Jul 30, 2011
CHANGES TO MASS
S'pore Catholics to make switch early
Church to introduce some changes in September ahead of November launch
By Yen Feng

Brochures will be distributed to the congregation at Our Lady Star of the Sea (above) and other parishes in the coming months to prepare them for the missal changes. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

ROMAN Catholics in Singapore will be among the first in the world to embrace critical changes to the Mass. These will alter prayers recited by millions of English-speaking believers around the world.

The changes are contained in a new English translation of the Roman Missal, the book of texts and prayers used in the liturgy for more than 40 years.

English-speaking Catholic churches worldwide are expected to use the new text from Nov 27 - Advent Sunday or the first day of the Christian calendar.

Singapore's 185,000 Catholics, however, can expect changes to the Mass as early as in September. The first of a series of information sessions for priests and parishioners will begin today at the Church of St Teresa in Kampong Bahru.

Children will be taught the changes in Catechism classes from next week.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia said that this was to give Catholics here time to 'get used to some of the new texts'.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.

zengyan@sph.com.sg