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Author Archives: Craig Colson

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Liturgy Resources for Musicians

By | October 25, 2011

Several times over the course of the retreat I was asked about different resources available for musicians looking for music suitable for the Liturgy and other youth focused events. I thought I would take the time now to share some of the resources that I use.

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Is the Catholic Church changing what songs are sung at Mass?

By | September 14, 2011

Although I’ve only been alive a short period of time compared to how long the Church has existed, it is clear to me through studying history that the debate over what music is suitable for Liturgy has been going on for a long, long time. In recent years this musical debate has taken to a new highway, the Internet.

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An Opportunity to Go Deeper: The New Roman Missal

By | August 29, 2011

I recently met to plan music for a funeral with a family who has been away from the Church for a long time. Unfortunately, they view the Church as a dictatorship full of rules and regulations they do not understand. Their Mother passed away and she was the only member of the family who remained Catholic. I do have to say that it was noble of them to honor her wishes and celebrate a funeral for her in her own Church and faith tradition since she had held close to her heart. We did not celebrate

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Mass Music from the 2011 Life Teen Training Convention

By | July 5, 2011

The 2011 Life Teen Training Convention was four amazing days of prayer, praise, fellowship and community. Nearly 500 attendees, including Priests, Youth Ministers, Music Ministers and Core Team Members filled the convention hall at the Doubletree Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona last week. This year’s theme, Veni Sancte Spiritus, was truly prayed as we celebrated the feast of Pentecost to begin the conference. Fr. Leo Patalinghug was our celebrant and he was truly inspiring as he allowed the Spirit

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Bishops Approve a Gradual Introduction of New Mass Settings

By | June 28, 2011

This past week on June 17, 2011, the president of the USCCB authorized the gradual implementation of the new Mass settings and left the final decision up to the Bishop of each Diocese. This however does not mean we can implement any other changes in September, just the sung Mass settings. This is good news as it will allow us all to teach these new settings as we normally would and not have to worry about teaching new responses at the same time.

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Planning Ahead for the New Missal

By | May 19, 2011

Well the Triduum has ended, Jesus has risen from the dead and our churches are probably a bit quieter than they were on Easter Sunday. Although many of us are still busy with graduations, Confirmations and First Holy Communions, all the busyness of the spring is coming to a close and we should all be able to take a deep breath…right? Well, not exactly.

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Liturgical Language

By | May 10, 2011

At a recent Roman Missal workshop I attended, several people asked about some of the language we will be using when we adopt the new Missal this coming November of 2011. Some in attendance said that the language was foreign to them and that the words we will be saying are not the words we use when speaking to someone at the grocery store. The presenter responded by quickly saying, “yes, but Father doesn’t dress like that at the grocery store either!” It’s true, this new language we will use at

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Never Too Early To Start

By | April 4, 2011

So with less than nine months to go before we will implement the New Roman Missal in our parishes, how are you doing? Have you begun to find out what the changes are? Have you started to do any education in your parish in regards to the new translation that will go into effect on the 1st Sunday of Advent as we begin a new liturgical year? Some may say that it is way too early to begin thinking about something that will not take place until 9 months from now, but now is the time to begin if you

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New Roman Missal Websites For Youth Leaders

By | March 4, 2011

As I’m sure you have heard already, come this Advent there will be some major changes to the liturgy coming on November 27th 2011. This time of preparation can be a fruitful time for our parishes and our young people.  We at Life Teen want to do our best to equip you with the resources you will need to help your Core Teams, parents, musicians, and teens to understand what these changes are, as well as why they are happening. Here are some websites that we believe will be helpful to you: CatholicYouthMinistry.com/roman-missal

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The New Roman Missal: An Opportunity for Education

By | February 9, 2011

Although I wasn’t alive when The Second Vatican Council finished in 1965, I have heard from many people who were active Catholics in that time of change within the Catholic Mass. Many whom I have talked to were very confused when the changes in the liturgy began taking place. Some were barely told anything about what was changing or why it was changing and just all of a sudden experienced a different liturgy and really didn’t understand why. Some were happy about the changes and others were not so happy.