COVID-19 Resources

• Pandemic Guidelines and Protocols for All Souls, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Church Ventilation
• 2020 Pandemic Studies on Singing and Music: Please read the details of these studies to understand the rationale for wearing masks while singing, as well as recommendations for wind instruments.
  • International Coalition of Performing Arts Aerosol Study, Round 2, August 6, 2020. Note especially pages 29-42.
  • Exhaled respiratory particles during singing and talking, Sept 17, 2020.
• Mass texts for a Pandemic from the Holy See (4/1/20)
• Current RCAB COVID-19 Liturgical Directives and Updates are posted by the Office of Risk Management
• COVID-19 Resources from the FDLC

Resources and Services 

Ongoing Formation

• 2020-2021 FDLC’s Weekly Wednesday Webinars on the Liturgical Books: Register for free at this LINK to participate in weekly webinars on each current liturgical book. Registration allows you to listen to the recordings later if you are unable to attend live.
• Click here for a full list of topics and presenters.

Liturgical Ministries (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Readers at Mass)

• This office continues to provide support to parishes who are training new liturgical ministers through Archdiocesan Guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers and training materials which can be used in preparing new ministers as well as providing ongoing support to those who have served in the past. 
• Read the guidelines in Portuguese here.
• Read the guidelines in Spanish here.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)  

• Oversee the process of initiation for catechumens (unbaptized adults and children of catechetical age) as well for candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church.  Providing support for RCIA teams and directors, with the goal of teaching to use the RCIA to train for Christian life.   
• RCIA 2020: All info here - Essential information concerning communication on the Rite of Election, registration for the 2020 Rite of Election, and how to request a Book of the Elect for your parish.

Sacred Music and the Liturgy

• Provide support for parish musicians and to ensure that sacred music is at the service of the Church’s liturgy.  
• 2020 Pandemic Study on Singing and Music: Please read the details of this study to understand the rationale for wearing masks while singing, as well as recommendations for wind instruments. Note especially pages 29-42.
• Music for First Communion and Confirmation
• 2021 Epiphany Proclamation--Announcement of 2021 Moveable Feasts: Set to music with 2021’s liturgical dates, this is designed to be chanted by a Deacon, Presider, or Cantor after the proclamation of the Gospel at Epiphany Masses (1/3/21). We hope you can include this Roman Missal option that adds great beauty to the liturgy. Offered in English and Spanish.
  • English
  • Spanish

Funeral Policy

• Archdiocesan Policy on Funerals as well as Guidelines for Homilies and Words of Remembrance.  

Baptism and Confirmation Guidelines for Sponsors/Godparents

Holy Communion in difficult situations 

• Celiac Disease, alcohol intolerance and gluten allergies.  Please contact the office for resources and canonical permissions.    

Liturgical Year

• Annual guidelines for the celebration of the liturgical calendar with particular attention to Solemnities, Feasts, Holy Week Liturgies and the Seasons of Lent and Easter.
• Advent and Christmas
  • FDLC Advent and Christmas Liturgy Preparation Aid: Please note that among recommendations made in these guides, only those in accord with RCAB COVID-19 Guidelines are permitted in the Archdiocese of Boston this year.
    • English Version
    • Spanish Version
  • NEW 2020 Pandemic Advent and Christmas Guidelines
  • 2021 Epiphany Proclamation--Announcement of 2021 Moveable Feasts: Set to music with 2021’s liturgical dates, this is designed to be chanted by a Deacon, Presider, or Cantor after the proclamation of the Gospel at Epiphany Masses (1/3/21). We hope you can include this Roman Missal option that adds great beauty to the liturgy. Offered in English and Spanish.
    • English
      • English Practice Video
    • Spanish
      • Spanish Practice Video
  • Advent Penance Service 
• Feast of the Presentation of the Lord—Sunday February 2, 2020: Liturgical Notes
• 2020 Lent and Easter
  • Holy Week and Easter at Home to help parishes/families journey through Holy Week 2020 from home
  • Second Vatican Decree on Holy Week (3/25/20)
  • First Vatican Decree on Holy Week (3/19/20)
    • English
    • Spanish
    • French
  • 2020 Lent and Easter Guidelines + Easter Vigil Time
    • Contents only apply to aspects of liturgies not superseded by RCAB directives issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Reminder: When celebrating the 2020 Easter Vigil, as always please take care to begin the liturgy only after dark, and this year that can be when it is dark inside the church, since this year’s liturgy contains no rites to be celebrated outdoors. The time previously set is 8:30pm.
• Assistance with learning the Exsultet  and sample recording
• Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar

Church Architecture and Art

• Provide support for parishes in new construction or renovation/restoration.  Provide approval and recommendation for Archbishop’s approval for architectural plans and sacred art commissions.  

The Proper Care and Cleansing of Altar Linens & Sacred Vessels in the Archdiocese of Boston

General Liturgical Inquiries

• e.g., penance services, acolyte training, liturgical books/translations, cremation, altar linens, hymnals, etc.   

Mission of the Office of Divine Worship

The Second Vatican Council states that the celebration of the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.   The Office for Divine Worship exists to support the most important activity of the Church, which is the worship of Almighty God and the sanctification of the Christian people.  A parish that strives to evangelize and to form disciples must first celebrate the liturgy well, inviting the faithful to a deeper understanding of the sacred signs.  The first priority of an evangelizing community should be the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist.  The Office for Divine Worship seeks to support this foundational belief and to promote a healthy liturgical life in the parishes, where fidelity to the Church’s legislative norms and liturgical texts is embraced.                 

Chants of the Roman Missal

These recordings below are provided for your use as you learn the Chants of the Roman Missal.
Chants of the Roman Missal – Participation Aid

1.  Greeting 
2.  Penitential Act 
3.  Gloria A 
4.  Gloria B 
5.  Credo I 
6.  Credo III 
7.  Orate, Fratres 
8.  Preface Dialogue 
9.  Sanctus 
10. Memorial Acclamation A 
11. Memorial Acclamation B 
12. Memorial Acclamation C 
13. Doxology 
14. The Lord's Prayer 
15. Agnus Dei 
16. Invitation to Communion 
17. Final Blessing 
18. Dismissals  
Office of Divine Worship Saint Cecilia Schola
Richard J. Clark, Director

Many thanks to music ministers from the Archdiocese of Boston who volunteered their time and talent: Allesandra Cionco, Richard J. Clark, Mark Donohoe, Rev. Jonathan Gaspar, Liz Kerigan, Emily Lau, Clare McNamara, Michael Olbash, Elisabeth Pifer, Tanya Skypeck, Jason Villarreal