When our church was renovated in 2020, one of the decisions we made was not to reinstall racks in the pews for hymnals and missals. This choice was made for several reasons. We wanted to reduce our environmental impact by moving away from disposable worship aids, make better use of our projection screens, and simplify the care and upkeep of our worship space. Overall, these efforts have been a great success. We have reduced waste and costs while also encouraging greater participation through our digital resources.

At the same time, we recognize that many people appreciate having a book in hand to follow the music, prayers, and Scripture readings. For that reason, Breaking Bread missals are always available on the cart in the Gathering Area before Mass. These books have been somewhat underutilized—perhaps because many people are unaware they are available or have simply forgotten about them over time.

To make better use of this valuable resource, the hymn numbers displayed on the left side of the hymn board will now correspond to the Breaking Bread missal for our English Masses. In addition to the music, this book conveniently contains the Sunday Mass readings arranged by date, references for the daily Mass readings, and many of the prayers used throughout the liturgical year.

Some have asked why we do not simply project the Scripture readings on the screens. There are two reasons. First, the publishers of the readings do not grant permission for them to be projected during Mass, so we are not legally permitted to do so. More importantly, however, the Church understands that the Word of God is meant to be received primarily through proclamation. In the liturgy, Scripture comes alive as it is proclaimed and heard by the gathered assembly. While following along in a book can certainly be helpful, the liturgical ideal is to listen attentively as God speaks to His people.

For those who wish to read along, the Breaking Bread missal is an excellent option. You are also welcome to use other approved resources, such as a missal or a Catholic Scripture app on your phone.

There are several other ways to prepare for the music before coming to Mass. Each Saturday morning our parish sends a Flocknote text message with weekend announcements, the Sunday readings, and a list of the hymns that will be sung. You can even tap on each selection to listen to a recording—a wonderful example of how technology can help us prepare for worship!

If you would like even earlier access, you can join our Music Ministry Flocknote group. Every Wednesday we send out the upcoming music selections along with digital resources that you can download and practice throughout the week.

To access these music resources or sign up for the Music Ministry Flocknote, visit www.mqhr.org/music.

My hope is that these resources will help you prepare more intentionally and participate more fully in the Sunday Eucharist—the source and summit of our faith.. If you have any questions about using these resources, or about the liturgy in general, please do not hesitate to reach out.

In Christ,

Adam Beeken
 Director of Music & Liturgy
 [email protected]