December 2024

• Gloria is not said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Preface 1 of Advent is used through December 16. 
• As we approach the beginning of another year of the Liturgical Calendar, please note the Lectionary cycles for 2025 are:
  • Sunday Cycle – Year C
  • Weekday Cycle – I 

• Bless your wreath once; simply light the candle before all other Masses.
• Blessing of the Advent wreath can be found in the Book of Blessings, Chapter 47. If done during Mass, it should take place after the Universal Prayer

• English: As we commemorate Word AIDS Day today, may all persons suffering from HIV/AIDS and their loved ones be always treated with compassion and have access to all the care and support they need. We pray to the Lord.
• Spanish: Al conmemorar hoy el Día Mundial del SIDA, para que a todas las personas que sufren por el VIH/SIDA y a sus familiares y amigos se les trate siempre con compasión y para que tengan acceso a todo el cuidado y ayuda que necesitan. Oremos al Señor.

• Vestment: White
• Ritual Masses (i.e. Order of Matrimony) are not permitted.
• Today is a solemnity. Incorporating incense, festive music, and a more formal Gospel procession is appropriate. 
• The Gloria is said or sung. 
• The Creed is recited. 
• Preface is proper and found on the pages in the missal for the Immaculate Conception.
• Solemn Blessing #1 or #15 may be used. 

• The Gloria is sung or said. 
• The Creed is omitted.
• Add the needs of pregnant women for the Universal Prayer; for sample intercessions see Book of Blessings, Chapter 1, Section 8. "Order for the Blessing of a Mother."
• In the United States, it is a feast day. Unlike in Mexico, today is a solemnity, thus the Gloria is said or sung, but the Creed is omitted during the mass.
  • While the Mexican leccionario indicates three readings (1^st Reading: Zec 2:14-17; 2^nd Reading: Rev. 11; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47) for Dec. 12, here in the US there is only one reading before the Gospel since it is a Feast. In other words, at mass one of these two readings may be proclaimed Zec 2:14-17 or Rev. 11, followed by the Responsorial Psalm, Alleluia, and then one of the two options for the Gospel. This is indicated by the American Lectionary for Dec. 12 and the Ordo.
  • Mientras que el leccionario mexicano indica tres lecturas (1ª Lectura: Zac 2,14-17; 2ª Lectura: Apoc. 11; Evangelio: San Lucas 1,26-38 o San Lucas 1,39-47) para el 12 de diciembre, aquí en Estados Unidos solamente hay una lectura antes del Evangelio por tratarse de una Fiesta. En otras palabras, en la misa se puede proclamar una de estas dos lecturas, Zac 2,14-17 o Apoc 11, seguida del Salmo Responsorial, Aleluya, y luego una de las dos opciones para el Evangelio. Así lo indica el Leccionario Americano para el 12 de diciembre y el Ordo. 

• Liturgical Color: Rose or Violet
• The Gloria is not sung or said.
• Creed is recited.

• A Filipino tradition of 9-Day Novena of Masses in preparation for the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, the tradition is celebrated in the early morning before dawn (4am), but here in the United States, the Masses have been adapted to the evenings (7pm) to accommodate people who work.
• December 15 - 23 (Evening Masses) or 16-24 (Early Dawn Masses) Simbang Gabi Novena through the various parishes of the archdiocese.

• Second part of Advent begins.
• The prayer texts and readings for Weekday Masses are taken from the specific calendar date.
• O Antiphons begin. 
• Preface II of Advent may be used beginning December 17

• The Gloria is not sung. 
• Creed is recited.
• Preface II of Advent is used.
• Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent start at 4PM on Saturday, December 21.

Christmas Masses

• Vestments: White/Gold
• The Gloria is sung or said. 
• The Creed is recited. Remind the assembly that all kneel when the incarnation is mentioned.
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord (#2) may be used. 
• Blessing of the Nativity Scene can be found in the Book of Blessing, Ch. 48 
• Blessing of a Christmas Tree can be found in the Book of Blessing, Ch. 49.
• There are four mass settings (proper antiphons, readings, and orations) for the Solemnity of the Nativity. The Roman Missal contains four Mass settings for the Nativity of Jesus:
  • 1) at the Vigil Mass,
  • 2) at the Mass during the Night,
  • 3) at the Mass at Dawn, and
  • 4) at the Mass during the Day.
• The Lectionary for Mass likewise has four sets of readings. While Mass formularies ought to correspond to the actual time of day or night, there is greater flexibility for choosing the readings. The Lectionary for Mass indicates that the first set of readings for Mass at the Vigil “may also be used for Masses on Christmas Day, with the option of choosing from one or other of the three sets of readings according to the pastoral needs of each congregation” (rubric from the Lectionary for Mass, 13).

• Anticipated Masses for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ start at 4PM at the earliest. 

• The Christmas proclamation should be sung before the Mass during the Night begins. The text is found in appendix I of the missal. The entrance song immediately follows the chant.

• Vestments: Red
• Gloria is said or sung
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used to unify the days of the octave.

• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used.
• Please include the following petition as part of the universal prayers: 
  • English: For the faculty, staff and seminarians of Saint John seminary, that they may continue to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, we pray to the Lord.
  • Español: Por la facultad universitaria, el personal y los seminaristas en el seminario de San Juan, para que puedan continuar creciendo como discípulos de Jesucristo, roguemos al Señor. 

• Vestments: Red
• Gloria is said or sung
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used to unify the days of the octave.

• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Solemn Blessing #2, #3, or Prayer over the people #25 may be used. 
• Blessing of a Family (see Book of Blessings, Ch. 1)

• Blessing of the New Year (see Catholic Houshold Book of Blessings and Prayers, 85-87)

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January 2024

• Although today is New Year's Day, the solemnity may not be replaced with the Mass for Civil Needs: At the Beginning of the Civil Year. 
• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Preface 1 of the Blessed Virgin Mary is used.
• Solemn Blessing #2, #3, or #15.

• Every year on January 1, the Holy Father marks the World Day of Peace with a special message inviting all people to reflect on the important work of building peace.
  
• World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1 every year, is primarily a Catholic feast day dedicated to universal peace on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.  
• World Day of Peace began in 1967 when Pope Paul VI announced that the world needs to be sensitized and oriented for peace and understanding. 
• More information, please CLICK HERE. 

• If an anticipated Mass is celebrated, the Mass prayers "At the Vigil Mass" is used. A Vigil Mass is celebrated before or after the First Vespers of the Epiphany.
• The readings for the Epiphany will be the same as the Mass during the Day. 
• Vestments: White
  
• Gloria is sung with splendor.
• Creed is said.
• Preface of the Epiphany is used. 
• Solemn Blessing #4 may be used. 
• The Christmas decorations in the church remain until after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. 

• The Christmas Season concludes after this feast. 
• The Christmas decorations in the church are removed after this celebration. 
• Gloria is sung with splendor.
• Creed is said.
• Sprinkling Rite may be used. 
• Christmas Solemn Blessing #4 or #9 may be used. 
• On Epiphany Sunday, there is an ancient custom of announcing the dates of the movable feasts for the coming year. This Epiphany Proclamation may take place after the Gospel, or within or after the homily. See the Roman Missal, Appendix I: The Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts. 

• On this day, all dioceses of the United States shall observe a "day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion" (GIRM, 373.)
• Refer to the Lectionary for Mass: Supplement (LS) #516A; readings for the Day of Prayer may be taken from the Masses for Various Needs, III (In Public Circumstances, #26A), For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life (#947A-947E, LS), or For Public Needs: 14. For Peace and Justice (#887-891, Lectionary for Mass).
• If using the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions: For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life, wear white vestments.
• If using the Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice, wear violet vestments. 
• Prayer over the People #23 may be used. 

• Prayers are proper and found in the Proper of Saints
• Vestments: White
• Gloria is sung or said.
• Creed is not said. 
• Use Preface 1 of the Apostles
• Solemn Blessing #16 may be used.

• On September 30, 2019, Pope Francis, in his motu propio, Aperuit illis, declared that "the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God."
• Blessing of Readers may take place after the homily. Please see Book of Blessings, Ch. 61. This is a good opportunity for Readers/Lectors to renew their commitment to the ministry.

Workshop on the new Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA).

San Pedro Pastoral Region

• Monday, January 13, 2025 @ 6-9pm

• St. John of God

• 13819 Pioneer Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650

• Click Here to Sign Up  

San Fernando Pastoral Region

• Tuesday, January 21, 2025 @ 6-9pm

• Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

• 7800 Vineland Ave., Sun Valley, CA 91352 

• Click Here to Sign Up  

San Gabriel Pastoral Region

• Wednesday, January 22, 2025 @ 6-9pm
  

• St. Anthony

• 1901 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel, CA 91776 

• Click Here to Sign Up  

Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region

• Tuesday, February 4, 2025 @ 6-9pm

• St. Bernadette

• 3825 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008 

• Click Here to Sign Up  

• Be on the lookout for workshops and guidelines coming in the Fall & Winter. 
  
• Orders SHIP OUT DATE: November 1, 2024. 
• FIRST USE DATE: December 1, 2024, 1st Sunday of Advent
• MANDATORY USE DATE: March 5, 2025, Ash Wednesday
  • Liturgy Training Publications (Chicago, IL) 
    • Ritual Book - English (OCIA)
    • Study Edition - English (OCIA)
    • Ritual Book - Español (RICA)
    • Study Edition - Español (RICA)
    • Ritual Book - (OCIA/RICA) Bilingual
  • Liturgical Press (Collegeville, MN)
    • Ritual Book - English
    • Study Edition - English
    • Study Edition - Español
  • Catholic Book Publishing (Totowa, NJ)  
    • Ritual Book - English
    • Ritual Book - Bilingual
  • Magnificat (Yonkers, NY)
    • Ritual Book 
  • Midwest Theological Forum (Downers Grove, IL)
    • Ritual Book
    • Ritual Book - Bilingual

San Fernando Pastoral Region

coming soon...

San Gabriel Region

coming soon...

Santa Barbara Pastoral Region

coming soon...