Cluster News
Mass Times in Our Catholic Community
New Weekday Mass Schedule
The pastoral leaders of the Catholic Community of North Anne Arundel County (Msgr. Rich Bozzelli & Fr. Jesse Bolger – Crucifixion, Good Shepherd & Holy Trinity; Mrs. Ann McDonald – St. Bernadette; Fr. Dale Picarella – St. Philip Neri) announce the following weekday Mass schedule for the five-parish cluster, effective 1 January 2012:
Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. Holy Trinity Church
Monday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. Holy Trinity Church
Monday & Tuesday 6:30 p.m. St. Philip Neri Church
Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Holy Trinity Church (Spanish)
Thursday & Friday 6:30 p.m. St. Philip Neri Church
The pastoral leaders adopted the principle that weekday Masses are ministries provided by the cluster, and not by the individual parishes. This principle allows the cluster parishes to pool their access to priest celebrants and to maximize the number and consistency of weekday Masses celebrated in the cluster.
There are currently three priests assigned to the cluster parishes (Msgr. Rich, Fr. Dale & Fr. Jesse) and another two priests (Fr. Tony Adawu & Fr. Joe McDonough) available to celebrate Mass on a “part-time” basis. The pastoral leaders concluded that, with an average of four priests regularly available to celebrate weekday Mass, there should be no more than three Masses offered on any given weekday. This conclusion accounts for a priest’s unavailability due to a day off, vacation, or other obligation.
After considering a variety of proposals, the leaders adopted a schedule that would cause the least disruption to the greatest number of people currently attending weekday Mass. They also created a schedule that was easy to remember for regular participants and that would minimize confusion among those who might not regularly attend weekday Mass. Finally, they took into consideration the location of priests’ residences to ensure that someone would be present in the event of a weather-related or other emergency.
As Masses offered by the cluster, the priests of the cluster will rotate celebrating the Masses, regardless of location. Lay ministries will be open to any participant, regardless of parish affiliation or Mass location. Requests for Mass intentions will continue to be managed through each individual parish office.
The priests of the cluster will also adjust their personal schedules to allow them to gather for supper together on weekday evenings, strengthening their support for each other at an increasingly challenging time for priestly ministry.
The pastoral leaders thank the members of the cluster Advisory Council, the Pastoral Councils of each parish, and the participants in the current weekday Masses for their contribution to the consultation process that led to this new schedule.
Want More Information? Visit the CCNAAC web site at http://www.ccnaac.org. You can see who your parish representatives are for the CCNAAC Coordinating Council. You may contact them to share your thoughts.