Last Sunday was observed as Mission Sunday. Yet this is not, strictly speaking, a liturgical observance. I have often seen \u00a0observances such as this take center stage at Sunday liturgies in parishes and I have always felt that this was wrong. (I have nothing in particular against Mission Sunday, I only give it as a recent example).<\/p>\n
Apart from the many liturgical observances that the Church celebrates our Ordo<\/em> lists other non-liturgical observances, often called \u201cDays of Prayer.\u201d This year, the Liturgical Calendar for Ireland 2022<\/em> lists 16 international and 7 national Days of Prayer. This is an average of two observances a month<\/p>\n It is possible to add such observances to the liturgical calendar.\u00a0 For example, the US calendar contains observances such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day and the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Yet most countries do not add such observances to their National Calendar. So, my question is how should those observances (or Days of Prayer) that are not on the National or General Calendar be observed liturgically<\/em>?<\/p>\n My own feeling is that these observances should have only a minimal influence on the liturgy (a mention in the Prayer of the Faithful or the Announcements) and certainly not in the Kyrie invocations, hymns or homily. However, as is often the case with Mission Sunday, the Day of Prayer takes over from the given Sunday\u2019s liturgy eclipsing the prayers from the Roman Missal and the readings from the Lectionary. Occasionally fundraising for some good cause takes center stage (such as a Diocesan fundraising appeal or a charitable appeal).<\/p>\n I think that every day, and in particular on Sundays, we need to celebrate and focus on some aspect of the Paschal Mystery. Yet all too often we are like Martha and \u201cworry and fret about so many things \u2026 [while] few are needed, indeed only one.\u201d We need to realize that \u201cit is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her\u201d (Lk 10:41-42, RNJB).<\/p>\n I don’t lite “themed” liturgies. \u00a0Although I will admit that there can be a certain pastoral value in celebrating the Eucharist at a particular place for a specific need, such as a weekday Mass for Catholic Community Services outside of the regular Mass schedule of a parish or cathedral.<\/p>\n Yes, the Church is involved in many charitable and good causes.\u00a0 But the announcement of the Paschal Mystery and the love of God must take pride of place in particular in Sunday liturgies. Each and every Sunday so many people come to church spiritually wounded and in need of hearing Good News.\u00a0 It is no service to the People of God when we hijack the captive crowd at liturgies in order to mark some occasion other than an aspect of the Paschal Mystery and especially when we use the liturgy to guilt people into contributing economically to good causes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n