Annual Report
We work very hard every year at this time to present an annual report to all of you. This report gives financial details as well as other important information about our ministries, programs and activities. It contains statistics but, as I often say, those statistics tell a story. I presented just a part of this story, our story, during the homily time this past weekend at Mass. If you were not at Mass or have not had a chance yet, please review this report, which is available on our website. It contains important information and a significant story of the impact of our mission, your generous support of that mission, and our continual need for your support.
This also gives me one more opportunity to emphasize to all of you that the best way to stay informed with how we carry out our mission here at Holy Family is to access our website. It is the BEST resource for ACCURATE information, parish news and spiritual resources, particularly in this unique time.
3 Bows at Mass
We have some very reverent local customs here at Holy Family that I believe add to the sacredness of our liturgies. Several of them have been placed on hold because of Covid restrictions such as the wave of congregational standing as the Offertory gifts are brought forward and my encouragement that the gift bearers, who represent us all, come all the way up and behind the altar facing the congregation, placing those gifts on the altar on behalf of and from the assembly, us, God’s people.
We say, “The Mass never ends…” as we conclude our liturgies. This local custom has been in place for some time indicating our willingness to not only receive the sacredness of God through Christ’s real presence – but to live it. We are encouraged to say our names when we receive communion adding an extra personal dimension to a very sacred ritual action. I have noticed a decline in this recently, possibly due to the physical and perhaps psychological barrier of a mask. Please say your name even louder these days as you receive Communion so that the minister hears your name.
I would like to expand one of those local rituals that we do here at Holy Family and that is bowing. The presiders and ministers of all Catholic Masses stop at the foot of the sanctuary in precession as we enter. We then bow to the altar in recognition of its sacredness. The liturgy calls for this because beginning with the procession and the official start of Mass, the focus of Christ’s real presence expands to include the altar and the ritual action that will take place upon it. In fact, the focus of our attention should shift to the altar and the bow acknowledges that with reverence.
Presiders and ministers here at Holy Family then turn and bow to the people. Many of you also bow in return, but may I remind you, you are not bowing to the presider, you are bowing to the altar. I invite and encourage ALL of you to bow at that time.
Christ is always present in the form of consecrated hosts in the tabernacle and, thus, that deserves a bow anytime. However, the Eucharistic celebration of ritual and action, and participation in this action by the people, should be acknowledged by a bow or genuflection to the altar.
A bow is as sacred a gesture as a genuflection (the act of kneeling but only descending to have one knee touch the ground, then returning to a standing position). Not everyone is physically able to genuflect, but almost everyone can bow. So in its reverence, a bow is more inclusive and a greater sign of unity.
Presiders bow (or genuflect) two more times, following the consecration of the bread and that of the wine.
I would like to encourage each and every one of you to join the presider in bowing at these two additional sacred moments of every Mass. I first experienced this when I was in the seminary. We all bowed at the consecration moments. It felt so unifying, so sacred.
If we all participate in these bows, there will be three of them, and I think you know how important and symbolic the number three is in spiritual and physical symbolism.
Starting this weekend, let’s all bow to the altar, then again following the consecration of the bread to Christ’s Body, and then again following the consecration of wine to Christ’s Blood.