LONDON, MARCH 30, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of England and Wales are confirming that Churches here will begin using the new English translation of the Roman Missal starting with the First Sunday of Advent.
A statement Tuesday from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales announced that the Catholic Truth Society will be publishing the new missal in the autumn.
The confirmation came after an «important milestone» was reached this week: The fully checked and approved texts were sent off to the printers for turning into proofs, prior to commencing the printing and binding process. Meanwhile the leather covers are being prepared and printed.
«The printing of missals is very labor-intensive in order to produce a book that is both of high quality and designed for ease of use,» the statement noted. «Nevertheless, copies will be ready to be delivered to parishes for the beginning of November in plenty of time for the first full use of the new translation.»
Parishes in England and Wales will be using the Order of the Mass (the parts that are the same from week to week) with the new translation beginning in September.
During the phase from September till the beginning of Advent, catechesis on the Mass and the new translation will be given.
According to the bishops’ conference, the Catholic Truth Society is now publishing an Order of Mass for use by celebrants. Texts of the Order of Mass for the people to use will also be available from a number of publishers, from June 2011 onward.
Fergal Martin, general secretary of the Catholic Truth Society, said, «Our team has worked very closely and constructively with the bishops of England and Wales, Scotland and Australia so as to arrive at this point, and we are pleased that the process is moving steadily forward, on all three Ritual Editions: the Altar Missal, Chapel edition and Study edition. We hope that people will find them both beautiful and robust.»
