Deepening Our Worship: A New Closing Practice at Mass

As we prepare for the beginning of the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, you will notice that, starting on Wednesday, we will be making a change to the conclusion of all Sunday, daily, and school Masses moving forward. We are hopeful that this change will aid our personal journeys of renewal this Lenten season and deepen our parish’s commitment of moving from maintenance to mission.

For several years it has become a practice for individuals to begin applauding at the conclusion of the final song that is sung at the Mass. Sometimes more individuals join in the applause, sometimes only a few individuals applaud, sometimes a majority of those gathered begin applauding. Though we are unsure of the exact origin of this practice here at our parish, we are beginning this week to implement a clear, simple, and unified approach to the conclusion of our worship.

Why? First, the practice of applauding after the final blessing and dismissal is not a practice that is encouraged by the Church. The last directive given by the Church is that the clergy present venerate the altar as at the beginning of Mass and then after a profound bow with the other ministers, they withdraw. Thus, by not applauding, we are following more closely the universal directive and the local custom in our Diocese.

Second, in conversation with parishioners in recent years we have heard consistent feedback that many who applaud do not know why applause is offered. Some think it is to thank the musicians, others think it is because the Mass is over, some just applaud because the person next to them is applauding. We hope that we can be more united in a common expression of reflective gratitude as we sing together the closing song and then transition to a time of fellowship, community, and mission.

To assist in this transition, we will begin offering a prayer together that has become familiar to our parish in recent years and is attributed to our patron saint: the breastplate prayer of Saint Patrick. As the closing song of the Mass concludes, there will be a brief pause for silence and then the presiding priest will begin reciting the prayer from the rear of the Church. The prayer will be displayed on the screens within the Church to aid those who would like to join in this Christ-centered prayer of thanksgiving.

If you have any questions about this change, please feel free to contact all three of us via e-mail so that we can talk with you further. We appreciate feedback and dialogue about the life of our parish, especially the worship of almighty God at the Sunday Mass.

May your Lenten journey be one of deep renewal, conversion, and hope in the saving mission of Jesus Christ.

Fr. John Gerritts, Fr. Dan Tracy, and Sari Althoff

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