Canadian bishops launch website on new Roman Missal translation

Ottawa, Canada, Aug 13, 2011 / 04:55 pm (CNA).- The Canadian bishops’ conference announced the launch of a new website aimed at educating the country’s faithful on changes to the Roman Missal.

The National Liturgy Office for the Canadian bishops said organizers are “pleased” to announce the online resource, www.romanmissal.ca, to “help parishes, missions and institutions across Canada in understanding the contents of this new book.”

Copies of the new missal are scheduled to be shipped to Canadian parishes on Nov. 10, with the official implementation date to be held on Nov. 27, the first day of Advent this year.

Organizers said local Church leaders have been working around the clock to prepare the clergy of the country for the new edition of the Roman Missal by holding seminars from coast to coast.

“It is our hope that the local clergy and diocesan offices will take a prominent role in the implementation process in our churches and schools,” the website reads.

The new site includes materials for parish bulletins and workshops as well as links to Roman Missal-related materials from the Publications Service of the Canadian bishops’ conference, which is helping produce the book.

Viewers can also find links to Roman Missal implementation sites from the numerous English-speaking bishops’ conferences including, the U.S., Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Organizers announced that the prefaces and other prayers for the Sundays of Advent edition will soon be posted “to facilitate the efforts of Priests in preparing to proclaim these new translations.”

The site also has resources for musicians, such as links to recordings of the three settings for the Ordinary of the Mass that were composed specifically for Canada.

The latest version of the Roman Missal incorporates the most significant changes in the liturgy since 1974. While the essentials of the Mass have not changed, the new translation is considered a richer way to explain and proclaim the Catholic faith.

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