St Anne’s Church will be closed from Monday April 28 to Saturday May 3 for cleaning, maintenance and the installation of the Tapestries.
Scaffolding will allow cleaning of the high areas in the apse.
Saturday evening Mass will be at the usual time of 6.00pm on May 3.

Mass will be held in St Anne’s Church until the end of Daylight Saving at end of March due to the extreme heat. St Anne’s has very good cooling, whereas OLMC has no cooling. We appreciate your understanding. This is to benefit everybody’s health.

Those at the Parish Assembly would have noted that Mt Lion Neighbourhood proposed Recessionals (leaving hymn….ed) be part of the Mass. At the Liturgy Meeting on Tuesday night, it was discussed and decided that an uplifting instrumental piece be used at the end of each Mass. This will be reviewed at our next meeting.

A note from a document that was prepared for Westminster diocese “At Your Word Lord” process by the Liturgy Office of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales © 2005 Liturgy Office, Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

In the Roman Rite of Mass the final hymn is not mentioned neither in the Missal or the General Instruction. It is an accretion which was added when the ‘four-hymn sandwich’ was introduced as way of encouraging people to sing at Mass in the vernacular when there was not other material to enable the singing of the liturgy itself.
Experience shapes expectations. We tend to believe that what we have done is right and that we cannot imagine alternatives. But having already been fed by word and sacrament, is there in fact need for a further song before we give ourselves to our mission to love and serve the Lord?
What might happen?
The final song of the Mass, according to the Missal, is the song of thanksgiving after communion. After everyone responds ‘Thanks be to God’ to the dismissal they process out, perhaps to joyful instrumental music, led by priest and ministers. There is chance to talk to one another outside before beginning a new week strengthened by word and Eucharist.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a final hymn?
    For: we are used to it; it rounds things off nicely. It gives another opportunity for picking up the themes we have identified. It covers the procession. We enjoy it.

   Against: it prevents us responding immediately in both words and action to the dismissal. It is padding. Half the congregation have left anyway.

What might we do?
It would be a real challenge for many parishes to move from a final hymn to a procession out together. Like many changes it would require cooperation of the priest and other ministers together with careful preparation, and catechesis. It would be important to respect that some members of assembly may wish to stay where they are.
As mentioned above it is an ideal opportunity for music from an organ or other instruments. The other possibility is to sing a short song or chant. Like singing in the communion procession whatever is sung should not need books or sheets.

Leave comments below

Special readings of God’s word will be proclaimed next Sunday as we celebrate our Parish Patrons. The theme of our feast day is concerned with moulding our community and reaching out to each other as Mary reached out to help her cousin, Elizabeth, at the time of Elizabeth giving birth to John the Baptist.

Thank you to the Maintenance Team, Jo Wiegerink, Ben Wiegerink and Colin Wilson,  for completing the work on the platform of St Anne’s Altar last week.

Work will commence on the platform of St Anne’s Altar from Monday 1 July.
All weekday Masses will be held at OLMC Church next week.