to address “religious formation from birth to death.”
The teaching Mass, as well as future offerings from the office, will provide benefits for parishioners of all ages and in various stages of their faith formation.
Regan said observers of the teaching Mass will bring important lessons back to the parishes to help parishioners “understand the mass more fully and worship more deeply.”
Her first experience with the teaching Mass came when it was implemented in her parish, St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge, to address behavioral issues with some of the younger parishioners.
She believed that some of the inappropriate behavior was due to the fact that not all the children would consistently go to Mass and some had little understanding of what was happening during the liturgies.
However, once they observed the teaching Mass, there were significant improvements in their behavior and understanding, according to Regan.
“[They were] unbelievably changed,” she said, adding that there was “quite a difference in the way the children prayed.”
Regan explained that parents were later incorporated into the teaching Mass and were also getting more out of Masses. Even faithful churchgoers said it “helped them brush up and pray more deeply.”
Father John C. Siceloff, administrator of St. John the Evangelist, Dunellen, served as celebrant of the teaching Mass, with Cindy Nemeth, the director of religious education at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, narrating.
In his homily, Father Siceloff reflected on the significance of a teaching Mass and its effect on those who desire to worship.
“If people are to understand the faith, they have to understand the Mass first,” he said.
Following the Mass, Father Siceloff and Regan explained that the script used for narrating the teaching Mass was approved by the diocese and that it was adaptable to the individual needs in their parishes.
Immediately prior to the Mass, the group discussed some activities they were working on in their parishes and shared ideas and suggestions.
Regan added that she hopes the Echo Enrichment meetings become a “bonding experience” for the Office of Catechesis and the catechists that participate.
Regan additionally previewed several future events and symposiums sponsored by the Office for Catechesis.
She told those in attendance that she wanted everyone to “start thinking about growing” and wanted catechetical leaders from the parishes to be able to share ideas with one another and brainstorm.
Regan additionally asked that the representatives of the parishes sign up for meetings with her to further learn about their individual needs and interests.
She encouraged parishes in close proximity to each other to sign up toget her so they can also share ideas and concerns with one another.
Regan said that although the Echo Enrichment meetings are designed for catechetical leaders and ministers, other interested staff was encouraged to attend.
Msgr. Michael Corona, executive director of Department of Education, said that the teaching Mass can help parishioners of all generations individually as well as in worshiping together.
Msgr. Corona believes parents and families should be more involved with the religious training of their children.
“The religious education and formation of children is vital to the life of the church in the future,” he said.
While he applauded the efforts of the schools, he felt more can be done outside the classroom “to build up the faithfulness of families” as well as children.
Among those in attendance who gained an enhanced understanding of the various aspects of the Mass was Lorraine Moore, parish catechetical leader for St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lambertville.
Moore described the teaching Mass as “wonderful” and “awesome” and felt it would be an effective tool which she intends to utilize at her parish.
“The team here was excellent,” she added, calling the Mass “a unique way of teaching children.”
