Why is Sunday a Pastoral Planning Priority?

"Among the many activities of a parish, “none is as vital or as community-forming as the Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day.”  – Pope Saint John Paul II. 

The Holy Mass is the center of all parish activities because it is the gift of the Eucharist that is the source and summit of our faith. As Pope Saint John Paul II states in the apostolic letter Dies Domini, “The Eucharist is not only a particularly intense expression of the reality of the Church's life, but also in a sense its "fountain-head". 

The people, gathering to worship together on Sunday, is the most visible sign and the most important activities for the parish community. Therefore, what happens at a parish on Sunday warrants our attention and care with proper, well-informed and prayerful preparation. It is reverently noted that objectively speaking, we encounter the person of Jesus Christ at every Mass, who is made present through the people of God, the Word of God and most profoundly, through His real presence in the Eucharist. 

We also acknowledge that as we listened to the people of our diocese, although they expressed a desire for this objective reality, they also expressed that they often have varied subjective experiences on Sunday at their local parishes. The hope is that all those who attend Mass at every parish would experience a life-changing and life-sustaining encounter with Jesus Christ. As we take steps towards serving the liturgy well, there are several key elements surrounding the celebration of Mass that can help dispose people more fully to recognize and receive that objective reality and gift. Perhaps another way we can look at it is, to consider a fine piece of art, it is in and of itself beautiful and because of its beauty, we are good stewards of that art and desire to frame it well, so to draw focus and attention to its beauty. In the same way, there are certain elements of the experience of Sunday that we can learn to attend to, that have the ability to ‘frame’ the beauty of the Mass for people. In a sense, aiding to draw attention to the beauty which already exists. 

"Given the nature of Sunday Mass and its importance in the lives of the faithful, it must be prepared with special care."  – Pope Saint John Paul II.


 

Visit our Sunday Resources Page to learn more details about Sunday as a Pastoral Priority.