New Bells at Mass

Dear OLA Family.

Have you noticed the three small bells with a yellow rope mounted on the wall at the entrance to the baptistry? We've been using these bells now for about a month to signal the start of our 7:30am weekday masses. As we begin the Lenten season, we will begin to do the same for our Sunday celebrations of mass. 

So how will this work?

Approximately five minutes prior to the start of mass, the lector or cantor will approach the ambo and introduce the mass in the usual manner, indicating the Sunday of the year (e.g. the First Sunday of Lent), the Mass intention, the names of the celebrant and deacon, the pages in the hymnal where the readings can be found and the number of the entrance hymn. After making this announcement, the congregation will remain seated while our Director of Music & Liturgy, Jake Mappes, will play a short prelude on the organ, helping all present recollect themselves and prepare for participating fully in the mass.

When the celebrant, deacon and servers have moved into the baptistry and are ready to begin the mass, Jake will conclude the prelude and the celebrant, deacon or one of the servers will ring the bells mounted on the wall in the baptistry, indicating that all should stand. (Should we put this in bold?) The entrance hymn will then begin, and the procession will set out down the central aisle of the nave. 

Bells have a long history in the Catholic liturgy, calling participants' attention to important moments of the mass (e.g. the epiclesis, the elevations, etc.). Together with the other signs and symbols, movements and gestures of the liturgy, the use of bells helps foster a distinctive, sacred atmosphere, setting off the mass from all other activities of our daily lives. I hope you appreciate this small but important addition to our Sunday worship here at Our Lady of the Assumption.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Dan, Pastor